Radical 8-point action plan is urged by The Times in a front cover splash
The Times on Thursday leads with an 8-point action plan on safety for cyclists that many will feel is a radical list.
‘Cycling should be both safe and pleasurable,’ thundered The Times. ‘Ministers, mayors and local authorities must build cities that are fit for cycling.’
The newspaper has launched a public campaign and 8-point manifesto calling for cities to be made fit for cyclists:
1. Trucks entering a city centre should be required by law to fit censors, audible truck-turning alarms, extra mirrors and safety bars to stop cyclists being thrown under the wheels.
2. The 500 most dangerous road junctions must be identified, redesigned or fitted with priority traffic lights for cyclists and Trixi mirrors that allow lorry drivers to see cyclists on their near-side.
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3. A national audit of cycling to find out how many people cycle in Britain and how cyclists are killed or injured should be held to underpin effective cycle safety.
4. Two per cent of the Highways Agency budget should be earmarked for next generation cycle routes, providing £100 million a year towards world-class cycling infrastructure.
5. Each year cities should be graded on the quality of cycling provision.
6. The training of cyclists and drivers must improve and cycle safety should become a core part of the driving test.
7. 20mph should become the default speed limit in residential areas where there are no cycle lanes.
8. Businesses should be invited to sponsor cycleways and cycling super-highways, mirroring the Barclays-backed bicycle hire scheme in London.Every city, even those without an elected mayor, should appoint a cycling commissioner to push home reforms.
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4 comments
Carlton, this is amazing! And I can imagine there's some dismay along with the rejoicing. Was this list prepared with the cooperation of UK bike advocates? Are any of these proposals not generally accepted by the advocacy community?
Ray Keener Feb 2nd 2012 at 12:12AM
0 0Fantastic news, to see someone put what we all want to see delivered on the front page of the times Life could be so radically different for us and our children if they just got on with it ..... I'm doing my best not to be cynical, our slogan is 'where there's a wheel there's a way' I pray it's in my lifetime Bernie Cullen. Bike Rescue York
Bernie Cullen Feb 2nd 2012 at 12:19AM
0 0In general I welcome this, although as a cyclist and driver I do not agree with limiting the actions to 500 most dangerous junctions, all junctions need to be addressed. Cycle infrastructure needs to be designed involving consultation with local cycle groups to ensure it's useful, safe, convenient and free from the typical encumbrances as revealed by 'cycle facility of the month'. No gates, railings, fences, trees, bins, signs, width restrictions, buffalo-traps, lamp-posts, bollards, dangerous obstructions, steps, dangerous surfaces, door-zones, limbo-bars, pot-holes, speed-humps, etc. Parked vehicles blocking cycling infrastructure must be towed-away and sold-off/crushed and drivers & owners punished severely. Motor vehicles using cycling infrastructure must be seized and sold-off / crushed and drivers & owners punished severely. Whatever the signs per cyclist ratio of 'Cyclists Dismount' signs needs to matched by signs per driver ratio of a new sign 'motorists get out and push'. BTW, cycle infrastructure needs to be swept clean and properly maintained. BTW, word swap 'censor' and 'sensor'.
Christopher Sauvarin Feb 2nd 2012 at 8:29AM
0 0Well I have pledged my support. Having the Times on the side of the Cyclist has to add considerable weight to the debate. A friend of a friend (Ellie Carey http://www.london-se1.co.uk/news/view/5706 ) was recently killed in a collision with a Truck in central London. In my view not enough can be done to help make cycling safer. Let's hope the Times publicity has some significant impact. Mark Bickerton
Mark Bickerton Feb 2nd 2012 at 1:28PM
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