Traffic fears `killing cycling'

Peter Woodman

June 07, 2007

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FEAR: People not taking to the roads

FEARS of putting their lives in danger are stopping one in three people from getting on their bikes.

A new report today shows 36 per cent say our roads have become too dangerous for cyclists.

The survey follows recent government figures which revealed 2,420 cyclists were killed or seriously injured on the roads in 2006.

And a further 17 per cent will only use cycle paths and trails away from roads, the survey by road safety charity Brake and breakdown service Green Flag found.

They also reported that 47 per cent of people never cycle.

Decreasing

Bicycle use is decreasing and statistics show that more and more young people are now being driven to school. Jools Townsend of Brake said: "It's terrible so many people are afraid to get on a bicycle because of fear of traffic, and worse that their fears are justified.

"Choosing cycling and walking over the car is good for your health and the environment, so we should be encouraging it.

"But people won't be persuaded to get on their bikes - quite rightly - unless they can do so without putting their lives in danger.

"It's time the government put some serious investment into the national cycle network and other measures to enable people to walk and cycle safely."

What do you think? Have your say.

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israelwhite, manchester (07/06/2007 at 07:27)

I love cycling, but there just isnt enough room, unless you go out into the countryside, and then you are taking a big chance, because most motorists,are thinking getting from a. to b as quickly as possible, and most of the time, cant even take a couple of seconds to look out for a cyclist. It is a shamebecause it is so enjoyable.

mamvcivm, Manchester (07/06/2007 at 09:01)

How many of those cyclists injured or killed, went through traffic lights on red; how many pedestrians have been killed or injured because of cyclists going through traffic lights on red? How many pedestrians have been killed or injured by cyclists riding on pavements...? How many cyclists killed or injured were hit by a parent driving their kiddie to school? Motorists are human, cyclists are human - when it comes to discipline they're as bad as each other!

David, North Manchester (07/06/2007 at 11:16)

Totally Correct - it is too dangerous to cycle in Manchester and cyclists are seen as weirdos. We need cycle lanes along the major roads into Manchester and they should have kerbs or studs in the road marking to help cars from straying into them with an audible noise, they should be continuous instead of stopping and starting every hundred yards. We need a route dedicated to cycles between the Universities and the city centre so that students get onto bikes. Parents like me have to make their children use footpaths rather than share a road with cars when there are no cycle lanes and when so many untaxed and illegal cars are driving around and not respecting speed limits because of the weak police. Most cyclists have a car too so they pay income tax and road tax and don't get any protection in return. Cycling reduces congestion for cars, makes less noise for neighbourhoods and tackles obesity and if we put the infrastructure in place the bikes will follow.

David Bradley

ace, manchester (07/06/2007 at 11:39)

No wonder we have so many cyclists killed each year? they are arrogant and a law onto themselves .they never follow the same rules of the road that other road users have to abide by? Bikes who use our roads need a number plate and should be insured and the cyclists need to pass a test (the ones i see every day using the pavements to beat the traffic,crossing traffic lights on red,cutting cars up ,the list goes on most people who ride bikes are dangerous to road-users.....FULL STOP.If any cyclist dissagree with this they need glasses .

The Rover (07/06/2007 at 12:19)

It is a fact that driving slowly produces more pollution, the route that I drive into work is slow at peak times but is made even worse by cyclists. The road is not wide enough in parts to overtake a cyclist safely so a queue builds up behind the cyclist which frustrates the drivers. The cyclists weave in and out of cars, all of a sudden they appear next to your car like magic. No driver can look in 3 mirrors and watch the road ahead. Cyclists at peak times are a nuisanse.

sledgehammer, salford (07/06/2007 at 14:11)

Some of the problem is because the actual cycle lanes are either fragmented or confusing or just as dangerous as the roads, I cycle every day and often use the pavement because of the way most people drive.
Sometimes the cycle lane just stops and you are supposed to go into the road which is not a good idea in most places.

marc (07/06/2007 at 15:18)

ace, everything you said can be applied to car drivers as well. especially in longsight where there is the highest amount of cars hitting pedestrians in the city. i've even seen drivers bypass the traffic lights at the junction of stockport road and kirkmanshulme lane by driving onto the pavement and over the grass field next to the pakistani community centre. i agree cyclists act irresponsibly but i think drivers also need to be accountable for their actions. just take a look at today's news story about mohammed jahanqir - he was described by a judge as a 'drink-drive menace'.

Bean B4, manchester (07/06/2007 at 15:37)

ACE - spot on again. You should put up for the council. You've got more sense than all of them. Cyclist should be taxed, insured and carry a unique ID. The worst behaved are the ones who dress up as if they are on the Tour de France. They ignore red lights, white lines, ride two a breast. Absolute hazard on the road.

Robbo Ranx, At work (07/06/2007 at 16:15)

Surely you aren't suggesting that everyone who cycles should require insurance and be taxed? What about kids who are burning off a few calories instead of playing xbox?

As both a cyclist and a motorist I can tell you that my experience of motorists as a cyclist is much worse than my experience of cyclists as a motorist. People cutting you up, old ladies revving their engines trying to bully you off the road at traffic lights, cars full of idiots trying to slap you as they drive past...... Believe me, you see it all. I hardly even ride on road as I'm a mountain biker, I can't imagine the sort of problems you must get if you commute by bike.

damiendd (07/06/2007 at 16:43)

All vehicles used on a public highway should be registered, Insured and be Safe. I cannot see any reason why a bicycle should be exempt! They should be excluded from V.E.D (Tax) but you can cause serious injuries/damage to a pedestrian/property at speeds of upto 30mph so insurance should be LAW!

I am not anti-cyclist but just have a common sense which is more than can be said for Bury Council who insist on creating cycle lanes that no one uses.

Come on Bury. Use our money to better effect.

David, North Manchester (07/06/2007 at 17:05)

Of course they are in the road with cars because there are no bike lanes. I can't remember when a bike killed a pedestrian, they don't make noise or fill your face with diesel belch, they even mean less queuing for car drivers, so how can anyone still complain about the tiny numbers who take to the roads. I don't understand that but think bikers need to get more militant and insist on protection for all the tax we pay.

Anyway if you get all the remaining bikers to drive cars instead, it just means the oil will run out even faster and be more expensive in the process, so it's self defeating really.

ace, manchester (07/06/2007 at 18:46)

marc
Every motorist on the roads are accountable (they have registrations/insurance/mot.and the list goes on what happens when someone on a bike hits a car and causes thousands of pounds worth of damgage then rides off into the sunset leaving the poor motorist to pay for the damage?? get real everybody who uses the road should have some form of insurance and all abide by the same laws.....KIDS INCLUDED.

ace, manchester (07/06/2007 at 18:48)

Robbo Ranx, At work
I never mentioned "tax" mate read my letter.I said they should pass a test and have insurance and some form of numberplate/

vickh, moss side (07/06/2007 at 19:05)

it is because of the attitude of people like ace that we have speed humps, speed cameras, future congestion charges. He cannot understand that many commuting cyclists also have a car, as do many pedestrians/bus users. He is a petrol head dinosaur who seems to be 'angry' about everything - ace you need to relax man.

Spinneyhead, Withington (07/06/2007 at 19:07)

"How many pedestrians have been killed or injured by cyclists riding on pavements...?"

One killed- in the last three years- the last time I checked the statistics. Which is a tragedy, of course, but nothing compared to the number of pedestrians killed by drivers in the same period.

Cyclists shouldn't go through red lights, it's a dumb thing to do, but at least they check the traffic and only do it if they think it's safe, which is more than can be said for the car and bus drivers I see speeding up on amber and sailing through on red every day.

It's a shame that the comments on stories about cycling always come down to car v bike arguments, but some of the anti-bike posters make such ludicrous claims they have to be rebutted.

ace, manchester (07/06/2007 at 19:28)

listen, they should ban cyclists from the roads, get rid of bus lanes, get rid of traffic calming, build more lanes then we can all get from a to b quicker.

ace, manchester (08/06/2007 at 10:23)

vickh, moss side
As somebody who has been a roadside assistant for thirty years and travelled hundreds of thousands of miles without a accident but i have attended dozens of road accidents over the years ive seen lots of accidents caused by cyclists who have rode away from a accident they have caused?And the police and other accident agencies never found the cyclist that caused the accident because nobody could recognise them (no ID or numberplate Ect) and no insurance .And yet if a cyclist gets hit by a car the driver is istantly recognised because as a roaduser the car has to be insured Ect with a number plate Ect.(one law for one but not the other)CYCLISTS ARE VERY SELFISH. Get insurance if you use the road and read the highway code........

marc (08/06/2007 at 11:28)

ace, you're a total wind up artist.

ace, manchester (08/06/2007 at 13:02)

marc

Who Me???????? a wind up artist? NEVER..heeheheh

David, North Manchester (10/06/2007 at 21:55)

If we are to encourage people to cycle again we need cycle lanes on the main roads and speed bumps on side roads and housing estates. This is the way things are done in the Netherlands where people cycle a lot and where there is less obesity and people are much happier with life. It has nothing to do with the country being flat, Manchester is almost flat within the M60. We have to protect vulnerable road users and pedestrians for all the tax we pay.

vickh, moss side (11/06/2007 at 09:40)

ace,
just what is a 'roadside assistant' ?

Bean B4, manchester (11/06/2007 at 10:10)

David, North Manchester - what piffle! When was the last time you cycled up Jutland St? Perhaps you don't know where that is. If not, don't make statements about the topography of the city.

ACE is a wondeful roadside assistant. He once assisted me and I have never forgotten his kindness, charm, wit, generosity and sincerity. Three cheers for ACE... hip hip hip

Technobabble, Manchester (12/06/2007 at 11:28)

Jutland street is so steep because its artificial, its built over the Ashton canal. The bulk of Manchester is naturally relatively flat when compared to other cities, Bristol for example.

As Ace is obviously such a good friend of yours, maybe you can answer the question on everyones lips; what the heck is a 'roadside assistant'??

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