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The return of students to universities is expected to produce a spike in the number of cycle accidents this month.
As reported in the Cambridge News, last October saw a 22 per cent rise in the number of cycle accidents than September 2008. 2007 saw a more dramatic rise – of 162.5 per cent from September to October – while 2006 saw a 71 per cent rise. Those figures, taken from Cambridgeshire County Council, indicate further rises in November, while December historically sees a drop in cycle accidents.
Cambridge County Council runs a Bikeability training scheme – costing participants £5 an hour – in an effort to increase cycle safety in Cambridgeshire.
Bikeability project leader Simon Haydn said: "It is a little early, but the take-up of our Bikeability lessons has been slow among students, who are traditionally hard to target, because cycling safety isn’t considered ‘cool’.


"We have been attending Freshers Fairs and co-ordinating with student welfare officers, which will help make the new intake of students aware that good quality training is available."
