InTheNews.co.uk
Breaking News:
Your source for news

News Story

 07 September 2008 02:53 BST

Cyclists in UK road stay-away

Thursday, 07 Jun 2007 08:15
Cyclists scared off roads by traffic levels
Would-be cyclists are being driven off Britain's roads due to safety fears, a charity has warned.

Brake says two-thirds of drivers admit to being too afraid to cycle due to heavy and potentially dangerous traffic levels.

Its research cites government figures showing that 2,420 cyclists were killed or seriously injured during the last year as evidence that motorists' fears are not unfounded.

The rise in fatal accidents is accompanied by an overall fall in bicycle usage.

Brake, in partnership with insurer Green Flag, says faltering use of bikes is harming the "health and wellbeing" of children, with almost half of primary school pupils and a quarter of secondary schools pupils being driven to lessons by their parents.

"It's terrible that so many people are afraid to get on a bicycle because of fear of traffic, and worse their fears are justified. Too many people try to cocoon themselves and their families in cars, leading to more vehicles on our roads and an even greater threat to pedestrians and cyclists," commented Brake's head of education Jools Townsend.

"Choosing cycling and walking over the car is good for your health and the environment, so we should be encouraging it. But people won't be persuaded to get on their bikes – quite rightly – unless they can do so without putting their lives in danger."End of story


More headline news... 

Also In The News 

© 2004- 2008 www.inthenews.co.uk. Advertise | Privacy | Terms of Use