Time to promote safer cycling

Published: 6 May, 2011

• FURTHER to Eileen Fry’s letter (Licences for cyclists? April 29), I would like to add further suggestions to improve safety for cyclists, pedestrians and motorists.

It seems extraordinary to me that we are encouraging more and more people to cycle without the proper checks that both the cycles and the riders are “fit for purpose”.

I propose that every cyclist should pass a cycle proficiency test and carry this test certification with them as a driving licence. 

In addition I believe that cycles should pass an MOT-style test to confirm their roadworthiness.

As road users, cyclists should pay a small road tax which would be displayed. 

I propose £30 per year. This would go some way to convincing motorists that cyclists can share our roads and cyclists would be contributing to the upkeep of the roads.

Finally, I would like to see public service films and advertisements which promote safer cycling. 

Areas of concern are: 

• cycling on pavements;

• obeying the Highway Code;

• being visible, and 

• the need for cyclists and drivers to share our roads safely.  

Education is vital.  

CHRISTINE E STRIBLING
Hallfield, W2 

Blind-spot!

• PAULA Jurek was killed by being on the inside of a lorry (Letters, April 29). 

There are many constructive suggestions worthy of discussion, to prevent this happening again: Trixi mirrors, compulsory cycle-awareness training for Heavy Goods Vehicle drivers and even more lorry-awareness training for cyclists (and finding new ways to reach new, inexperienced, cyclists). 

Not to mention the urgency of sorting out the specific intersection.

However, an airing has been given to measures that would have had no effect in saving Ms Jurek’s life, and those of cyclists generally.

Is there anything to suggest that Ms Jurek was not obeying the rules of the road?

Whether a cyclist should clad themselves in hi-vis is up to them but it makes no difference in a lorry’s blind-spot! 

Shall we cover the world in fluoro so that everything’s so uniformly conspicuous it’s invisible and absolve ourselves and each other of actually having to pay attention?

Displaying front and rear lights at night for cyclists is already a requirement in the Highway Code, as is not cycling on pavements. 

CLARE HILL, WC1