Influential groups support The Times Cities fit for Cycling campaign
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Times Cycling Campaign
(70 posts)-
Posted 13 years ago #
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This is something that could finally, at long last have a positive effect. Cycling is never going to become mainstream in this country while it faces hostility from mainstream media. It seems to be taking off. Lets hope!
Posted 13 years ago # -
It's a wonder it has taken so long for a newspaper to do something like this. The positive publicity amongst cyclists will do the paper wonders; and the site hits from annoyed masses who hate cyclists will bring them money. Bit of a publicity coup really.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Well I punted a "pedalling pound" towards them for a copy of the paper this morning. I noticed the Wiggins' Sky logo is not nearly as prominent as it might have been which is nice.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Gordon MacKenzie has responded to my email saying
I believe the Council Leader notified the Times yesterday that we would be supporting this campaign - indeed, from a brief review of the article I believe we are already meeting or exceeding several of the targets.
Cameron Rose was more effusive in his response
Kirsten,
I think you are well aware that I am a regular cyclist and have a particularly keen interest in a wide range of cycling issues.
First this link provides the the administration's answer to your question which was provided yesterday at a meeting of Edinburgh Council (see Question 8). Whilst the emphasis in the answer might not be the same as mine, there is much helpful detail included which addresses your question.
Second, last time I checked, the cyclist casualty rate in Edinburgh was on a marked downward trend. (As you will appreciate the rate is not the same as the total of casualties. The more people who cycle, the less the risk of cycle casualties).
All indicators are that there has been an increase in cycling. It is also important not to exaggerate the risk. That creates a counterproductive fear amongst those who are not confidant cyclists or who might be persuaded to begin cycling.
Finally, you will have noticed a number of prominent people who have given a personal lead in encouraging cycling who are Conservatives, the Prime Minister and the Mayor of London among them.
Whilst less prominent, your favourite local councillor, (or at least one of your favourite local councillors) has done likewise! Indeed, for long Edinburgh Conservatives have had a policy of introducing a Boris Bikes type scheme in Edinburgh - which has hitherto be thwarted.
If you wish to forward your particular source for Paris statistics I would be interested.
Best wishes,
Cameron
and the minutes of the council meeting say
QUESTION NO 8
By Councillor Johnstone for answer by the Convener of the Transport Infrastructure and Environment Committee at a meeting of the Council on 2 February 2012
Question
What action is being taken to make cycling in Edinburgh safer?
Answer
In 2010 the City of Edinburgh Council and its key partners, Lothian and Borders Police, NHS Lothian, and Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service developed the Road Safety Plan (Plan) for Edinburgh to 2020. Streets Ahead, Road Safety in Edinburgh is the resulting partnership formed by these agencies to tackle road safety in the city.
The Plan contains a series of priority areas for Edinburgh that were identified from both a detailed analysis of casualty data and consultation with the Council’s partners and other stakeholders including user groups, to ensure interventions target those most at risk. Cyclists feature as a key priority area of the Plan.
Specific cycling interventions are:
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Undertake accident investigation and analysis to determine patterns of cyclist collision occurrence and determine remedial measures;
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Establish a cycle safety working group – awareness raising, enforcement, training and alterations to the road environment;
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Develop campaigns – aimed at safer cycling and the health benefits of cycling;
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Cycle training – ensure that the Scottish Cycle Training Scheme resources and practical training is promoted in every school; and build upon safer cycling education and awareness measures through basic and further educational training initiatives, aimed at all road users;
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Network management – ensure cyclists’ needs are accommodated in new road and maintenance schemes.
An annual collision investigation is carried out into all roads and streets using the collision details supplied by the Lothian and Borders Police, who are responsible for the collection of all personal injury road traffic collision data within their force area. This investigation determines clusters of cycle collisions at locations where the collision rate is giving cause for concern and where remedial works may require to be implemented.
A recent Accident Investigation and Prevention (AIP) scheme identified a cycle collision problem at the junction of West Savile Terrace and Mayfield Road, with a pattern of collisions between right turning vehicles in conflict with cyclists travelling from the Kings Buildings into town. The solution in this case was to introduce traffic signals to the junction. The site had a history of 6 collisions in a three year before period, 5 of which involved cyclists. The scheme is still being monitored but in the almost two years after period so far there has been one slight injury collision at this site.
A monthly working group meeting comprises representatives from Streets Ahead, Spokes, Cycle Touring Club and the Bike Station. The objectives of the working group are to:
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Reduce the number of cyclists involved in fatal and serious collisions;
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Raise awareness of the consequences of inappropriate driver and cyclist behaviour;
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Raise awareness of the potential hazards faced by drivers, cyclists and pedestrians;
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Improve behaviours of cyclists and motorists through targeted campaigns;
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Encourage the sharing of space philosophy amongst drivers and cyclists.
Following an initiative in November 2011 by Lothian & Borders Police on the Meadows encouraging the use of high-visibility clothing, follow on campaigns are proposed throughout 2012. In April, a campaign targeting cyclists and driver behaviour at junctions, including the use of Advanced Stop Lines is planned. This will include bus back advertising, with an education roadshow proposed at Waverley Court and Edinburgh University.
Planned for launch in Bike Week (starting 18 June) is an awareness campaign highlighting to cyclists the blind spots around large goods vehicles. It is anticipated that this will include:
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High profile advertising campaign on buses;
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Road shows across the city displaying HGVs and buses, including Edinburgh Royal Infirmary aimed at highlighting the actual size and scale of blind spots around larger vehicles;
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Training events with CEC fleet drivers and cyclists to highlight blind spot issues;
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Installation of Fresnel blind spot mirrors on CEC and other Streets Ahead partner fleets;
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Trial of Fresnel mirrors with other HGV/bus/coach operators;
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Provision of warning signs for the backs of large vehicles to alert cyclists of dangers.
The Council is continuing to develop the city's cycle network in line with the goals set out in the Active Travel Action Plan (ATAP). In 2012 this is expected to include the completion of the Quality Bike Corridor between King's Buildings and the city centre and an off-road route between Leith Links and Portobello. The ATAP programme aims to connect up existing off-road infrastructure, sign a city-wide network of 'Family Friendly' routes and improve on-road conditions for cyclists.
Total expenditure on the construction of cycle schemes has risen from £0.8m in 2009-10 to £1.4m in the current year (2011-12).Posted 13 years ago # -
Well done Kirst
Posted 13 years ago # -
Day three
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3308569.ece
Maybe more on-line later.
Might have to buy a copy to get '12 page supplement'.
Posted 13 years ago # -
An idea that's been bobbing around in my head for a while was spurred on to completion by this campaign. I've produced London...
"Super Highway"
...and Edinburgh...
"World-class Cycling City"...specific variations
Current thinking is to get them done up as postcards that can be sent to councillors, MSPs etc.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Might actually remind them to repaint some disappearing ASLs as well.......
Posted 13 years ago # -
@kaputnik at least London got some paint.
Edinburgh is still deciding what sort of paint/longer lasting surfacing and which ASL boxes are 'allowed' to have it - for "streetscape" or cost reasons.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Following my request that Edinburgh might add themselves to the list of supporting city councils, I've had some responses from my councillors, including:
Thank you for your email. I wrote to the head of Transport and spoke with the Convenor of the Transport Committee, Councillor Gordon Mackenzie and yes they are investigating signing up to this. Sadly we do not do work that quickly as it needs to go to a committee but we do obviously support the spirit of what is intended.
It is indeed unfortunate that ten other city councils, including Glasgow, are so agile in pledging their support, making us look bad.
Perhaps the Times gave them notice of the campaign, that we did not receive?
Robert
Posted 13 years ago # -
"...but we do obviously support the spirit of what is intended."
Presumably the spirit of the intent was to Make Cycling Popularlier/Safer, but perhaps CEC's laggardness has saved them from publicly supporting the drift into celebrity endorsements of cycling's unsafeness and an excuse for other media outlets to find their Clarksoniest or most Parrisesque mouthbag to trot out "and NOW the bleating parasites want THIS!" froth-pieces.
Posted 13 years ago # -
I meant to come back to this after buying the Times for the 'How to Cycle Safely' supplement at the weekend. Wish I hadn't really...
I guess they're trying to show why things need to change on the roads, and articles pointing out how wonderful cycling is aren't going to do that. But Rebecca Romero (the first article) telling us that she trains indoors now because the roads are too dangerous to ride on, and her friend had a big crash, and James Cracknell had a big crash, was very much we're dooooomed! in its tone.
Other articles followed suite, and the illustrated (poorly, they needed kaputnik - I think citycycling should strike back) 'this is how to cycle safely' had strange slants. The first tip listed equipment, so naturally helmet and hi-viz ranked ahead of 'good working brakes' in the safety stakes. Also listed was 'wear flat shoes'...
Dave would have hated the little illustration of lorry blind spots.
The piece de resistance, however, was a short article by a motorist, trotting out the usual anti-cyclist tirade. It has been suggested to me that this might make cyclists wake up to how they're seen on the roads if they do something wrong, but I think any regular cyclist is well aware of how they are viewed by a certain proportion of the driving public.
Oh, and it was all very London-centric. One of the main tips in the illustrated section, given a panel all of its own, was not only to 'always' use cycle paths where they exist (I thought we'd argued that one to death in the Highway Code revisions!), but specifically to use the London Superhighways. I guess if I'm riding in London I'll definitely not be at risk of being run over in Edinburgh... And of course it misses the point that there have been a huge amount of complaints and problems with the superhighways since they started
putting them inrepainting the cycle lanes blue.Posted 13 years ago # -
"But Rebecca Romero (the first article) telling us that she trains indoors now because the roads are too dangerous to ride on, "
Does she? That is really sad. :-(
Posted 13 years ago # -
"...but I think any regular cyclist is well aware of how they are viewed by a certain proportion of the driving public..."
Whereas the irregulars and occasionals might not. Much as they lack telepathic taxi-prediction skills, knowledge of the turning envelopes of long vehicles and the large ironic question-marks our visual cortices overlay on top of all turning-indicator lights. They might not even know that they should never ever voluntarily interpose themselves between a BMW's bonnet and anything anywhere in front of it. Knowledge that there are other road users out there who are not only unwilling to tolerate a cyclist's relative weakness but who will also deliberately exploit it given the slightest opportunity should be at the top of any list of safe cycling requisites. It would have more helpful if some of the whinefroth had been anticipated and new/irregular/occasional/unobservant cyclists apprised of the way they may be perceived by other road users by someone who also cycles rather than someone who doesn't (including those who claimed that they used to at the start of their article to try and pretend that they can see both sides).
Posted 13 years ago # -
Perhaps I was dreaming, but one of saturday's opinion pieces had James Cracknell pontificating that the non wearing of cycle helmets was morally equivalent to being an eighties style football hooligan.
I can't check, because I threw it out thereafter.
Posted 13 years ago # -
I'd have thought there's an equally good argument that the possibility of new/irregular/occasional/unobservant cyclists neither knowing or caring about prejudice against them is a good thing, rather than something to be disabused (especially using such a poor excuse as safety!)
Some good points are being made though that the main outcome of this campaign, surprise-surprise, is that cycling is looking more and more dangerous and foolhardy. I've had a couple of comments at work about it that I wouldn't normally expect. (Of the "na, I'd never cycle into work, look at all that stuff in the paper" line of thinking).
Posted 13 years ago # -
@wingpig, sorry the comment that was given to me was in relation specifically to the anti-cyclist tirade of the driver, not the lorry blindspot stuff and everything else.
And you're right, the occasional or non-cyclist might not know about the prejudice felt against us, but equally are less likely to be the people whose attitudes to running lights and so on need to be changed. And also, reading that piece and realising it might well stop the occasional cyclists, and completely put the non-cyclists off...
Definitely needed more 'actual citycyclists' writing, rather than relying so heavily on celebrity endorsement of the dangers.
Posted 13 years ago # -
@anth Saw the tweet I think you're referring to.
It is unknown whether new/irregular/arrogant/uncaring/unobservant cyclists respond more to the opinions of regular cyclists or non-cyclists when the latter attempts to inform the former of how they come across on the roads (and pavements and paths). Might a reasonably-presented opinion from someone who shares their mode of transport [insert optional reference to psychological grouping-concepts] be more likely to be considered than the bile of the opponent who doesn't understand why they'd try in the first place and sees only the bad?Posted 13 years ago # -
Yep, I think we're coming from the same place.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Yeah, I got the "Oh noooooo..." moment when I saw the illustrated diagrams of how to cycle safely.
Basically, the message is, cycling is really, really, dangerous, don't do it unless you have all the right gear and know all the tricks.
Sigh. Well meaning, but ultimately misguided.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Driving is VERY dangerous.
LOTS of people die - even when protected by large metal boxes with lights at each corner.
Walking is pretty dangerous too.
Posted 13 years ago # -
STAY AT HOME!
Sorry
Forgot
That's not too safe either...
Posted 13 years ago # -
"but equally are less likely to be the people whose attitudes to running lights and so on need to be changed"
I'm not sure if this is true or not. You seem to be saying that people get less likely to follow the law the more experience they have, although I may be reading you wrongly? Although thinking of myself as a driver, I guess that *is* true.
Posted 13 years ago # -
True, my post does give that inference. It was more reversed in that those who break the law (thinking more of the dangerous aspects) are more likely to be people who have ridden for a while and think they can do so safely.
Although that doesn't always extend - I think many novice/nervous cyclists ride on the pavement because they feel the road is dangerous.
I'm talking myself out of my own point here... Right, the way I'd put it is the very deliberate and blatant breaking of the law is done by those who would be more experienced; whereas the 'negligent' (trying to think of a better word) and reactive breaking of the law tends to be done by the new/inexperienced.
Posted 13 years ago # -
That makes sense I suppose, although the more I think about it, the more holes I see in it. For instance, go on a brevet that passes through a busy city and people (IME) are unlikely to bounce lights even though they are probably most experienced of all. Neds travelling via BMX don't worry too much about red lights - but then do they count as experienced or not? They probably rack up decent riding times overall?
Racers on the other hand, like the ERC posse, are very badly behaved, but I'm not 'in' enough to comment on whether more or less experienced racers ride better or worse. Kap might be able to offer some help there.
I find it difficult to rate commuters in terms of experience. If their jacket is not covered in muck, is it new because they're new to riding, or new because they ride so much they wore the last one out?
Posted 13 years ago # -
No, again, I'm not saying that the more experienced you are the more likely you are to break the rules; but rather that those who break the rules are more likely to be experienced. Tis a subtle difference.
Certain peer groups will also act differently, as you say. On audaxes anyone running a red has been shouted at. Happened on PfS as well. Whereas I've seen ERC groups happily go through the Duddingston Crossroads lights, either on the road, or riding onto the pavement (round a blind walled corner).
Neds on BMXs are definitely experienced.
Posted 13 years ago # -
The "did you just do that because a: negligent and ignorant, in that you were unaware that you were going through a red light, b: ignorant, in that you were aware of it but didn't think it applied to you on a bike, c: negligent, in that you were aware of it but didn't bother to stop because you're too hurried/important/arrogant/you're taking part in a timed event/you looked around and saw that there was 'no point' in stopping as there was no-one waiting to cross?" question (and the "are you now pleasingly illuminated, remorseful or obstreperous as a result of having been pulled up about it?" follow-up) is probably one for Sgt. Quentin and colleagues the next time they have a hauling-over-RLJ-ing-dingbats session.
Posted 13 years ago # -
"
I am pleased that the Times are launching this campaign; it is much needed. But, it is also sad that it takes yet another tragedy to make important newspapers and others sit up and take notice.Is this what it is going to take? For more and more people to actually know someone who died or was seriously injured while riding a bike; before the situation changes and people start taking responsibility for the control of the vehicle they are driving.
Because this is what it boils down to; almost all of these tragedies are avoidable.
"
http://davesbikeblog.squarespace.com/blog/2012/2/2/changing-times.htmlPosted 13 years ago # -
@wingbat, I daresay there's nobody in the country who doesn't understand the meaning of red lights, even if they had to derive it from first principles (by standing in the street for thirty seconds).
It's exactly like speeding. The reason people do it is because the risk is less than the reward - in this case, a tiny chance that they might get a very small fine, versus a significant saving in time and effort.
Not that it's necessarily relevant, but at least with cycling you really can make big step changes in journey time by shooting red lights, so the reward side is understandably large enough that people find it worth pursuing (unlike driving at 40mph between traffic jams, when the person in the car behind - my good self - is sticking to the limit and catching up at every junction).
For me, I reckon red lights add an average of 5 minutes to a 15 minute commute (33%!) and could easily be shot, as in case of point, I often dismount and walk across them all.
Posted 13 years ago #
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