Familiar Hove faces pushed their commitment to cycle safety up a gear last week, both close to home and in the capital.

MP Mike Weatherley attended Westminster’s Cycle Safety Debate on behalf of his constituents, while a Bicycle Action Day was held on February 21st by officers from Hove Police Station.

Mr. Weatherley, MP for Hove and Portslade, said: "Cycling is important to residents of Hove because so many are keen to lead active and healthy lives in an environmentally-friendly way, in a town where driving is not exactly easy."

A total of 77 MPs attended the Westminster Hall debate, led by Lib Dem MP Julian Huppert.

MPs from around the UK showed a cross-party commitment to safe cycling at the debate, which was triggered by The Times’ Cities Fit For Cycling campaign to improve city cycling conditions.

Mr. Weatherly, a cyclist himself, said “The unwritten rules of engagement between drivers and cyclists are still developing. My own pet hate is cyclists that speed through traffic lights when pedestrians are crossing. It damages the cause for responsible cyclists.”

MPs and representatives from British Cycling and the All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group (APPCG) put pressure on transport secretary Norman Baker to clarify the Government’s position on the issue.

The debate was a success in the eyes of cycling lobbyists, whose cause was given undivided attention for the three-hour discussion.

MP Julian Huppert said at the end of the debate that the Government had been given a clear mandate from MPs to act swiftly on the issue.

Meanwhile, on February 21st officers from Hove Police Station also took action, handing out leaflets and tagging parked bikes with advice tickets about cycle safety and theft prevention.

PCSO Sarah Thurley said officers patrol Hove daily advising cyclists who are cycling dangerously, and work with Seafront Officers in the summer to stop cycling on Hove promenade.

PCSO Thurley said: “If we manage to catch the cyclists we give them words of advice, and we can also issue a fixed penalty ticket of £30.”

Penalty tickets can be also issued to people who are caught cycling without lights, or on the pavement.

The action day was a result of an increase in bicycle thefts in the Central Hove area, specifically on Church Road, near Tesco.

PCSO Julie Wornham said: “We want people to realise that you can’t just prop your bike up and expect it to be there when you get back.”

Further action days are set to take place, and George Street will be targeted in a bid to stop pavement cyclists using the pedestrianised area.