You can go to jail for doing this inside shopping malls

London - The ban has been demanded by a real estate group which owns several shopping malls.

Cyclists banned from riding through 14 shopping centres across UK and could end up in prison if caught breaking the new rule.

Directive from the High Court in this regard will be applicable at some of the biggest shopping malls in the country, such as Lakeside, Trafford Centre and Metrocentre. The ban on cyclists has been demanded by Intu Properties, a real estate group which owns several shopping malls in UK, for safety of the visitors.

A spokesman told Mirror Online: "Intu centres are family friendly environments and we want everyone to feel safe and enjoy themselves when they visit us. That's why we've taken out an injunction that prohibits people from riding bikes or driving vehicles through our busy centres."

Intu Properties put up a notice on their website warning against 'riding or driving' an unauthorised bike or vehicle through the centre or face arrest. "We haven't taken this decision lightly but would like to reassure people that we absolutely support cycling as a means to travel to our centres and that's why we have bicycle parking areas that are open to all."

The injunction states that disobeying the order may mean the cyclist is held in contempt of court. It adds: "Any other person who knows of this order and does anything which helps or permits the defendants or any of them to breach the terms of this order may also be held to be in contempt of court and may be imprisoned, fined or have their assets seized." The High Court made the order on July 19 this year.