Cyclists could be sent on cycle-awareness courses as part of a concerted effort to change attitudes among Oxford’s riders.

Campaign group Cyclox teamed up with Oxfordshire County Council, police and both city universities to create a Bike Polite scheme similar to ones operating in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

A public meeting on Thursday will help shape the initiative’s goals and the way it is implemented ahead of a launch later this year.

The focus is expected to be on issues such as jumping red lights and riding on pavements.

Other Bike Pilote schemes have used measures such as reflective wristbands, and the county council and police have held discussions with Cyclox about how the scheme could be implemented.

Cyclox chairman James Styring raised the possibility of cycle-awareness courses as part of the scheme.

He said: “It’s partly about safety but more about behaving responsibly and not annoying people.

“Increasingly the central areas of Oxford are becoming shared spaces and it’s important for cyclists and pedestrians to get along.

“We could do something akin to motorists who are caught speeding just above the limit – they are sent on a speed awareness course instead of getting points or a fine.

“If cyclists caught jumping red lights could be sent on a cycle awareness course, it would be a cool way to get people to understand there are reasons why such behaviour annoys people.”

Arash Fatemian, the council’s new cycling champion, said: “I think it’s an excellent idea. It’s in the early stages but we haven’t ruled anything out or in yet.”

Acting Sergeant Isaac Van Den Eshof said: ‘Thames Valley Police is pleased to support the Bike Polite scheme.

“Its aims will help to make the streets of Oxford a safer place for cyclists and other road users.”

Three 30-minute surveys in the city showed cyclists routinely ignoring red signals at junctions.

At the Botley Road junction with Frideswide Square, 15 out of 67 cyclists approaching red lights ignored them. At the crossroads near the Sheldonian Theatre in Broad Street, 48 out of 112 cyclists jumped red lights.

The High Street junction with Longwall Street saw 39 out of 88 cyclists ignore stop signals.

In 2009, Thames Valley Police handed out 278 fixed penalty notices to cyclists for contravening road sign orders.

Over the same period 437 motorists got fixed penalties for running red lights.

In Oxford, in October last year 84 cyclists were handed £30 penalty fines for not having cycle lights.

The first Bike Polite scheme was launched in Edinburgh in 2007 with the giveaway of 10,000 reflective wristbands The public meeting will be held at the Friends’ Meeting House in St Giles between 7.30pm and 9pm on Thursday.