BBC focuses on cyclists’ safety

12.00 | 5 November 2014 | | 8 comments

The BBC News website last week published a series of articles focusing on the issue of cycling and cyclists’ safety.

The articles include:

Viewpoint: ‘Why I won’t let my eight-year-old cycle on the road’
Better funding and following the example of other European countries would make people more willing to get on our bikes, says Chris Boardman, policy adviser at British Cycling.

How safe is cycling?
Cycling in Britain is often perceived as dangerous, but how much have the risks of riding a bike changed, and how do they compare with driving a car, asks statistician Jamie Jenkins.

Would these five changes actually help cyclists?
Many cyclists believe improving culture among drivers and boosting infrastructure are the only meaningful ways to save lives. But how much effect would some of these smaller changes have?

Cycling in the city: Chris Boardman’s top tips
Chris Boardman gave BBC News his top tips for making cycling in the city safe and enjoyable.

 

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    No Idris, I wouldn’t expect you to understand.


    Rod King, 20’s Plenty for Us
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    Chris Boardman is correct to not let his 8 year old ride on the road, maybe. A lot of research has been done in educational circles about the abilities of children and generally speaking those under 9 cannot fully understand the concept of cause and effect. This has an effect on their decision making process which appears illogical to adults. That said, he will have done a risk assessment on the route in question and his daughter’s abilities and come to his own informed opinion. Maybe he needs to get her bikeability trained and even attend a course himself. Even the most experienced riders can be reminded of best practice or learn something new.


    Peter London
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    What on earth have Rod’s exercise in semantics to do with the subject at hand?

    And if I may raise again here a point I drew to Rod’s attenion recently on another thread, Hampshire Highways Department confirm to me that is an offence, both for whoever does it and for those whose views or services are so promoted, to attach any poster or similar to “street furniture” such as road signs and posts.

    It being in any case logical that the authorites should have a monopoly regarding speed limit signs, will you now ensure that all such “20’s Plenty” signs are removed forthwith?


    Idris Francis Fight Back With Facts Petersfield
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    Bob

    I accept that “war” as a metaphor does get used. Looking up Wikipedia at
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_as_metaphor
    it mainly mentions “war on want”, “war on poverty” and even “war on women”. I note that the only mention of “war on cars” is by Toronto mayor Rob Ford!

    I note that the comment is made that “”In debating social policy through the language of war, we often forget the moral reality of war.”

    I happen to think that talking of the legitimate management of motor vehicles as a “war on cars or the motorist” is far from constructive.

    But there again, I guess that Rob Ford would disagree with me on that.


    Rod King, 20’s Plenty for Us
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    I am sorry if I upset anyone’s sensitivities including yours Rod, and apologise unreservedly for any offence it may have caused you and anyone else. I use the word war in a very general sense and manner that has become socially acceptable for many generations and in many other circumstance like war on cancer or war on poverty and not in the concept as you describe. Perhaps you might have some other constructive critique that you might want to share with us.


    bob craven Lancs
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    Bob

    Definition of war:

    noun
    1.
    a state of armed conflict between different countries or different groups within a country.

    I am afraid the phrase “war on the motorist” tells us more about the prejudices of the person making the comment than anything else. It is particularly ironic at a time when the nation is commemorating the dead from real wars in the past and millions are victims of real wars in the present. I am sure that any of these would gladly exchanged their suffering for the odd parking ticket. Perhaps we can have a little more perspective in future comments.


    Rod King, 20’s Plenty for Us
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    I watched the first of these stories on BBC and it made it painfully clear and of no doubt that it is war against the cars of today and the anticipated increase in car usage in the future. There was admissions of this fact by the dept of Transport. Car parking was beginning to be made more difficult in an effort to reduce car usage. Several more initiatives will be put in place as and when the time is considered right in an effort to reduce further the number of cars and other vehicles being used.

    New road structures are in the pipeline to enable greater movement of bicycles, a super computer designed to control all traffic lights in the conurbation. It can now read the road and determine the type of vehicle now travelling upon it. This will enable it to alter a particular set of lights functions and time spacing to the benefit of the greater number of cycle users and to the detriment of others.


    bob craven Lancs
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    Couple of interesting, if contradictory statements from the experts.

    “If we really are serious about trying to make cycling part of our culture, either the cars have to be tamed, or the cyclists have to be segregated.”

    “The starting point for every aspect of that system is the driver will make mistakes. It’s insane that we utterly ignore human fallibility [for cars and cycling].”

    “A sensible cyclist – and there are some fools out there – has pretty much done all he or she can do for their safety”

    I particularly like the one about cars having to be ‘tamed’ and the idea that a certain type of road user has done all they can for their safety is quite laughable.


    Duncan MacKillop, Startford on Avon
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