"
Lorries and HGVs pose the most serious threat to cyclists, according to a study by a leading trauma hospital
"
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3341082.ece
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Cycling News
"Cycling injuries ‘treble in six years’ "
(18 posts)-
Posted 13 years ago #
-
This evidence backs the calls made by Spokes and others for more education and training for professional drivers.
Lothian Buses' driver training programme is a model to look at. Parliament could legislate to make similar training mandatory at bus firms, hauliers, and taxi firms.
Of the four cyclist deaths in Edinburgh over the past year, 2 involved HGVs, 1 a taxi.
Posted 13 years ago # -
I was thinking that Edinburgh is really looking much more dangerous than London for biking now - with the usual nod to tiny sample sizes.
London has over 15x the population, but only 4x as many cyclist deaths in the last year - so we're getting on for a fourfold increase in fatalities over the much-feared London traffic (and as the cycling rate is a lot lower, probably a much bigger disparity per cycling journey?)
Trend or statistical outlier, etc...
Posted 13 years ago # -
I was thinking that this morning too.
Posted 13 years ago # -
"I was thinking that Edinburgh is really looking much more dangerous than London for biking now - with the usual nod to tiny sample sizes."
Exactly (ish). Can't really make a valid comparison based on one year.
Posted 13 years ago # -
The comparison doesn't stand up but that doesn't mean it isn't being made, by everyone from the government ("let's have a safety summit!") to the man in the street, to my ol' ma ("stop cycling!").
Posted 13 years ago # -
Posted 13 years ago #
-
and http://www.getstats.org.uk/
(perhaps a bit idealistic)
Posted 13 years ago # -
I don't have poor numeracy skills thanks. I was merely ruminating at the bus stop, the way one does.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Sorry, Min - a temporary bout of evangelism. [brought about by all this activism and also staff reviews]
Posted 13 years ago # -
As a random "anecdotal" piece of non-evidence. I find (central) London much safer to cycle in than edinburgh. Wider, straighter roads with loads of traffic lights and cycle paths.
Posted 13 years ago # -
I haven't cycled in London since the Velorution but when I did it was just miles and miles of static motor vehicles so not really much danger except to my lungs..
Amir- I HAVE the POWER, the POWER of N. [/statistical evangelism]
Posted 13 years ago # -
not really much danger except to my lungs..
Dooring could be a risk, mind.
Posted 13 years ago # -
"As a random "anecdotal" piece of non-evidence. I find (central) London much safer to cycle in than edinburgh"
Ditto, though there are 'invigorating' places - like Aldwich.
Certainly much of 'inner' London is usually better because roads are generally in better condition plus drivers generally less keen to race from one traffic jam to another.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Outlying data perhaps - low in first year mentioned and/or high in other year? Also small sample from one hospital. If that hospital was seen as good would patients from an increasing area be sent there?
Data collected by Police (up to 2010) for Edinburgh and for London doesn't show such a big increase or such a disproportionate number of casualties for Edinburgh. Is 2011/12 showing a real change for some reason, random variation, or are we/press just becoming more aware of need for improvement? Certainly there is a contrast with annual casualty rates for Edinburgh overall, which have reduced, while cycling casualties have not.
Posted 13 years ago # -
I'd guess it's mainly random variation, as there's no real reason to think that there's a systematic cause (no large increase in cycling numbers, no obvious change in driver behaviour in a diverse range of fatal scenarios).
Unfortunately that means that if the politicians can make some noise now, and then do nothing, they'll be able to capitalise on regression to the mean to "demonstrate" that they've made cycling safer.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Perception is also important, with many non-cyclists saying that the roads are too unsafe to take up cycling.
Posted 13 years ago # -
"Perception is also important, with many non-cyclists saying that the roads are too unsafe to take up cycling."
Certainly that shouldn't be underestimated - 2 cycle deaths in 2 months is a lot, and, we all hope, a blip.
But, as we have discussed here, 'some people' will grab at any excuse - hills, weather, 'safety' for not cycling.
Posted 13 years ago #
Reply
You must log in to post.
posts
