Too much traffic for me to cycle in London, says Met Police chief Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe

Comments come after series of bike deaths in the capital

Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said he wouldn't cycle in London (PA)

London's top police officer has said he wouldn't cycle in the capital, after two weeks marked by a series of cyclist deaths.

Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe's comments come as Mayor Boris Johnson tries to prove he's tough on cycle safety after the crashes.

Speaking on BBC London 94.9, Sir Bernard said: "I've never been a big bike rider anyway but it seems to be that if you get it wrong, or the driver gets it wrong, the person that's going to pay is the cyclist."

Transport for London has already begun a study into the effectiveness of banning cyclists using headphones. A rush-hour ban on lorries in central London has also been proposed.

Sir Bernard added that he understood for some people cycling is simply the most affordable option, adding: "It seems to me that there's a lot of traffic and personally I wouldn't (cycle). But of course some people don't have the choice, economically it's not easy you know.

"Some people, they've got limited money and they can't pay for public transport. I understand why they take the choice. It wouldn't be mine."