Cyclists & pedestrians

In 2005, 378 pedestrians were killed by cars in Great Britain, only three were killed by bicycles. This leads some people to suggest that cycling on areas reserved for pedestrians is not much of problem. However as people drive so much more than they cycle, the casualty rate per mile driven/ridden is not so different.

Leaving aside the causality rates, there's the perception of danger and the uncomfortable feeling pedestrians experience when a cyclist passes close by at speed. It's similar to what a cyclist feels when he/she is closely overtaken by a fast moving car.

Just as the expectation of a close encounter with a speeding car deters people from cycling, people would be deterred from walking if they thought it likely that they would encounter a "near miss" with a speeding cyclist.

Yet there's not much that a lobbying organisation like Cyclic can do about the behaviour of people on cycles, except to advise the council against laying out the roads and paths in ways which we think will encourage people to cycle recklessly. After all any rogue can get hold of a bicycle and start riding; some people are only on bicycles because they have been banned from driving a car.

Cyclic argues for lower traffic speeds. 20 mph is quite fast enough on all Coventry's roads apart from those classified as "A" or "B" roads. Where there's a footway alongside a carriageway, every effort should be made to ensure that people feel safe about cycling on the carriageway. In Coventry, the option of providing a path for cyclists separated from that provided for motorists is only practical in a few places.

Where a cyclist closely passes a pedestrian, he or she must slow right down. If the cyclist finds cycling so slowly a problem, he or she should choose another route, one where they won't encounter pedestrians.

Warwick Row: encouraging people to walk or cycle?

provision for motorists	provision for cyclists and pedestrians

A dual carriageway is totally unnecessary. A single carriageway is enough, laid out to ensure that cars and buses move slowly enough for people to feel safe about cycling on the carriageway. That includes people with child cycle trailers. Pedestrians should be given back the whole width of the pavement and be no longer expected to descend into a hole in the ground.

The UK - unsafe for children

• For 10-14 year old pedestrians, the UK comes seventh out of eight, with only the USA having a worse rate
• For 10-14 year old cyclists, the UK also comes seventh out of eight, with only Hungary having a worse rate.

Coventry Cycling Conference 2009

Representatives of sixteen organisations with cycling projects based in and around Coventry met at a one day conference hosted by the Transport Museum on 23rd May.

After introductions (see right), the conference split into three workshops:

Campaigning. There was general agreement that more and better cycle training was needed and motor traffic free areas were required for novices. Perhaps schools could make their playgrounds available. Making common cause with groups lobbying for pedestrians was considered important as well as gaining influence with councillors.

Recycling An important aim is for all bikes arriving at a local authority waste disposal site to be passed to a recycling project. More people are needed to staff the projects and more space is needed to store bikes awaiting refurbishment. Improved contact with the media is needed to ensure a steady flow of "customers".

Sport & Leisure Cycling. Better publicity for adult and assertiveness training was needed. A wider range of rides is also needed, including runs aimed at families. Publicity for rides and events must be improved and routes better signposted and publicised.

The main action points from the conference were

1. A website, contacts with the mass media and printed material would be established/created to promote a programme of cycling events for the next 12 months.
2. Greater participation in Coventry Council's Cycle User Consultation Group
3. Another conference in 2010.

We have not been quite so vocal about the pollution lately, instead emphasising the benefits of healthy exercise which cycling brings, but anyone who has been stuck behind some smoky vehicles at the traffic lights knows there is still room for improvement.

Walking to school with the children, or riding bicycles instead of taking the car makes an enormous difference to the amount of traffic and consequently air pollution. What's more it is enjoyable!

When you get there you feel great!

I am sure cycling makes one a nicer person. Even though we do sometimes moan about the traffic, and the aforementioned exhaust fumes, STILL the exercise does us good and we consequently manage to smile when we get there. If you don't already ride a bike, please Start Now

Brenda Stone

Methodist circuit

• Warwick Cycle Races. Sunday 6th September 2009. See http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/cycleraces
• 25/35 mile leisure rides leaving City Arms Earlsdon 10:00am Saturdays and Sundays. See http://www.zen180727.zen.co.uk/earlsdonwheelers/schedule.html for dates
• 60/70 mile leisure rides, every Sunday, leave Starley House Eaton Road (opp. Coventry Railway Station) at 09:15 am. Returning at about 6pm. See http://www.coventryctc.org.uk

• If you see a pothole, over-hanging vegetation or other obstruction, don't ignore it, report it!
• In Coventry ring Coventry Direct on 0500 834 333 or enter the details on the council's website (http://www.coventry.gov.uk). "Click through" to Transport and streets and then Road and pathway maintenance --> Potholes
• or complete a report at http://www.fillthathole.org.uk

• The global environment - If people used cycles rather than cars for the shorter journeys they make, less "greenhouse" gas would be produced.
• The local environment - Just imagine what a busy road, currently packed with cars, would be like if the people were riding cycles instead. So quiet, no fumes.
• Other people - In our car dependent societies, people without access to cars are excluded from participation in many activities. If our towns and cities were designed so that more people didn't use cars, not having one would no longer be much of a disadvantage.
• Ourselves - Cycling is cheaper than driving and more flexible than using buses. It's also a great way to enjoy yourself and one of the most simple and effective ways of keeping fit. Cycling, even at a gentle pace can help you to feel good and look great. Why waste time and money on boring gym exercise bikes?