Government asks for “help, ideas and evidence” on how to make cycling safer

Very much in line with above comments;

- Promote a positive image of cycling and cyclists rights on the road - actively work against negative publicity used so frequently by MSM for clickbait

 - Convict drivers for committing driving offences. This is so obvious it hurts to type it, but right now, the conviction rates and levels of punishment seen are sending out a clear message that its OK to drive like shit. 

 - Education - not sure of the way forward, i would suggest mandatory cycling training either in school, or indeed as part of obtaining a driving licence. This is a double win... cyclists are better schooled in staying safe, car drivers have an understanding of the challenges cyclists face adn the danger, as drivers, they present.

For me, the second point is the biggest. The government need to make it clear that driving is something that requires competency and concentration... that a test has been done to demonstrate that drivers are capable of both... and when drivers fail to maintain that level, they will be punished and lose their priviledges. 

Finally, I do not believe in segregation. Its a dangerous route to go down... the easiest way to implement it is to simply ban cycling from the public highways. Total, instant segregation.

we need to put in measures that improve the standards of driving, and cycling, to ensure we can all use the highways. 

That said, I've found myself watching a lot of YouTube videos of car crash compilations (courtesy of my son), and, after excessive speed, the next biggest accident cause is poor infrastructure. 

A perfect example of what needs to be done, below.  Despite all the pro-cycling talk, we still have to fight for every improvement.

"Provide a cyclepath with the A358 upgrading"

https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/provide-a-cyclepath-with-the-a358...

Consultation submitted, took me about 20mins. 

 Well, don't demonise cyclists in the eyes of the public by pretending that introducing a "death by dangerous cycling" charge is in any way necessary - save as a way to pander to certain elements of the press.

Cycling UK agree with you:  https://www.cyclinguk.org/press-release/new-dangerous-cycling-laws-tinke...

"Government asks for “help, ideas and evidence” on how to make cycling safer"

Well, don't demonise cyclists in the eyes of the public by pretending that introducing a "death by dangerous cycling" charge is in any way necessary - save as a way to pander to certain elements of the press.

There is a LOT that the Government SHOULD do.  That the only thing they have actually announced is a measure that is neither needed nor based on any real evidence speaks volumes.

Simple.

1) Educate drivers on cyclists rights. Clearly and very publicly.

2) Make all future cyclising infrastructure actually usable and functional to the same level as roads, and all new roads must take in to account cyclists with equal priority to all other road users.

3) Police to understand the law and Highway Code as it relates to cyclists and enforce it with the same gusto as speeding and phone use. Let’s see regular close pass enforcement.

It does not need new laws at the moment. Just publicise the ones that exist and enforce them.

# 1 - presumed liabilty.

# 2 - consistency of sentencing in the courts of drivers convicted of causing serious injury or death.

# 3 - remove the defence of 'victim blaming' in court (i.e. hi-viz, helmets, etc., do not cause collisions).

Make it compulsory for all DfT and transport select committee members to cycle a minimum of 50km on the roads per week and ideas will come thick and fast.

My response below (I know it is not perfect but it is Friday at 21:00 and I have finished working 30 minutes ago!). 

Do you have any suggestions on the way in which the current approach to development and maintenance of road signs and infrastructure impacts the safety of cyclists and other vulnerable road users? How could it be improved?

As per health and safety principles at work you should segregate cyclist from motorised traffic in order to avoid these horrific accidents which happen on a daily basis at the moment. As with any good measure this would be the most expensive option however all other measures seem to be insufficient in protecting lives. Also, please ensure that there is sufficient width for both directions when segregating these roads, you should not create bottle neck situations where people either crash or have to slow down. I understand that you are concerned about losing votes however please bear in mind that the NHS cannot cope with the pressure exerted by people living unhealthy lifestyles so on the long term you will lose more votes if you do nothing to encourage cycling.

Q18. 2. The laws and rules of the road - view in consultation document Set out any areas where you consider the laws or rules relating to road safety and their enforcement, with particular reference to cyclists and pedestrians, could be used to support the government's aim of improving cycling and walking safety whilst promoting more active travel.

I think that when it comes to laws and rules you should look at how can you make the greatest difference in terms of the health and safety of people using the roads. As you know already the majority of deaths and major injuries are caused by motorised traffic so you should make every effort to address the issue rather than implementing dangerous cycling and other useless methods to punish 4 people per year. Ensure that those who kill/maim people just because they were in a hurry get a lifetime driving ban and prison sentence rather than suspended sentences and a slap on the wrist.

Q19. 3. Training - view in consultation document Do you have any suggestions for improving the way road users are trained, with specific consideration to protecting cyclists and pedestrians?

It should be mandatory for wannabe drivers to cycle in traffic so that they can understand how it feels when you had the third car punishment passing you within five minutes just because there is a broken track next to the road with a cycling sign on it and they think you should be on it rather than on the road. 

Q20. 4. Educating road users - view in consultation document Do you have any suggestions on how we can improve road user education to help support more and safer walking and cycling?

I think you need to use stick and carrot measures alike, the major issue is that you have cut police forces so badly that drivers think they can get away with dangerous behaviour and even if they get caught the lenient sentences mean they have nothing to be afraid of. The petrol head media does not help either who us cyclists as some sort of common enemy to get enough views.

Q21. 5. Vehicles and equipment - view in consultation document Do you have any suggestions on how government policy on vehicles and equipment could improve safety of cyclists and pedestrians, whilst continuing to promote more walking and cycling?

Please make self driving cars mandatory as soon as possible as I would rather rely on a machine than a human being when cycling for very obvious reasons. Also, on short term make it mandatory for the lorry companies to use vehicles designed with great visibility all around (low cabin, cameras, radars etc.) so that I do not have to witness each week people lying on the floor with a fractured pelvis/chest. Q22. 6. Attitudes and public awareness - view in consultation document What can government do to support better understanding and awareness of different types of road user in relation to cycle use in particular? It is difficult to send out a good message if you are not cycling yourself but drive a car everywhere even if it is just 500 yards away. Please assess how many people cycle to work within your department so that you can have a clear picture on how many people could honestly represent people like me.

Simple questions.  Took 5 mins   But I do write quickly

need  cycling community to respond or the idiots from those nasty newspapers will

can you imagine rapha hi vis?

-Remove "death by dangerous/careless driving" offences. Treat them as manslaughter. Ensure that none of the jury own or use a motor vehicle

-Introduce a mandatory lifetime driving ban for anybody in control of a vehicle that kills a vulnerable road-user unless it can be proved beyond all reasonable doubt that the vulnerable person was wholly responsible for the collision

-Introduce presumed liability in favour of non-motoring vulnerable road users. We already have it for rear-end collisions involving two motor vehicles

-Replace all "shoulds" in the highway code with "musts". Or remove them altogether

-Remove any references to helmets, lights, reflective gear from the highway code

-Anybody who has a driving ban should lose their licence and have to reapply as a learner driver and go through the full testing process

-Compulsory retests at age 65, 80 and 90

-Introduce cycling, and cycling awareness as part of the driving test

Fix the fecking roads. 

How about getting all police forces to accept and  give equal priority to video evidence of dangerous driving and then act on it?

How about ensuring dangerous drivers who kill or injure or threaten life  get an appropriate prison sentence and lifetime ban?

"...the Department for Transport (DfT) today launched a consultation calling for “help, ideas and evidence” on how to make cycling safer and more appealing"

Since they've already issued innumerable guidance notes and the Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, why don't they know already?

Call me cynical, but I've seen lots of initiatives like this e.g. the ill-fated English Regions Cycling Development Team, all of which have started with great gusto and lots of positive statements but fail because they are all talk and no funding.  Given this government's lamentable lack of backing up the talk with actual money, I strongly suspect that this is just another distraction by them to keep those pesky cyclists quiet for another couple of years.

They'll take all the comments, spend a year or so putting them in some kind of order, then consult on the results, then update the CWIS and then spend all the money on more roads, or HS2.

We all know what works and what needs to be done, so this is just an exercise in obfuscation and so the government can introduce their dangerous cycling law but pretend that they really are in favour of cycling.

arfa beat me to it.  

Easy form to complete in 5 to 10 minutes. We all have ideas based on a lot of experience. Volume of responses is essential if cyclists voices are to be heard. 

How about clicking on the consultation link above and making all of your points to the government ? It takes 5 minutes and much like the CS9 consultation, if enough people reply, the powers that be might just be a bit surprised by the feedback and embarrassed into doing something about the wild west of British roads.

Took me 45 minutes to tell them what I think!

I don't really feel qualified to make a response to the Govt on this, but I bl**dy well hope that Cycling UK/CTC prepare some really truly excellent evidence. 

(Of course, whether the Govt actually pay any attention to anything that comes in through this consultation is another thing entirely...).

There is only one way and only one idea:

Separate bicycles from ORKS DRIVING CARS COMPLETELY! completely separate and ENCLOSED  dual roadway everywhere. Not like the netherlands, drivers there respect cyclists. closed and guarded cycleways... Only that. oh, I forgot, completely change the existing laws on accidents involving cyclists to be considered as manslawghter and not just " causing death by dangerous driving"!!

How about not dooring cyclists? I'm looking at you, Jesse!

That would be a good start wouldn’t.

Given that 2 lorry drivers have been convicted this week for there parts in the deaths of 8 people perhaps a letter to the road haulage association would be a good start.

I might even log back into Twitter to suggest it to Norman 

How about we start by having the transport minister write to motoring groups to remind their members to obey the current law?