Infographic: Cyclist safety in Bike Week

Hi Guy's 

As it's Bike Week 2014, I'll be posting a few posts through the week to celebrate all things two wheeled, and today's post is aimed at road safety, with thanks to fellow cyclists and London solicitors, Osbornes we've teamed up together to share some statistics about cyclist safety in a neat infographic. If you are a road user some of these may be of surprise to you. And I promise you now it's not just motorists to blame here too, both motorists and cyclists can be both as bad and need to take more responsibility for their actions. With huge props to the motorists who look out for other road users even if they can be morons at times. 

 Personally some of these figures are no surprise to me they highlight one important thing. Both motorists and cyclists need to be educated on how to handle the roads themselves and how to interact around traffic, educating in this way could reduce accidents and reduce tensions on the roads between all users and above all else if you muck up, or worse cause an accident, apologise, try and work out who's to blame and pass details over, if the victim of a hit and run please speak to the police. 

I'm currently building the foundations on a new local cycle group in my local area with Sustrans for those who want to ride but are not as confident but the main hurdle I've got to beat is the sheer amount of people who are worried to cycle alone on the roads due to the risks, and CTC statistics back this up. In instances like this I hope we can broaden the LCC's Space For Cycling campaign to a nationwide initiative, bringing key changed whilst making infrastructure easier to use for all. C'mon LCC spread out the space for cycling love around the UK, there's plenty of cyclists and motorists alike willing to work together with you. After all, this is not just for us, it's for the future road users too, including your children and my children too. 

If you'd like more information on the infographic above, take a click here to Osbornes website, a group who are keen cyclists and want to help push changes through for all to share the roads together.  

Tomorrow we'll be talking about doing the school run with a bike an trailer,

How would you like to see infrastructure changed for the better, be it better roads, separation for cyclists or even more disability friendly pathways, anything? Let us know and we'll be happy to add these. 

Paul 

Disclosure: This post has been published in collaboration with Osbornes Solicitors LLP, 

Watch out for us.

I was involved in my first accident involving the bike and trailer this Monday gone.

Image credit - Rutland cycling
(Note this is identical to the model i have bar the colour scheme as mine was from halfords)

It's pissed me off but got me wondering what's it going to take for cyclists to get noticed on the road?

The town I live in is awful for cyclists. And we have the likes of the Traffic droid here. for instance. on Monday I was hit in the trailer by a lady whom 2 mins beforehand I had given enough space in front of her because I had the trailer. She was probably playing on her phone and touching the accelerator pedal without realizing she's moving forward. Her excuse was laughable "The sun was in her eyes" funny how when she was producing details her phone was not in her handbag as she claimed, but in her door pocket.

I done everything i can to be legal here, give space to me and other road users. Phone on a mount and Bluetooth hands free in use (unless it's raining then it's wired hands free  lights on both the bike and the trailer and finally the flag pole is lit up like a Christmas tree. Mainly because some arsehat clipped it, snapping it in two. It's taken an age to get it fixed, hence i give more space than usually right now.

But it does annoy me We should be using bikes on the roads and 99% of drivers are good, they give space and will not cut you up. But the same as cyclists the idiots spoil tar us all with the same brush.

Over the upcoming weeks I'm going to be in talks with the councils new Travel choices team to see about organizing a monthly Critical mass type ride through Dunstable and Houghton Regis to try and highlight the fact we are here too.

As for being noticed I don't know how to make the trailer better lit as it's got minimal spaces for lights but will be speaking to the manufacturer about this to see if they can help me.

If you use a trailer and want to get more out of it or help lighting it up please feel free to drop me a line

Paul

Cycle Ninja's

Evening all.
This post comes to you from personal experience of both dealing with and being the Cycle Ninja.

The Cycle Ninja comes out at night, armed with a pushbike, dark clothing no lights and a deathwish, these night dwellers do not keep the streets safe. HELL BLOODY NO they cause chaos by cycling on the road in the darkest of nights at the worst times possible. In some cases getting killed as a result.

For instance. When working at a place on the Luton/Dunstable boarder I had to deal with at least 3 daily, all going the same way. leaving a fat grump going the same way trying to illuminate the other three.
after 3/4 days I got fed up of this and overtook them, leaving them to the whim of the mental drivers going from our town to the motorway. Thankfully none were hurt from what i can gather, but luck runs out people. I for one would hate to have died from being unlit on a dark road or die because a ninja causes an accident. (Remember, to some motorists we are "just cyclists")

Now before people say to me they can't afford a set of lights. In this day that it utter balls.
A visit to Pound shop, armed with £3 is enough to buy Batteries and both front and back lighs. Yes they will fail a damn sight faster than a £30 set from a dedicated bike shop like Chain Reaction Cycles, Halfords or Cyclelife Dunstable. But these will be enough as a start. If splashing £30 is too much many sites do a decent front and rear set for £10. I will link to a few below

I get throughly annoyed when parents let children use bikes late at night with no lights, but. Realize we can't leash our kids. Most do get that being seen is important at night and could keep them alive. but to those who ride without lights you are only encouraging your kids to potentially do the same. And yes I was the ninja when younger. Totaling a £900 bike in the process

A bike can set you back a lot of money if you invest in a good one (not these £50 pile of junk from Indonesia sold through supermarkets and dodgy places that sell "ex catalouge bikes" cheaply) I for one would be ensuring I am visible and safe when on the roads.

I Say this as I witnessed on friday night coming home from the MADS at about 1AM through Leagrave no more than 5 Ninja cyclists, including a near miss sandwiching me and a ninja between a van. (thank the baby jebus the oncoming lane was clear for me to emergency overtake at speed, otherwise the ninja's actions would have injured both me and him)

Keep yourself protected at night. After all nobody else can.

Disclaimer. This is not an advertisement post. far from it. I would be happy to know this post has stopped your child, father, mother, lover, family member, best friend or even enemy from being killed.

Companies i have mentioned here are ones I have remembered off the top of my head, and as a result of this I will link to some sites below with full light sets available cheaply.  If the website wishes for these to be removed as there are other companies listed too. Jog on. This is not for you guys! It's for the protection of my followers and there families (the links are outdated, I'll update them this evening)

Chain reaction cycles (cheapest full set £10 - budget fall apart in weeks set £3) 
Halfords - cheapest decent set £15
Argos - they have some from £6 - spend more than that please
Evans Cycles 
Cyclelife 


Please buy lights. I'm not demanding the full hi viz here, just a light to say you are there!

Paul

2014 Update:

I must urge again people grab a set of lights, £3 is not a lot of money and to be seen and safe is more important that becoming squished under a car. I'm not one of those cyclists who will tell the world what to do with exception of lights, the days are getting darker and too many people risk their lives with this.
If the police used a similar Operation Safeway throught the UK not just the MET how well it would work?
Thoughts please

Road Safety Fail?

You all know i'm a cyclist. Confident enough to take control of my lane where safe to do so, but with enough respect for other road users that I'm glad it's rubbing off on locals. I'm not perfect at it but Willing to learn from and fix mistakes I make.

But there are places where nobody bar the planners need to apologise for.

Houghton road's new modifications are horrically dangerous to cyclists.

Look at the image below (click it for larger) where the cycle lane moves to and from the pavement to where the flow of traffic goes over said lanes. 

These lanes in green are to protect less than confident cyclists. but in reality they are poorly designed. i've been hooked by cars where the chevrons kick out suddenly and most drivers move suddenly with them. Right over the cycle path and over the other cycle path as they've put it on a corner.

Imagine pulling out thinking it's safe to do so as your following the lane (many kids do this as there are many schools around this road) and being under a 38 bus or a Meeks of luton wagon for following the path set by the planners. Well it's a severe possibility I've witnessed at least 3 near misses this month alone

Secondly the angle of the pavement and cycle path merging is stupidly small on the approach to the junction. the path widens 20 ft after the cyclist has entered the joint use area. Also the drop in the pavement is too small. resulting in sharp turning or near missing the fence. And for cyclists using trailers it's miles too tight and could result in tipping it over.

I will be presenting this to houghton regis town council as well as I don't wish for anyone to be hurt. But this does need to be looked into.

Paul