Brake: Safer routes could see 20% rise in cyclists
A new survey conducted by Brake of 800 adults revealed that whilst cycling has become more popular in recent years further investment in safe cycling facilities would see a rise of 20% of adults who could be persuaded to get on their bikes to improve their health and reduce carbon emissions and congestion, improving the likelihood of children cycling more too.
The results showed:
· 71% of respondents never cycle on roads and more than half (59%) never cycle at all.
· However, 34% of people who don’t currently cycle would cycle between home and local amenities if there were cycle paths and trails connecting them.
While many people are aware of the health benefits of cycling the major risks cyclists face on the road prevent many people taking up this pursuit, which urgently needs to be addressed.
In Britain in 2009, cyclists made up 0.5% of traffic, yet accounted for 5% of deaths and 11% of serious injuries on roads. 104 people were killed while cycling on roads and 2,710 suffered serious injuries such as paralysis, loss of limbs or serious head traumas. While the overall number of road causalities has been decreasing year on year, the number of cyclist deaths and injuries has not. In 2009, the number of serious injuries sustained by cyclists increased by 6%.
While the piloting of cycling towns in England has shown that investment in safer cycling routes can help to increase levels of cycling by around 27%, only 17 towns and one city have benefitted from this scheme, benefitting local populations of around 2.5 million adults and children or just 5% of the population in England. The recent abolition of Cycling England could put even this progress at risk.
Julie Townsend, campaigns director of Brake, said: “Cycling is an enjoyable, sustainable and healthy way of getting around and Brake wants to encourage more people to get on their bikes. However, it is vital that the Government is committed to making cycling as safe as possible and reduce the unacceptable number of cyclist deaths and serious injuries that occur each year. This research shows that if we want more people to cycle, we need to invest in safe cycle routes and schemes that protect cyclists. The message is clear: let´s encourage cycling by providing more traffic-free routes and other measures such as 20mph limits to enable people to get on their bikes in much greater safety.”
Recommendations to Government
The Government is committed to encouraging people to get on their bikes to improve levels of fitness and reduce CO2 and has outlined its intention to prioritise cyclist safety, acknowledging that the UK lags behind other European countries in protecting cyclists.
Brake is calling on the Government to invest in more engineering measures to help prevent cycling crashes. We need more traffic-free and segregated cycle paths, especially on commuter routes and connecting homes with local facilities. The Government is due to issue guidance in the next 6-12 months to local authorities on setting urban speed limits and Brake is calling for city or town wide 20mph limits to be promoted, enabling more people to adopt this healthy and green means of travel without having to run the gauntlet of dangerous roads.
Brake also advocates regulation for compulsory cycle helmet wearing as international evidence from New Zealand shows that it can increase the rate of cycle helmet wearing and reduces the rate of head injuries both off and on-road.
Case study
Mick Garner, 61, was a postie coming to the end of his career after a dedicated service. He delivered the mail on his bicycle to the same streets for 33 years. He lived in Margate and had a loving wife and a grown up son.
On his way to the depot at 3.45am on the morning of 14 May 2010, his bicycle was struck by lorry driver Steven Hole, 45. Hole did not see Mick until the very last minute when he swerved to avoid him, but the lorry struck the bike, knocking Mick to the floor where he suffered serious head injuries and died later in Margate Hospital.
Hole pleaded guilty to causing the death of Mick Garner by careless driving and was given a 10 month sentence, a three year driving ban and ordered to do an extended driving test before re-qualifying.
Mick’s son, John Garner, said: “My dad knew the route, he had his lights on and he was cycling as a cyclist should in the well-lit area of Margate seafront. My dad being killed has devastated my family; it’s very hard to accept that he is gone. I fully support this campaign for safer cycling facilities. Cyclists are vulnerable road users and more should be done to protect them.”
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