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Local reporter asks if motorists care that cyclists are dying on roads at “alarming rate” – and readers respond by claiming cyclists “think they own the road then suffer the consequences” amid calls for cycling licences, insurance, and mandatory helmets

“If more than 100 people every year were murdered by gangs of madmen wielding chainsaws, the government would make it near-impossible to buy a chainsaw. But when it comes to the deaths of cyclists on our roads, we bury our heads in the sand”

Over the past few years, cyclists in the UK have got used to a seemingly constant barrage of negative coverage in the mainstream press, both local and national.

But one reporter at the Birmingham Mail decided to buck this depressing trend last week, by criticising the general indifference that permeates British attitudes towards active travel and which views cycling fatalities as a “normal part of urban life”, asking “Where is the outrage?” – only for readers to respond to his call for improved cycling infrastructure by claiming that cyclists “think they own the road then suffer the consequences”, and demanding the introduction of cycling-specific licences, insurance, and mandatory helmets and hi-vis clothing.

In the opinion piece, titled ‘Cyclists are dying on our roads at an alarming rate: Why don’t we care?’, Nathan Clarke argued that last summer – when Birmingham-based campaigners took to the streets and stakeholders introduced tougher measures to crack down on dangerous driving and promote safe active travel, following the deaths of three cyclists and a pedestrian in the space of a month on the city – “felt like a turning point”.

“But a year on, here we are again,” he wrote. “This week alone, one cyclist was killed in Edgbaston by a lorry driver arrested on suspicion of driving while unfit through drink or drugs, while another cyclist was left with serious injuries after a collision in Northfield.

“If we do care about cyclists, we have a funny way of showing it.”

> Campaigners call for an “end to road violence” after three cyclists, including a 12-year-old boy “killed by motorists” in three weeks in Birmingham

Noting that over 420 cyclists have been killed in road collisions in the UK since 2020, Clarke continued: “If more than 100 people every year were murdered by gangs of madmen wielding chainsaws, the government would, of course, make it near-impossible to buy a chainsaw without adequate checks.

“If 100 people a year were dying from a new infectious disease, scientists would be working around-the-clock to find a cure.

“But when it comes to the deaths of cyclists on our roads, we bury our heads in the sand, seeing it as a sad but normal part of urban life. This attitude is costing lives and will continue to do so until the deaths of vulnerable road users become a priority. Where is the outrage?”

West Midlands Police operation June 2023 (Twitter)

> "Relentless enforcement of the rules of the road": Police force crackdown on dangerous driving after cyclist deaths

The local reporter’s call for an angry, unified response to the death toll on Britain and Birmingham’s roads comes two months after Birmingham City Council chiefs opted to remove the separate transport and highways role from its cabinet, instead reverting it to the wider transport and environment brief that also includes projects such as waste and parks.

This decision, which local cycling activists claimed would “cost lives”, came on the same day that Adam Tranter resigned as the region’s walking and cycling commissioner, in order to allow the newly elected administration to “develop their own active travel plans”.

“Of course, Birmingham City Council and the West Midlands Combined Authority will say keeping cyclists safe is a priority, what right-minded politician would say they want cyclists to die? But actions speak louder than words, and local leaders in Birmingham have a lot to answer for,” Clarke wrote in his opinion piece.

> "This will cost lives": Safety fears as key active travel role axed on same day cycling and walking commissioner resigns

At a national level, in a move seemingly anathema to most mainstream journalists, he also called on the new Labour government to “show bravery and throw its support behind councils seeking to promote active travel and dispel the myth of a ‘war on motorists’”.

“We know, looking at examples across the globe and in places like London, that if we make cycling a viable alternative, people will do it. Build more cycle lanes and people will use them – maybe not straight away, but eventually,” he continued.

“Until then, cyclists around Birmingham and other major cities will continue to be at risk from drivers who face minimal restrictions on the roads – and who if caught, will likely be behind the wheel again before long. If Birmingham City Council is serious about putting cycling at the future of our city’s integrated transport system, it must act with haste.

“The longer this continues, the more car-reliant our city becomes, and the harder it will be to get people on two wheels. If the council really cares about cyclists, it must act now. The deaths of cyclists can’t be in vain.”

> Green spaces and 120 miles of cycling and walking routes pledged in "most ambitious plan in a century"... but Mail claims "now Birmingham wages war on motorists"

However, this surprisingly pro-cycling opinion piece in the Birmingham Mail sparked a rather inevitable backlash on social media, as readers rushed to defend motorists and criticise cyclists for their behaviour on the roads, while also calling for specific licences and insurance for people on bikes.

“What, are you saying it’s always someone else’s fault, sometimes it’s also the cyclist fault or potholes,” wrote Debbie Johnson on Facebook.

“It’s not that we don’t care, it’s just that some [cyclists] have no idea how to use the roads, they think they own it then suffer the consequences,” added Lisa Ford.

Over on X, formerly Twitter, Luke wrote: “Cyclists are unregulated and uninsured. No one deserves to die on our roads, but cyclists need to go through a rigorous licensing programme to ensure they are fit, able, and aware on our roads.”

> Cyclist and granddaughter, 8, stopped for helmet "safety" advice by police who "sounded their sirens" and pulled pair over "because it's dangerous"

“Everywhere is bending over backwards to make it safer, why’s it still happening? Maybe we should look at the cyclists instead of the drivers,” added Mart.

“Perhaps if they weren’t so entitled and think the Highway Code only applies to drivers, and actually showed some respect to other road users then perhaps they wouldn’t be,” claimed ‘The Watchman’.

Meanwhile, Alan Fresco said: “Yes, we need to ensure that every cyclist on a public highway has passed a proficiency test. A full driving license would suffice but otherwise cyclists should have to pass a proficiency test. Also crack down on reckless cycling such as ignoring red lights etc.”

Finally, Rob Harry responded to the article by writing: “Legally require helmets; Start to fine cyclists that go through red lights; High-viz to be more noticeable for bigger vehicles; Make them stick to the same speed limits as the road allows for greater reaction times.”

> Conservative MP slammed for “incorrectly” claiming that “bankrupt” council is prioritising £10m cycle lane extension over local services

However, not everyone was incensed at Clarke’s simple call for change to prevent more cyclists dying on Birmingham’s roads.

“A great article, I agree with what’s said,” wrote Steve. “We need change now before more cyclists and pedestrians die. In Birmingham and Sheffield and elsewhere...”

Answering Clarke’s question, ‘why don’t we care’, Gareth Massey said: “Because nobody gives a s**t about the safety of others so long as they are okay and not held up by 30 seconds.

“Birmingham’s cycling infrastructure is the worst by far of any UK cities with driver attitudes to match – ‘It’s always somebody else’s fault’. And to think Birmingham used to be the world’s biggest producer and exporter of cycles 100 years ago.”

After obtaining a PhD, lecturing, and hosting a history podcast at Queen’s University Belfast, Ryan joined road.cc in December 2021 and since then has kept the site’s readers and listeners informed and enthralled (well at least occasionally) on news, the live blog, and the road.cc Podcast. After boarding a wrong bus at the world championships and ruining a good pair of jeans at the cyclocross, he now serves as road.cc’s senior news writer. Before his foray into cycling journalism, he wallowed in the equally pitiless world of academia, where he wrote a book about Victorian politics and droned on about cycling and bikes to classes of bored students (while taking every chance he could get to talk about cycling in print or on the radio). He can be found riding his bike very slowly around the narrow, scenic country lanes of Co. Down.

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21 comments

Avatar
leedorney | 4 months ago
1 like

'nobody gives a s**t about the safety of others so long as they are okay and not held up by 30 seconds' - tackle that and the roads will be sorted!

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mctrials23 | 4 months ago
2 likes

The answer to the question of "do you care about cyclists deaths" is no. Thats what it is. Plain and simple. The second someone puts foot to pedal they are worthless and just an obstacle to far too many people. Thats what you get from years of drumming this message into drivers though. 

Avatar
Muddy Ford | 4 months ago
1 like

Every person who rides a bike regularly should have a camera and use the OpSnap to report dangerous drivers. Although it is a pain to use, it is currently the only method of highlighting how bad driving standards and attitudes have got and perhaps if the number of reports were to be increased 10 fold (which is probably still far less than the frequency of incidents) there might be some more positive reaction even if the police motive is only to reduce the number of reports. 

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mitsky replied to Muddy Ford | 4 months ago
1 like

The Met police have done a good job of reducing reporting by simply ignoring the cases that might get any challenge from the relevant driver or not be successfull in court.
The only cases they run with now are phone use since the tightening of rules (or maybe with concrete evidence of dangerous driving/collision).

Thus reducing people's inclination to report.

The overall issue is resourcing.
If there were enough staff to handle all the reports of bad driving, there should be no need to ignore any of them.

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wtjs replied to mitsky | 4 months ago
0 likes

The only cases they run with now are phone use

Pfff! Amateurs!! Lancashire Constabulary ignores all cases no matter what the offence or how good the evidence- this is PK55 FXA

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stonojnr replied to Muddy Ford | 4 months ago
1 like

If anything the increase in reports is leading to less action, because it's more cost effective to ignore than do anything about.

I should by rights report at least 3 of the vehicles who close passed me today, one was a HGV, and 1 who gave room but forced an oncoming car to drive into a bus lane to avoid a collision.

But I probably won't, because nothing ever happens and nothing ever changes as a result.

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Oldfatgit replied to Muddy Ford | 4 months ago
1 like

Police Scotland don't use OpSnap ... and wouldn't give a feck even if they did.

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Oldfatgit | 5 months ago
4 likes

Even the fexking horse riders are at it ...

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mdavidford replied to Oldfatgit | 5 months ago
3 likes

Fewer.

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perce | 5 months ago
22 likes

Yep. After having to take evasive action skidding sideways after a driver pulled out in front of me on my last ride I remember thinking if only I'd gone through a rigorous licensing programme and taken a proficiency test that wouldn't have happened. 

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Rendel Harris replied to perce | 5 months ago
12 likes

Perhaps they think that if we were all forced to carry licences that would make it easier to identify the body when the moment came…

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perce replied to Rendel Harris | 5 months ago
4 likes

Compared to some on here I think I've been quite lucky up to now. I do wonder if it's only a matter of time though.

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wtjs replied to perce | 5 months ago
8 likes

I do wonder if it's only a matter of time though

Don't worry- you will then be the beneficiary of the thoughts and prayers of the police.

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perce replied to wtjs | 5 months ago
7 likes

And the remorse of the driver.

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wtjs replied to perce | 5 months ago
5 likes

And we both forgot to proffer due sympathy to the driver for having to live with the death of the cyclist for the rest of his life, and to rejoice over the increased employment opportunities for violinists

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OldRidgeback replied to perce | 5 months ago
8 likes

Yes, that's it. If only I'd been through a rigorous licensing programme, I wouldn't have been closed passed by a car travelling at speed the other day. Oh, licensing, you mean my motorbike licence and car licence do count?

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chrisonabike replied to perce | 5 months ago
4 likes

Good point - if I had my cycling licence / bike registration displayed on the binnacle * there's no way some young lads driving past in the opposite direction would have thrown cans of drink at me.

* although it's part of the steering gear I do have a speed display...

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wtjs replied to chrisonabike | 5 months ago
7 likes

Very true- If only I'd had my cycling licence, registration and Hi-Viz displayed, the driver of PJ18 LEF, operated by Fairclough-Woodruff Engineers of Lancaster, certainly wouldn't have close-passed me at speed yesterday- in the same way as he doubtless meticulously obeys the laws concerning the certification of vehicles on the road and wouldn't dream of taking out an illegal vehicle.

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mctrials23 replied to perce | 5 months ago
3 likes

Yeah but I bet you were owning the road and being all entitled. In fact I would go a step further and suggest you weren't even insured or licensed. 

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perce replied to mctrials23 | 5 months ago
2 likes

It's a fair cop guv. And I wasn't even wearing hi-viz. At 4 o'clock on a sunny afternoon. I would like to apologise to the young family in the vicinity though for my loud and somewhat fruity language.

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brooksby | 5 months ago
3 likes

laugh

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