Cyclists are not doing any favours for themselves as the video shot on the streets of London illustrates, flashing past wearing dark clothing and no helmets like they have a death wish.

Seven cyclists recently died on the streets of London in 13 days in November bringing the grim total so far in 2013 to 14 - and rising?

Hardly any in this movie were wearing a safety helmet, a hi-vis vest or bothered with lights - those who did maybe had a tiny flashing micro-light tucked into their dark coloured back-pack.

Despite the evening rush hour on Friday, December 6, 2013, some of the wannabee kamikazes looked as if they were kitted out for a wide Dutch cycle path on a sunny day, not the jam-packed killing lanes of the capital.

A minority DO wear helmets, an even small number DO wear helmets and hi-vis tops, and some crazy cyclists have helmets, hi-vis and lights - but they are the exception to the rule if this video is indicative of a wider picture of why there are so many road kills and serious injuries in the dangerous world of street cycling.

As for Boris Bikes - how on earth does Health and Safety allow cycles to be used without helmets, hi-vis vests and fit-for-purpose lights - and why on earth are they painted black/blue, rather than all white or yellow day-glo!!!!!

Check out bad cycling such as haring the wrong way down a Bus Lane - most of the excerpts are shown at half the speed the cyclists were belting along and weaving in and out.

Most of them wore woolly hats, dark clothing and a false cloak of invincibility - not surprising they are being mown down by HGV at busy junctions as they pull up on the blind side like they own the road.

Don't get me wrong nobody can survive an argument with a lorry, but when the driver runs over a dark shadow who is to blame?

A few of the cyclists were wearing helmets, hi-vis vests and they stood out - but even they didnt have lights on their helmets or more than one back and front light, surely an array of lights at dusk could make the difference between a coffee and a coffin?

DICING WITH DEATH IN LONDON

A recent spate of cyclist deaths in London has prompted a debate in the UK over what to do to increase safety on the roads.

In November, six people died riding bicycles within a period of less than two weeks - the tragedies brought criticism of cycling infrastructure introduced by London's mayor, Boris Johnson.

In response to the deaths, police have launched a major road safety operation, deploying hundreds of police officers at road junctions around central London.

And politicians are taking note too -members of the UK parliament held a hearing on cycle safety this week.

And some cyclists even staged a "die-in"" simulating death to highlight the issue on London's streets.

Boris Johnson says the city is getting safer for cyclists, despite the recent deaths.

But if you cycle around London, it's difficult to ignore the so called "ghost bikes" chained to the railings and spray painted white, sometimes covered in flowers, to mark the place where a cyclist lost their lives.