Judy Terry is a marketing professional and a former local councillor in Suffolk.
In the last few years, there has been a 46 per cent increase in the number of pedal cyclists in the UK, prompted by concerns about the environment and reducing car usage, a desire to increase fitness, and Covid.
Consequently, millions – if not billions – of pounds have been spent on making roads more cyclist-friendly, with dedicated cycle lanes, and road closures potentially disadvantaging some vehicles, including those responding to emergencies but caught up in traffic jams.
According to Government statistics in 2020 there was a 41 per cent rise in accidents involving cyclists, with 141 deaths and 4,215 seriously injured. 83 per cent of those were male – and 56 per cent of incidents were in rural roads; 46 per cent involved cars but the highest proportion of incidents involved HGVs.
It is easy to blame drivers, but not all cyclists behave responsibly and they don’t appear to be subject to the same safety regulations. For example, taking both hands off the handlebars to use mobile phones or eat a sandwich as they cycle along, going through red traffic lights, weaving in and out of other traffic, cycling on the wrong side of the road and on pavements risking pedestrians’ safety before swinging into a road without bothering to check other traffic, or drug/drink driving. Young cyclists frequently try to emulate their Olympic peers’ performance, with tricks on their back wheels as they travel along busy routes.
Cycles are often poorly maintained, without lights, ineffective brakes, and poor tyres. Many are uninsured.
Most importantly, few cyclists take their personal safety seriously, not wearing high-viz jackets and – crucially – helmets. Even Deliveroo cyclists are seen without such protection. As winter approaches, they can be invisible, more vulnerable to icy roads and poor lighting, especially in rural areas where riders must be aware of farm machinery and wild animals (deer, foxes, muntjacs).
Too often, children are without helmets, and taking risks en route to school or sports events; volunteers do offer training in some areas, but there needs to be an accessible, targeted, campaign if children are to understand that they have responsibilities too.
An A&E Registrar told me that the worst injuries they have to deal with result from heads being unprotected. She cannot understand why helmets aren’t mandatory and also questions why cyclists are allowed on dual carriages, especially without some form of driving licence including up to date understanding of the Highway Code.
Cycling is to be encouraged, but every road user must be aware of the potential dangers. Over the Bank Holiday weekend, as I drove through a village along a narrow, winding coastal road to see friends, I was faced with a speeding Range Rover overtaking a cyclist (who was wearing a helmet) on a bend and had to jam on my brakes to avoid collision. That is not, unfortunately, a rare occurrence!
Cycle theft is another major issue. In 2021/22, 77,421 bikes were stolen in the UK, with 90 per cent of cases unsolved. They are usually taken from in and around owners’ homes: gardens, pathways, sheds and garages. Owners are urged to use good quality locks to secure bikes in public spaces, as well as on their own properties, and to register them with Bikeregister.com, which is free and used by every police force. Is there potential for some form of ‘microchipping’ as for pets?
With calls for even more segregated lanes in towns and cities, effectively banning cars, isn’t it time to adopt a Road Fund Tax for cyclists? A modest amount of, say, £20 p.a. whilst also making helmets and compliance with existing legislation for other road users a legal requirement, including some form of driving licence.
Recent fires caused by recharching electric bikes have also raised serious concerns about safety. E-bike conversion kits should only be purchased from specialist retailers, who should also install the equipment to avoid fire risk. Nevertheless, apparently 63 per cent of modifications are DIY jobs leading to demands for appropriate regulation.