Uk Roads Too Dangerous For Cyclists?

According to research commissioned by the department of transport, over 60% of people interviewed believed that UK roads were too dangerous for cyclists. This explains why there has been a huge increase in bike sales over the last few years but no comparable increase in cyclists on the roads. The belief among non or infrequent cyclists, that UK roads are too dangerous for cyclists seems to be well embedded.

Over half the respondents said they would love to cycle more but were afraid to do so because they believed that UK roads were too dangerous for cyclists. they said they would cycle more often if there were more cycle paths available. Over half of those interviewed had a bike but only a quarter cycled at least once a week, the majority were convinced that UK roads were too dangerous for cylists.

It’s easy to see why many people believe our roads are like a scene from the whacky races, the perception comes, in my opinion, from the sheer amount of traffic in urban areas these days. Also we are notoriously bad in this country at building good cycling infrastructures compared to our European partners who appear to be ahead of the game. Due mainly to the fact that they are willing to invest in cycling infastructure. I’m beginning to think our own government structure is inherently bikeist.(Anti Bike)

On top of this there is the negative image many drivers have of cyclists, believing they are a “bloody nuisance” ,rather than a legitimate road user. Local councils need a complete review of their cycling strategy. There’s no shortage of politicians who will spout the politically correct line about the need to go green, the need to get people out of their cars etc.

Every politician in the country will come out with the same green spiel if you press the right button. Unfortunately talk is as far as it goes. They’re like those action men with the pull out cord to make them talk. There’s more cycling lanes appearing slowly but surely, in some areas but many are not good enough, usually just a white line painted at the side of the road. Fair enough, this might keep a couple of council road painters employed for a day or two but it does nothing for cyclist’s safety. Nor does it do anything to despel the fear of infrequent cyclists about UK roads being too dangerous or cyclists.

If the government is serious about encouraging people to become more energy efficient and use their cars less it should make some serious investment to the cycling infrastructure in this country as well as a massive education program for drivers about the rights of cyclists to share the road. As long as people believe, rightly or wrongly that UK roads are too dangerous for cyclists then they are not going to cycle.

It’s commitment to cyclists is shown by its decision to abolish “Cycling England”, the government body set up in 2005 by Alister Darling to promote cycling in England. It was designated as a “Quango” by the government and abolished to save a couple of quid to help fight their debt problem.

Meanwhile the government splashes our cash all around the world, £650 million quid to Pakistan for government officials to share out amongst themselves. Watch out for the increase in Mercedes sales to Pakistan in the next year. Imagine what £650 million quid could have done for cyclists on UK roads.

The question I ask myself is what right does Cameron, or any man have, to give our tax money away like a drunken father of the bride at a wedding do. We should be able to vote on how our money is spent, it’s easy enough to do, we can vote on pop idle and other consumer shows, why not on how our tax is spent?

Uk Roads Too Dangerous For Cyclists

Dangerous Uk Roads?

Anyway the roads in this country are not as bad as they look to the non-cyclists. There’s always scope for improvement and always will be but on the whole our roads are pretty safe, once you can get used to the volume of traffic. It’s all about building confidence. Cycling England knew this and incorporated it as part of their strategy to get more people cycling. The government’s decision to abolish Cycling England is a clear message that it does not support cycling.

Picturers of David Cameron is not going to encourage people to jump on their bikes, only a long-term program of continuous investment will do that. I’ll leave the last word with Cycling England:

Our core hypothesis, back in 2005, was that with a consistent strategy and continuity of funding at a level equivalent to that of “cycling towns in Europe”, we could reasonably expect to achieve similar rates of growth in everyday cycling. These first six years have already proved us right, and we will all treasure our small part in that success for ever.

Unfortunately, Government has yet to appreciate these key lessons of consistency, continuity and the need for a long term strategy for an integrated transport policy for Britain. Sadly cycling still seems to be a “party political football” to be played with according to fashionable ideology or dogma.
But the challenge facing us – of a real change to behaviour, and of much more cycling especially for short urban trips – is not a “quick fix”. We never thought it was.

So my final message as the Chair of the almost extinct Cycling England is one of determination. Every one of us knows that the challenge is worth all our effort; we all know how relevant and how important it is. In our various ways we will not give up. We know that investment in cycling works; it brings results; it makes a difference to everyone’s life. It’s worth it.

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