An Amsterdam borough council is going to appeal to cyclists’ better nature to persuade them not to jump red lights, the Parool has reported.

The Zuid district council is installing a digital sign post a few metres ahead of the traffic lights at the crossing of the busy De Boelelaan and the Parnassusweg which will tell cyclists how many others before them stopped and waited. The text on the board reads ‘xx people waited before you. You will too, won’t you?

Officials hope the sign post will make cyclists think – and brake. They can then push a button so the tally of law abiding cyclists goes up. ‘This will cause a positive snowball effect on passing cyclists,’ a Zuid spokesman told the paper.

According to council figures, around a quarter of all cyclists in the capital regularly jump a red light, endangering themselves and others.

In addition to the digital board, a photograph of children waiting at a red light will be installed on 12 of the zebra crossings most frequented by youngsters. ‘This appeals to people’s sense of responsibility and their duty to set the right example,’ the Zuid  official said.