Thank you for your email – I agree with much of what you say, particularly regarding the confusion over where one may cycle or not. I too find it confusing when I cycle through the City, so I am sure we are not alone. As to confusion over the role of PCSOs, that is exactly what the Government is moving to clear up – as you may know, the policing green paper issued a few weeks ago is seeking views on this, but I think it is clear that the Government wishes to standardise powers, as well as uniforms.
The request for extra powers to deal with cycling issues has come from police in Cambridge – they clearly believe it would be useful. We do not want heavy-handed policing of relatively minor offences, but on the other hand, as Cambridge Cycling Campaign acknowledge, it only takes a few people breaking the law to tarnish the reputation of the law-abiding majority. Like them, I think we need to ensure that as many cyclists as possible behave responsibly, and I think that effective policing will help with this.

Best wishes,

Daniel Zeichner