Cycling on pavements and footpaths

This is another emotive subject which again has hit my in tray on the grounds of safety. With our streets so full of traffic and the speed limits designed for a yesteryear level of traffic flow, I have to say I have some sympathy for cyclists who get off the road for safety reasons even though this is against the law. However I have to say that I am increasingly concerned that cyclists who make this decision to travel on pavements are doing so without considering the plight of the pedestrian. It does seem to me that in all cases on footpaths and pavements, pedestrians should have priority and that aggressive cycling puts them at considerable danger. For this reason I would support a campaign which revisits the education of anti-social cyclists by a process which would require not just a fine but also a compulsory period of training. Whilst I do not support a proliferation of signage I think that on a temporary basis signs should be displayed stating clearly that pedestrians have priority. Any comments gratefully received.