THE most dangerous cycle routes in Manchester can be revealed today as new figures show cyclists are involved in nearly five crashes a week.
There have been more than 700 bike accidents on Manchester's roads in three years. Four people have been killed and 70 seriously injured.
Wilmslow Road, which runs from Manchester University to east Didsbury, is the most dangerous route for cyclists, with 66 reported accidents between 2005 and 2007.
Oxford Road had 22 accidents - the highest number per mile. Barlow Moor Road and Stockport Road, also south of the city centre, saw 21 and 17 accidents each.
The number of bike crashes has dropped slightly, from 256 in 2005 to 223 last year. But the true figure is likely to be much higher as hundreds of accidents are thought to go unreported.
Select the link under the image on the right to see a full size view of the map.
Cycle campaigners described the figures as `shocking'.
Graeme Sherriff, Manchester transport campaigner for Friends of the Earth, said: "It's shocking to hear there is one accident every working day. It puts people off what is a brilliant and healthy activity."
Figures show that south Manchester is the riskiest area for cyclists. Thousands of riders use the busy Oxford Road corridor due to the flat area and large student population. Crash victims are mainly men, aged between 16 and 59.
Mr Sherriff, 31, broke his arm in a cycling accident on Oxford Road three years ago. He appealed for motorists to look out for vulnerable cyclists and stick to speed limits.
Dangerous
He said: "The Oxford Road corridor is perceived to be quite dangerous for cyclists because of the level of traffic on the road.
"Broken cycle paths that end abruptly at junctions can confuse people on bikes and in cars. The greatest risk is when cars turn left and go straight into a cyclist.
"There must be consistent cycle paths and greater enforcement of speed limits. Drivers need to check their blind spot on both sides of the car."
The figures come as we reveal that Commonwealth Games medallist Emma Davies Jones has had to quit professional cycling three years after being knocked off her bike in Manchester.
Then aged 27, she was millimetres from paralysis after the accident on a marked cycle path, on Pottery Lane, in West Gorton.
She said: "This is about responsible drivers more than cycle paths. I've experienced people driving erratically or coming close behind me and leaning out of the window to scream in my ear. It sends out the wrong message if motorists can get away with causing accidents.
Select the link under the image on the right to see a full size view of the map.
"But cyclists need to take care too. Jumping traffic lights is not acceptable."
Manchester council spokesman Coun Richard Cowell said schemes including raised and contraflow cycle paths would encourage cycling and reduce accidents.
He said: "There is a strong focus on the Wilmslow Road/Oxford Road corridor as this route has both the highest flow of cyclists in Greater Manchester and also the highest number of cycling casualties."
Online cycle journey planners will be launched by all Greater Manchester councils next year.
Paper cycling maps are available and should go online by January.
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City's most dangerous cycle routes
October 15, 2008
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Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
shayla (15/10/2008 at 08:05)
With that in mind, how can they charge you to drive to work when clearly, there is no safe alternative?
How many woman can cycle to work, only to arrive there wet, hair all over the place and sweaty? and how many people have somewhere to store their bikes?
Walking around whilst it's dark and getting a bus isn't much safer either. Especially if you carry your laptop everyday.
No to the congestion charge, some poeple need to drive to work.
It's a tax on getting to work.
Beaufort (15/10/2008 at 08:09)
I was driving in down an unlit dual carriageway recently at 10pm, pitch black and there was a bloke riding without lights and in dark clothing. It makes you wonder.
Cyclists do nothing to help themselves either.
I was walking along Deansget on Sunday and a cyclist came pelting down the pavement and I deliberately decided to not move. She obviously thought I was going to move and when she realise I wasn't she slammed on her brakes and nearly hit a lady next to me. Well the abuse this 'lady' gave me would make a docker blush.
Don't get me wrong I am not anti cyclist - like most people I enjoyed riding them before I grew up.
jpw1984 (15/10/2008 at 08:13)
I get the bus to work and go down the A6 to Stockport from Buxton and everyday I see cyclists cause congestion or headaches for the bus driver and other vehicles as they attempt to get past safely.
A Bus Driver (15/10/2008 at 08:18)
dessie, manchester (15/10/2008 at 08:28)
Then again there are a few cycle lanes around the city, but more times than most the cyclists use the road not using the cycle lanes!!!
Trumpetman21 (15/10/2008 at 08:43)
I've got my popcorn & comfy chair on standby....
Mad Welsh Scotsman, Cadishead (15/10/2008 at 08:50)
Having said that, I don't agree that entirely down to car drivers at all, all cyclists should have some road safety training before being allowed out on the road, some cyclists will mount the pavement to avoid stopping at red lights and they should be fined for it, can you imagine a motorcyclist doing it?
Mad Welsh Scotsman, Cadishead (15/10/2008 at 08:58)
Leesy, Manchester (15/10/2008 at 09:04)
PW, Manchester (15/10/2008 at 09:05)
HS (15/10/2008 at 09:21)
Would these be the same cyclists who go through red lights; cycle up the inside of you when you are waiting at lights to turn left with your indicator on; cycle in the dark with no lights on; weave in and out of the traffic; cycle while having a conversation on their mobile; cycle the wrong way on a one way street; pull out to overtake another cyclist into the path of the cars on the road; don't even use the cycle lane when there is one provided ... I could go on!
I am in no way opposed to cycling, however, if you are going to use the road on whatever means of transport then you are obliged to abide by the rules. If I did any of the above whilst driving my car I would be breaking the law. Cyclists are their own worst enemy and by flouting the rules are not helping themselves or the rest of us.
Edina Clouds, GREAT Manchester (15/10/2008 at 09:24)
We all use the roads,it is a two way pact,we'll look out for you if you look out for us.
dougie75, North Manchester (15/10/2008 at 09:29)
your probably one of those idiots bus drivers who drive in the cycle lane outside the aquatics centre. If you look at thesigns along oxford road you will see that the Buslanes are also to be used by cyclists. Just think what it is like to be a cyclist and have some idiot in a 10 tonne piece of metal squeezing you off the road.
A few weeks ago i nearly hit some bus passengers who were allowed off a bus that was sat at the lights (not at a stop), and the bus driver started abusing me as he felt I should be more careful. Next time ill plough right into them and then see who is in the wrong.
chris (15/10/2008 at 09:36)
lets susbsitute the word cyclist for either black or asian, see how well that goes down.
at the end of the day drivers have to acknoledge the massive responsibility they have when they are throwing themselfs around in couple of tonnes of metal and be a little more attentive to their driving.
Peter M, Mcr (15/10/2008 at 09:39)
You have no right to complain about others. "Professional" bus drivers often run red light, drive in bicycle lanes, etc, probably because they fill invincible. Remember Stephanie Davies and Martin Pilling, both killed by buses?
David Millington (15/10/2008 at 09:39)
I cycled to Southern Cemetery yesterday down Priness Road along the dual carriageway and did not see much in the way of cycle paths but it is NOT the law that cyclists must use them, I want to make progress and not cycle round pedestrians and junctions etc.
I came back into the city along Wilmslow Road and some of the cycling astonished me as the bus driver mentioned and it's no wonder people have accidents, cutting up the inside of buses turning left, my heart was in my mouth - idiots.
But we should all be able to live together, motorists are not exempt from stupid behaviour, talking on mobiles and passing far too close.
Cycling is safe so long as everyone has some sense.
toast (15/10/2008 at 09:40)
Also the ones by footpaths like those on barlow moor road and opposite MRI - generally full of pedestrians unaware that they are walking in cycle lanes
RHS (15/10/2008 at 09:54)
This will no doubt help with congestion which magically disappers when the University term finishes.
brummyview (15/10/2008 at 09:55)
Jason H, Manchester (15/10/2008 at 10:01)
Well, I myself am one of those cyclists. I obey the laws of the road - stop at red lights, give way when necessary and don't hop onto the pavement as a short-cut - and yet my journey to work is still perilous.
A big part of the problem isn't necessarily the lack of cycle routes, etc - Manchester is quite well served, when compared to my home town of Norwich - but that there's a complete lack of respect for other road users in this city, right across the spectrum. Militant cyclists cause havoc for cars and buses; cars and buses swerve in front of cyclists and give little room when overtaking; pedestrians step out into the road without looking or even use the cycle lane as a path. It may sound a little "President Dale", but the City Council should organise some kind of Respect campaign to get ALL road users thinking more about how any selfish actions can impact upon those around them.
That's my biggest bug-bear at the moment, really - simply that road users do not seem to pay attention to their surroundings. Driving has become second nature to some people and its time to get people thinking again, not just for the sake of the cyclists, but for cars, buses, lorries, vans, pedestrians - everyone!
Spinneyhead, Withington (15/10/2008 at 10:16)
Segregated cycle paths aren't a good idea, because sooner or later they throw us back out into traffic that's become used to us not being there and won't look out for us.
What's needed in the long run is more bikes on the road, so that drivers become accustomed to us. In the short term I'd recommend an increase in traffic wardens or Police who will stop cyclists and drivers alike when they break the rules.
Ace Shakespeare , manchester (15/10/2008 at 10:50)
Mad Angela, St George's, Hulme , (15/10/2008 at 10:59)
Beaufort (15/10/2008 at 11:21)
I drive a fair bit and in most parts of the country it's OK. But Manchester (city cntre mainly) has a problem with people blatantly going through on red. Not just nipping through on a cheeky amber/red, but when the lights are on green from the road on the left or right at crossroads or when pedestrians are crossing on a green man. The worst offenders by a long way are buses. Fact.
As for cyclists they have a point about the cycle lanes. Cycle lanes in this city aren't made for people to cycle in, they are put in place with the sole purpose of narrowing the roads and thus creating congestion. There are less cars coming into the city but there is more congestion. Go figure.
However, cyclists should not be riding on the pavement. They shouldn't wear ipods (as some drivers also do).
In my opinion cycling is for under 16's. When you grow up you by a motorbike if you like two wheels, not ride on a bike with silly leggings on. Fact.
Ace Shakespeare , manchester (15/10/2008 at 11:24)
If you mean by roadusers not being aware .could it be the cyclists who pull out without looking and expect cars to move and cyclists who jump in and out of cars without giving any signals or the cyclist that tries to reach 30mph and race cars?or the cyclist that dosnt have any lights at night or cyclists that have unroadworthy cycles the list goes on if the list was this big with cars there would be a lot of drivers off the road.Cyclists are self important and think they have total rights over car drivers.Sorry but cyclists need to get their act toghether before they start to want rights.