Tower Hamlets Wheelers
NEWS RELEASE 5 December 2002
For immediate release
Ref THW12CGVbooklet051202
Cycling commuters and lorry drivers are targeted in road safety campaign
Local cycle action group the Tower Hamlets Wheelers (1) and Tower Hamlets
council traffic & transportation department have teamed up to distribute
booklets about road safety to cyclists and drivers of commercial goods
vehicles (CGVs) in the borough. Nearly half of all cyclist fatalities
involve a collision with a CGV (2).
The booklet, using the strapline 'There are two sides to every story', is
part of a London-wide safety campaign launched by London Mayor Ken
Livingstone, urging CGV drivers to watch out for cyclists, and for cyclists
to be especially careful when approaching CGVs. The campaign is a joint
effort by Transport for London (3), the London Cycling Campaign and the
Freight Transport Association.
650,000 people regularly cycle in London, and 330,000 trips are made by
bicycle each day. In Tower Hamlets, the number of cyclists killed or
seriously injured was 17% less in 2001 than in the average between 1994 and
1998 and the total number of collisions involving cyclists has fallen by 20%
between 2000 and 2001. However, recent trends show that serious cycle
collisions are now increasing (4).
Launching the campaign, Ken Livingstone said: "We want everyone to feel safe
travelling in London. We need cyclists and commercial drivers to be more
aware of each other and the way each needs to use road space. This campaign
will help to reduce the incidents that have shocking consequences and blight
the lives of people on both sides of these tragic events."
Owen Pearson, Wheelers co-ordinator says: "Cycling in London is cheap,
convenient, fast, good for your health and causes no air pollution, and
140,000 regular cycle commuters realise this. Drivers are in charge of a
potentially lethal vehicle and must watch out for cyclists, but cyclists can
also do themselves a favour by not overtaking lorries on the inside if there
is a chance the lorry may turn left."
The council's cycling officer Lyndal Peters says: "We support this campaign
to raise awareness of how crashes between goods vehicles and cycles can be
prevented, as part of our commitment to encourage more cycling in the
borough."
Richard Turner, chief executive of the Freight Transport Association says:
"Drivers need to be more aware of the increasing number of cyclists on our
congested roads. Use your mirrors and know what is happening in the blind
spot. Pay particular attention when turning and 'think cyclist!'"
The Wheelers were supplied with 700 booklets to distribute, of which
volunteers have already handed out over half to passing cyclists, and a
further 250 attached to local parked bicycles. The council is sending 1000
booklets to CGV drivers who travel through Tower Hamlets.
The Wheelers will distribute the remaining booklets in December and January
during hand-outs of their monthly newsletter along Cable Street and the
Regents Canal towpath.
ENDS
Tiff scans of excerpts from the booklet are to follow.
for more details contact
Wheelers: Alix Stredwick work: 7275 9900 or 7582 8253 hm: 8880 6873
Council: Lyndal Peters 7364 6704
Notes for editors
(1) The Tower Hamlets Wheelers is the local cycle action group in the east
London Borough of Tower Hamlets, campaigning for better cycling facilities
and encouraging more people to cycle - for health, the environment and for
London. The Wheelers are affiliated to the London Cycling Campaign, the
largest urban cycling campaign in the world.
(2) source: London Accident Analysis Unit, TfL Street Management
(3) Transport for London Street Management reports to the Mayor and is
responsible for maintaining and managing the 550km Transport for London Road
Network which comprises 5% of the capital's roads and carries 33% of its
traffic.
(4) In 2001, pedal cyclist fatalities showed an increase of 42% (to 21)
against the 1994-98 average. Of these fatalities, just over 40% involved a
collision with a goods vehicle over 3.6 tonnes. Source: London Accident
Analysis Unit, TfL Street Management.
additional information
(5) total number of people killed in motor vehicle collisions in London in
2001: 150 (powered two wheeler: 71; car occupants: 63; bus or coach
occupants: 6; other vehicle occupants: 10); number of pedal cyclists killed
in 2001: 21. Source: 'Towards the year 2010: monitoring casualties in
Greater London', TfL Street Management, Issue 2, July 2002
Tower Hamlets Wheelers
wheelers@towerhamletswheelers.org.uk
www.towerhamletswheelers.org.uk
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