Wednesday 04 April 2012

The death of Andrew Ridsdale, a 43 year old cyclist from Mirfield on 18th March is the latest in a series of cycling fatalities this year. 13 people have lost their lives since January and many more have been seriously injured, like Mary Bowers, 27, a news reporter at The Times. On Friday, 4 November 2011, she was knocked off her bicycle by an HGV whilst cycling to work in London and remains seriously ill.

Mary’s injuries inspired The Times’s “Cities fit for cycling” campaign which is expected to be approved by Leeds City Council this week.  The newspaper has presented an 8 point manifesto for our cities to be made fit for cyclists:

1. Lorries entering city centres should be required by law to fit sensor, audible turning alarms, extra mirrors and safety bars to stop cyclists being thrown under the wheels.
2. The 500 most dangerous road junctions must be identified redesigned or fitted with priority traffic lights for cyclists and Trixi mirrors that allow lorry drivers to see cyclists on their near side.
3. A national audit cycling should be set up to find out how many people cycle and how they are killed or injured should be held to underpin effective cycle safety
4. The Highways Agency should earmark 2% of its budget for next generation cycle routes providing £100 million a year towards world-class cycling infrastructure. Cities should be graded on the quality of cycling provision.
5. The training of cyclists and drivers must improve and cycle safety should become a core part of the driving test
6. The default speed limit in residential areas where there are no cycle lanes should be  20 mph
7. Businesses should be invited to sponsor cycleways and cycling super-highways, mirroring the Barclays backed bicycle hire scheme in London.
8. Every city, even those without and elected mayor should appoint a cycling commissioner to push home reforms

Personal injury lawyer Janet Watson, a keen social cyclist is a supporter of the campaign:

“Cycling accidents are now at a worrying level.  A combination of more cars on the road, and an increase in the popularity of cycling is causing a crisis situation. “

She goes on to say “ I deal with many claims for cyclists who have been injured and am appalled by the lack of care shown by drivers towards the often vulnerable cyclist.  It is quite common for drivers to come straight out of side roads into the path of a cyclist.”

Janet admits “Cyclists are not always without fault and sometimes wobble around the road oblivious of the other road users, ride along the pavement, skip red lights and dart up one way streets.  I think that it’s vital that the training of cyclists and drivers must improve and cycle safety should become a core part of the driving test.”

Martin Gibbs, Policy and Legal affairs director of British Cycling wants to encourage people to cycle  “It is difficult to promote safer cycling if people have been hearing how dangerous it is.“

Janet agrees:  “the more people cycle , the safer it becomes. The benefits to the environment, the economy and to health are tremendous. As a cyclist and a member of a University of the 3rd age cycling group I can see first hand the benefits of spending time in the saddle.”

On 21st March George Osborne confirmed that Transport for London will receive £15 million to improve cycle safety at junctions across London. It’s a start – but the campaign, with the hashtag #cyclesafe on the social media platform Twitter needs to continue to ensure that the rest of the UK is not forgotten.

Janet Watson is a senior legal executive with Ridley and Hall solicitors in Huddersfield. For free, friendly advice on accident claims she can be contacted on 01484 538421.