Cycling in West Berks, cycling casualties Options

[Exhausted]

There has been a concerted effort by West Berks Council in line with the message handed down from Central government to get us on our bikes and over the past ten years, this has meant an increase in cycle riding by 22%.

There is a down side to this however which is that cycle related accidents resulting in reporetd injuries has shown a 34% increase over the same period.

The question that springs to mind is that if the accident rate is increasing, is this a safe mode of transport for us in West Berks. Cars and HGV's pack the roads around the area which invariably are not wide enough to accomodate the additional cycles safely despite the green lanes and crazy roundabout markings that seem to offer safety. In a few instances these markings actually increase the risk, especially when cyclists automatically assume that if they are on a green lane they have right of way.

I'm not sure what the answer is but when planning applications require one cycle store position for every bedroom and offer vouchers towards cycle purchase, the statistics can only get worse .

[Biker1]

Again many say it's OK and safe to ride on the pavement so again I ask - why is it not made legal then?
No-one has answered the question yet.
Again, just to make it clear, I am not arguing whether it is safe or acceptable or not, just why is it not legal??????
If it is safe and acceptable then why not make it legal????
I am sure most, if not all, who support pavement cycling on here do it responsibly but, as I have said before, many do not and I think this may be one of the reasons why.

[Andy Capp]

Again many say it's OK and safe to ride on the pavement so again I ask - why is it not made legal then?
No-one has answered the question yet.
Again, just to make it clear, I am not arguing whether it is safe or acceptable or not, just why is it not legal??????
If it is safe and acceptable then why not make it legal????
I am sure most, if not all, who support pavement cycling on here do it responsibly but, as I have said before, many do not and I think this may be one of the reasons why.

I'm not saying it is always safe, I am saying that sometimes it is not dangerous to pedestrians to ride on the pavement.

[Biker1]

I'm not saying it is always safe, I am saying that sometimes it is not dangerous to pedestrians to ride on the pavement.

Agreed, so why is it not legal?

[Bloggo]

Agreed, so why is it not legal?

Because they sometimes collide with pedestrians. Isn't that dangerous?

[Timbo]

Because they sometimes collide with pedestrians. Isn't that dangerous?

What about when a car collides with a pedestrian?
Should we ban driving?

I guess it's all about the "common link" in accidents. The common link is always the pedestrian, so let's ban walking. See, problem solved.

[Biker1]

What about when a car collides with a pedestrian?
Should be ban driving?

I guess it's all about the "common link" in accidents. The common link is always the pedestrian, so let's ban walking. See, problem solved.

A car is on the road legally.
A pedestrian is on the pavement legally.
A pedestrian can cross the road safely, legally.
Either cycling on the pavement is safe - then make it legal, or it is not - then keep it illegal and do something about it.
It would seem that many think it is safe, and many think it isn't.
Solution??
(Timbo, sensible arguments only please. )

[Andy Capp]

It would seem that many think it is safe, and many think it isn't.
Solution??
(Timbo, sensible arguments only please. )

I don't think that anyone is saying that it is always safe to ride on the pavement.

Like I said, sometimes cycling on the pavement is not dangerous to pedestrians, but sometimes it is.

To answer your substantive point: I think the situation should remain as it is: discretionary. Except, perhaps, there should be something done about the more 'aggressive' riders, but for me, this is a very low priority and doesn't merit any more legal investment.

[Bloggo]

I don't think that anyone is saying that it is always safe to ride on the pavement.

Like I said, sometimes cycling on the pavement is not dangerous to pedestrians, but sometimes it is.

To answer your substantive point: I think the situation should remain as it is, except, perhaps there should be something done about the more 'aggressive' riders, but to me, this is a very low priority and doesn't merit any more legal investment.

That' alright then.
Are you sure you're not IOMMI??

[Andy Capp]

That' alright then.
Are you sure you're not IOMMI??

I'm not sure of anything, indeed, what does it matter if I am or not? What I will say is: I know who Iommi is in real life.