save our cyclist campaign, the times

[lumos2000]

since 2001, 576 British soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan and Iraq; 1,275 cyclists died on British streets.

says it all really

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cy ... 306502.ece

 

[cornholio's RC200]

Shocking figures. Problem is, there's not enough respect on either side for The Times' campaign to work.

I can't read the comments because I refuse to pay £2 a week to keep up Murdoch's grip on the media :twisted:

I can guarantee they will be full of "when cyclists pay tax and insurance and carry registration numbers, then I'll take heed" type arguments from drivers. This doesn't add anything to sensible discussion about the matter and certainly won't save any lives. The behaviour and road sense of some cyclists doesn't help either; some who should also know better.

How do we do it? Just don't know. Round my way there are drivers running red lights, cyclists that just plainly ignore lights, arguments starting up everywhere and that's just the beginning of it. I guess my first thing is that drivers should calm down behind the wheel and cyclists should buy some better lights - that's if they have any at all. We might start to get something done there. We'd all be able to see better whether it's through the red mist evaporating or through improved lighting...

Next the roads... Everything more than 10-15 years old in this country was made with motor vehicles in mind. So to improve standards for cyclists either more road has to be built or road has to be taken away to make cycle paths. Good for cyclists, bad for motorists. Our little island is so crowded in major connurbations now that friction is likely to happen wherever you go. I certainly wouldn't like to be the town planner or traffic manager in those situations anyway.

The point of this little rant is that we all need to respect each other for what we all are. Motor vehicles = fast and heavy therefore drivers need to take more care. Motor vehicles = fast and heavy therefore cyclists need to take more care. Both have responsibilities as road users; it's just the cyclists end up on the bad side pretty much every time.

 

[lumos2000]

i refuse to pay the £2 as well, but did sign up to give my support as i guess the more that do the more likley somthing will get done.

heres a list of the proposals in case you missed them


1.Trucks entering a city centre should be required by law to fit sensors, audible truck-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 of cycling to find out how many people cycle in Britain and how cyclists are killed or injured should be held to underpin effective cycle safety.

4.Two per cent of the Highways Agency budget should be earmarked for next generation cycle routes, providing £100 million a year towards world-class cycling infrastructure. Each year 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.
6.20mph should become the default speed limit in residential areas where there are no cycle lanes.

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 an elected mayor, should appoint a cycling commissioner to push home reforms.

 

[cyfa2809]

Sounds pretty decent to me.

Its a good start albeit a start which shouldnt have have to have been made.
Not looking to rile but it was said before that driving is a privilege not a right as most drivers will tell you and most certainly show you.

Some out of carelessness some out of couldnt care less and some just plain lacking in awareness.

As above, as the conurbations populations grows, the roads are becoming more packed still without much consideration towards cyclists.

 

[Rich Aitch]

Crikey! Are you sure this is in the Times? It sounds far too reasonable.

 

[tintin40]

If i was a bearded terrorist i'd be very unhappy with those figures. Must try harder.

If i was Boris i would also be very disappointed that so many cyclist die.

But after seeing cyclist go down the near side of a coach when turning left i'm not surprised that the death rate is high on London's road.

I've cycled round London for many years and i've seen more cyclists cycle badly and put them selves at risk than drivers.

Late last year their was a campaign to educate cyclists that they have to think more about their position concerning trucks & buses

 

[cyfa2809]

Very true but needs to be applied both ways!