Just Give Them More Space

Yesterday The Independent reported the death of an experienced road cyclist in the UK. He was killed a short distance from the spot where four members of the Rhyl Cycling Club died in Britain's worst bike accident a year ago.

The paper reports that Mel Vasey’s death occurred a short distance from a well-known meeting point for cyclists: the Eureka café, whose walls are adorned with Tour de France yellow jerseys.

Riding with two friends, Mr Vasey had planned a short stop there before setting out on a 50-mile run through Cheshire.

Five minutes before reaching the café, Mr Vasey was hit from behind by a Renault Clio and catapulted into the air. Despite first-aid efforts by a passing lorry driver, he died on the carriageway of the A540 Chester High Road - on which he had cycled countless times. Mr Vasey was talking about his favourite subject of bike shops with a club colleague, Dave Parry, as the two cycled towards the Eureka at 8.45am.

"He pulled alongside me, with Danny [McDonough] just behind us and we slowed a bit - 16mph I'd say - as we talked," Mr Parry said. "Then, suddenly, I heard an almighty bang."

And that is how quickly it happens, because too many motorists just don’t care, or just don’t pay attention. I have written before on this topic, when I was hit by a car back in November. Fortunately my incident was minor, but like the one above, there are just too many horror stories.

The one above just feels so galling because it was obviously and area frequented by cyclists, so it should have been no surprise that there were riders on the road.

All that is needed is a bit more care. An opinion piece with the article notes that “in 2005, 148 cyclists were killed and 16,413 were injured in Great Britain. It was the second year running in which deaths rose.

Per distance travelled, cycling is 18 times more dangerous than driving, but it is also healthier and better for the environment. So, whatever measures we take, we want to ensure that they do not frighten people from cycling.

One positive step is to remind drivers about the Highway Code. Paragraph 139 says: "When overtaking, give cyclists at least as much room as you would a car." In that way, all of us will have more room when someone makes a mistake.”

Of course, government has a role to play too, and the Independent article has an interesting section on “What Britain Could Do”, and also “How Europe Does It Better”. Under the latter, they cite the following points:

* The Netherlands has raised bollards to divide some of its cycle lanes

* "Cycle paths are often an afterthought when new roads are created in Britain," Tom Hummel, a Dutch traffic engineer, says

* In the Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark, all motorists must give way to cyclists already on a roundabout

* In the Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, France and Germany, motorists who injure cyclists must pay compensation, unless the driver shows that the injured person did something illegal

* Promote a cycling culture. While 4 per cent of journeys in London are bike, the figure is 30 per cent in Copenhagen

Most Australian governments could learn from this too.

Shane