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Commons committee to consider cycling safety next monthPalace Of Westminster At Night © Andrew Dunn.jpg

Commons committee to consider cycling safety next month

Views invited via Twitter and online ahead of oral evidence session next month
by Simon_MacMichael
Wed, Nov 20, 2013 16:08
10

A House of Commons committee is inviting written submissions ahead of an oral evidence session on cycling safety that will be held on Monday 2 December.

The Transport Select Committee previously considered the issue as part of a wider inquiry into road safety last year.

It is now holding a follow-up inquiry due to concerns over the risks cyclists face on the road following a series of high-profile fatalities this month.

So far in November, a dozen cyclists have lost their lives in road traffic collisions, all in England and half of those in the capital, London.

The committee’s chair, Labour MP Louise Ellman, said: “Six cyclists have been killed in London in the last two weeks: 14 have been killed so far this year, equalling the number killed in the whole of 2012.

"These are individual tragedies for the families involved, but they also draw attention to continuing concerns about the safety of cyclists on our roads.

“Many of these casualties involve large vehicles, especially HGVs, and there is now debate about whether they should be banned from city centres at peak times. This will have consequences for businesses which need to be assessed.

“There is also debate about the behaviour of drivers and cyclists and whether more can be done to promote compliance with the law.

"Concerns have also been expressed about whether vehicle and road infrastructure could be changed to protect cyclists and whether new developments, such as London’s cycle superhighways, are safe. We would like to stimulate debate on all of these matters.”

The oral evidence session will not be confined to concerns over cycling in London, with the committee inviting people to submit their views on issues including:

• Whether cycling is safe, particularly in towns and cities

• What central and local Government could do to improve cycling safety. Ideas could include better training and advice for drivers and cyclists, better enforcement of the law applying to drivers and cyclists, and better vehicle and road infrastructure.

• Whether it would be desirable and feasible to segregate cyclists from other road users, including, for example, by prohibiting HGVs from entering city centres at peak hours.

Twitter users can submit their views to @CommonsTrans using the hashtag, #cyclesafe, while written submissions can by made until next Tuesday 26 November via the Transport Select Committee’s website.

In its report published following last year’s road safety inquiry, the committee recommended that:

• The Government should consider how to encourage greater adoption of sensors and mirrors by HGVs.

• DfT should show how its efforts to work in partnership with departments such as DCLG and local authorities have been effective in encouraging the provision of cycle infrastructure and outline which problems in securing this joint-working have yet to be overcome.

• DfT should issue a formal response to each of the eight points in the Times cycling safety manifesto.

It also says “there was much work still to be done if the government wanted to demonstrate that it was showing leadership in improving cycling safety.”

Subsequently, the Get Britain Cycling report published by the All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group (APPCG) in April this year, made a number of recommendations including that leadership be shown on cycle safety from the highest levels of government.

However, the government’s response in August to that report left many accusing Prime Minister David Cameron and his cabinet that they lacked the political will to tackle the issue.
 

Transport Select Committee
Get Britain Cycling
Cycling Safety Inquiry
Simon MacMichael

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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10 comments

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Shades | 11 years ago
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Just spotted this story which will resonate with cyclists:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/10464846/Road-rage-...

Seems ironic that she gets found guilty when the driver was clearly trying to force his way past. If the driver had scared the horse and she'd been thrown off and subsequently died (not uncommon), he'd probably just have been fined.

Avatar
mrmo replied to Shades | 11 years ago
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Shades wrote:

Just spotted this story which will resonate with cyclists:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/10464846/Road-rage-...

Seems ironic that she gets found guilty when the driver was clearly trying to force his way past. If the driver had scared the horse and she'd been thrown off and subsequently died (not uncommon), he'd probably just have been fined.

about sums it up, driver rather than use their brain and realise a horse is an animate object that is easily spooked. Has to use their horn to try and barge past!!!!! and £1500!!!!! so you can run cyclist off the road for £677 but if you dare to touch a car!

£385 to repair the windscreen.... cost me £50 when i had to... Then again i suspect flash car and third party insurance.

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Leodis | 11 years ago
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Really thinking of moving to MTB'ing, seems its only the stray shots at badgers I need to worry about.

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IanW1968 | 11 years ago
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TBH I would like to see ye old style public information programmes on the tele box, cheap as chips these days, you could have em out in a few weeks:

Riding two abreast is ok.
Don't ride in the gutter.
Don't ride near car doors.
The roads belong to everyone.
Your finance agreement does not include the roads.
Don't ride on pavements
Don't park on pavements
Don't use your phone/tablet whilst on the road.
Don't jump lights
Don't speed.
Don't listen to Boris
Don't read forums.
Do chill.

Avatar
William Black replied to IanW1968 | 11 years ago
0 likes
IanW1968 wrote:

TBH I would like to see ye old style public information programmes on the tele box, cheap as chips these days, you could have em out in a few weeks:

Riding two abreast is ok.
Don't ride in the gutter.
Don't ride near car doors.
The roads belong to everyone.
Your finance agreement does not include the roads.
Don't ride on pavements
Don't park on pavements
Don't use your phone/tablet whilst on the road.
Don't jump lights
Don't speed.
Don't listen to Boris
Don't read forums.
Do chill.

^^^This is what is needed!

And not at 2am in the morning just before the national anthem...slap bang in the middle of the X-Factor, Match of the Day etc

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Mostyn | 11 years ago
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Lot of media coverage about cycling safety of late; many TV chat show programmes airing a motorised view of how a cyclist is to blame; seems the British are a breed of selfish people; especially when it comes to showing consideration for others. Ain't it a shame?

Cyclists should take more responsibility for their safety on the roads; OK.

1/20 of cyclists involved in accidents - are actually to blame for causing the accident.?

At traffic lights or a junction; Cyclists should not ride down the left hand side of the motorised vehicles! OH, so youd like cyclists to ride (smack in the centre) in the middle of the road? That would slow all the traffic as the cyclist pulled away (no engine on a bycycle) slowly does it on that accelerator mate!

Cyclists should not overtake slow moving vehicles on the left. Well, that's a debate on safety on it's own? Cyclist overtakes a vehicle on the right hand side; vehicle moves off quickly, leaves the cyclist in no-mans-land and vulnerable to the traffic from behind; and you find the traffic (motorised Vehicles) passing you on your left; ie overtaking on the inside; and not allowing the cyclist to return to the left hand side of the road. Nothing safe about that Eh?

All bicycles should have road insurance; and be a legal requirement? Hello hello.hello where's your number-plate sir?

Motorists said that cyclist are aggressive and arrogant; well I'm thinking they could be justified; especially when confronted by some drivers who should not be behind the wheel of a dangerous weapon.

Here's the one every motorist uses! Cyclists jump traffic lights. OK, some do some don't, do they deserve to be killed? It's the middle pedal on your vehicle; use it. Human life is precious; and cannot be valued in time or money.

So, we have a non polluting mode of transport that is kind to the environment; it alleviates traffic congestion, it's healthy exercise (unless you get run-down by a polluting over-used vehicle) or maybe all cyclists should revert to using their motor vehicles for their commute to work? That surely would ad to the heavily congested roads. BTW, there's no such thing as road tax; and no pollution from a bicycle.

Human life is precious to everyone; take care; show you care, and be aware of others as you travel on our highways. The cyclist could be your Mum, Dad, Brother-sister, Husband-Wife or Son - Daughter! Better to be late; than take someones life.

Yup, I'm a cyclist and a driver.

One sided media debates are ridiculous. Stop and think for a moment! Your attitude could caost someone their life.

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northstar | 11 years ago
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And nothing will change.

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Andy G | 11 years ago
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Being pedantic but "So far in November, half a dozen cyclists have lost their lives in road traffic collisions, all in England and half of those in the capital, London." should read, "So far in November a dozen cyclists...."

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mrmo | 11 years ago
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I would have to agree they are going to have alot of comments coming there way!

For what's it worth, zero tolerance for bad driving.
Education for cyclists.

everything else are nice to haves.

Enforcement of working hours on ALL business drivers, that includes reps, private hire etc. GOOD cycle paths, proper design of new roads to give real consideration to cyclists. A change of mindset about redesigning junctions, cars are not king! Give the roads back to pedestrians and cyclists.

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ironmancole | 11 years ago
0 likes

Damn right I'll contact them. Suspect they'll be avalanched and much of it to do with the complete lack of deterrent and punishment for drivers who just aren't fit to hold a licence.

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