Pedestrians and road users are being put at risk by Barnet Council's 'breathtaking' policies on cycling, according to Mayor of London Ken Livingstone.

He accused Barnet of cutting its funding for cycle training for school children and of failing to spend its £120,000 allocation from Transport for London (TfL) for the London Cycle Network this year. He also criticised it for not bothering to bid for any funding next year and for removing cycle lanes.

He said: "Barnet's approach is breathtaking given the risks to children cycling on our streets."

Mr Livingstone also cited a report from the National Cycling Strategy Board (NCSB), which is chaired by Tory mayoral hopeful Steven Norris, which found that Barnet now gives cycling a 'low priority'.

But Councillor Brian Coleman, cabinet member for the environment, said: "We haven't cut cycle training in schools. Priorities are priorities and cycling is not a high priority.

"Cars, pedestrians and cyclists are all equal in terms of priorities.

"Cycle lanes do not encourage cycling the number of cyclists has not increased one iota."

The NCSB report says: "Barnet has recently made a council decision to list priorities and cycling is low on that list. The borough has no targets, does no monitoring of its own, has little staff resources and gives cycling low priority. There is not a general feeling of support for cycling."

The council's policy is to remove all road safety features such as cycle lanes and road humps when embarking upon resurfacing work and then consult with residents as to whether they should be put back.

Under consultation rules, residents have only one of four deciding votes the others are for the ward councillors, the relevant cabinet member and one for the emergency services.