TfL rejects road safety campaigner's "Please Look" stickers for lorries (+ video)

simonmb - my comment probably didn't make sense... I was merely suggesting that the words "cycle defesively" means cycle into the gutter to most people, when we are encouraged, as cyclists, to take the lane - be prominent, make people around you aware that you are there.

As for driving defensively - no - I drive as I was taught to drive - legally, correctly and considerately. I don't consider this defensive in any way shape or form.

Its just me being pedantic over the word defensive - nothing more - I'm in complete agreement with you - I think confident is a better word to use.

'Cycling defensively' is not the same as being a 'submissive cyclist'. We are entitled to our share of the road, and should defend it (and ourselves) through making good, safe, and considerate use of it. I fear 'cycling offensively' will only add to our woes. Most of us are motorists too. Think about it - when we 'drive well' we 'drive defensively'. We're aware of and considerate towards other road users. We make good progress with the minimum impediment to other traffic. I don't feel 'submissive' when I drive in this manner, nor do I feel submissive when I cycle in this manner. I assert my right of way, but am always wary of others around me who may not be observant of the rules of the road. This is 'defensive' driving, and is too the only requirement for 'defensive' cycling. Why do we cyclists have such a big chip on our shoulder and think we own the road?

Is it just me or does the term "cycle defensively" conjure up images of cycling in the gutter? To most people, defending means protecting yourself, which in turn, to most novice / new cyclists (like when I first started out), assumed this meant get as far away from the vehicles as possible and stay in the gutter... Of course I've learnt a lot since then

Should it not be "cycle offensively"? Get in the middle of the road, slow down the cars behind you. Offend them if you have to with your slower pace. Show them your there. Make them aware that the roads are as much ours as theirs?

And I was being sarcastic about the TfL training as it clearly hasn't worked has it! They even state that in their statement by saying "... to attempt to highlight the issue".

Attempt? They really should be forcing the issue. Just like we should be forcing the issue on cyclists we see nipping down the side of lorries and buses.

Check out this clip by CyclingMikey on youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12fMTAQyXTI&playnext_from=TL&videos=997qF...

I agree Jobysp - more education is the way to go - lets start then by driving forward an agenda to change driver training and insisting on the creation of a continued vehicle driver development programme - this would benefit all road users, from pedestrians, to cyclists and other vehicle drivers, as everyone would be required to attend and have their driving and awareness improved.

It's all very well training cyclists to cycle defensively, I know because I am a National Standards Instructor, but if the wider motoring public still expect us to be "in the gutter" then we appear arrogant and are treat poorly as a result - how many drivers realise we should cycle 60-100cm away from the curb as a minimum? and that we are entitled to pass parked vehicles as far out as beyond an open doors width? Cyclists might be slowly getting the message, but lots more needs to be done to re-train the existing motoring masses.

Any initiative that helps reduce deaths or injuries caused in this avoidable manner is clearly desirable - but some methods are more productive than others. I can see many motorists reacting aversely to arriving back at their vehicle to find one (or more) stickers applied to their mirrors. A sizeable proportion of the motoring public sees the cycling fraternity as having been given far too much at the motorist's expense, we are often seen as an arrogant bunch, and stickering vehicles could be seen as another example of this. We need to EARN more respect. As cyclists, and the most vulnerable beings in our transport system's food-chain, we must shoulder a greater share of the responsibility by raising our own self-preservation awareness. Rather than hoping such a sticker will maintain a heightened awareness of cyclists in a distracted motorists mind, we'd be showing greater maturity in cycling ever more defensively, and wearing high-visibility clothing, and a helmet. A lazy motorist is more like to be alerted by a moving florescent jacket than he is to be prompted by seeing a florescent sticker to take an extra look for that hard-to-find cyclist. Ongoing efforts towards educating all road-users is surely the way to go - together with draconian punishment for ALL those who break the law.

TfL said that it was “acutely aware of the problem you have identified, and have a number of programmes in hand to address it. For instance, Transport for London has recognised cyclists as vulnerable road users and has run a number of campaigns over the last few years to attempt to highlight this issue.”

Mmmm. Obviously working then TfL. Keep it up!!

Joe - maybe you should print out 1,000,000s of them and distibute them to us and we'll stick them on their wing mirrors.

Make sure its very strong glue though.