Police have issued a warning to parents about youngsters riding pedal cycles recklessly on the roads at night.

Police spokeswoman Evelyn James Barnett said officers were becoming concerned about the youngsters.

Last weekend several groups of young riders, between seven and ten years old, were cautioned about racing off the hill between the Hitching Post and Somerset Bridge, she said.

Mrs. James Barnett also said some youngsters were riding at night without wearing reflective gear or using headlights.

"This kind of behaviour can be very dangerous,'' she stressed. "And Police are urging parents in particular to ensure that their youngsters are taught about good road safety practices and are wearing adequate cycle safety gear when riding.'' "If they are going to ride at night, at least they (children) should know about road safety.'' But Sheelagh Cooper, of the Coalition for the Protection of Children said the issue of children riding in the streets late at night was not a road safety issue, but one of child care.

Mrs. Cooper said she believed that the issue stemmed from women having to work more than one job and not being at home to supervise their children.

"It all goes back to economic issues,'' she said. "Too many women are forced to make a choice between making a living and supervising their children.'' Transportation Minister Wayne Furbert and the Bermuda Road Safety Council spoke of children riding at night during a press conference to announce the 1997 road safety theme of `Road User Diversity''.

The new road safety officer Delcina Bean-Burrows said the council was considering revising the old Bermuda Super Cycle scheme in a bid to curtail "that type of behaviour''.

The Bermuda Super Cycle scheme was a Police initiative that taught youngsters the fundamentals of how to ride bikes. Youngsters who successfully completed the training received a certificate.

And Ms Bean Burrows said that the counsel would campaign to have all riders wear helmets while pedal cycling.

Mr. Furbert said the 1997 `Road User Diversity' campaign would focus on "any and everything to do with road safety''.

Including in the campaign, he said, will be child safety ranging from the public allowing children to ride in the streets, to mothers walking with baby carriages along busy roads.

And future initiatives were promised to curb the illegal practice of people riding scooters with young children standing between their legs.

"Because people see others doing it, they think its ok,''said Chief Insp.

Phil Every. "But its unsafe and its against the law. We have got to do more in this area, pick up the enforcement.''