Article from BTNews 14 FEBRUARY 2022
More on cycling
The Highway Code changes introduced from 29 January has highlighted some aspects of cycling statistics.
See BTN 31 January www.btnews.co.uk/article/18648.These changes, brought in by the Department for Transport (DfT), aim to improve the safety of all road users. Part of the update to the Highway Code is a new ‘Hierarchy of Road Users’, however, only 57% of the British population is aware of this. New changes create stronger priorities for vulnerable road users, including cyclists, pedestrians and horse riders.
Although only 3% of all UK cyclists are known to cycle daily, cycling is still known as a very popular money-saving and environmentally friendly way of commuting.
Around 42% of Brits accessed or owned a bike in 2021, therefore cyclists take up a significant part of the road traffic. According to Finder, 83% of children below the age of 10 and 24% of over 60s own a bike. These two age groups are considered even more vulnerable and require other traffic members to take greater care around them.
Fourteen per cent of Brits don’t know about the Highway Code changes, therefore cycleGuard, who has been insuring professional, amateur, and family cyclists for over 20 years has taken this opportunity to make everyone aware of the new Highway Code changes and therefore ensure their safety on the roads.
According to government statistics, over 16,000 cyclists were injured on UK roads in 2020. More than 4,000 of those cyclists were seriously injured, with 141 sadly killed. During 2020, there was a 41% rise in the number of cyclists fatally injured in the UK.
www.cycleguard.co.uk/highway-code-changes
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Andrew Sharp, United Kingdom
Overspeeding cars?
David Starkie, United Kingdom
"During 2020, there was a 41% rise in the number of cyclists fatally injured..." But a big reduction in motor traffic; draw your own conclusions.