Road Deaths cost economy £8n per year

According to The Guardian ,

Road deaths cost economy £8bn a year, says watchdog

David Pallister
Monday February 26, 2007
The Guardian

England's road safety record is one of the best in Europe, but the 3,000 deaths every year cost the economy nearly £8bn, according to a report published today by the Audit Commission.

Only the Netherlands and Sweden have a better safety record, with the worst being the Czech Republic, Greece and Poland. But the number of child pedestrian deaths shows England has a poor record. Ten countries have fewer child deaths, and among the worst are Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

he countries with the lowest rate of child casualties tend to have more speed reduction measures, light-controlled crossings and play areas. Another significant factor is poverty. The estimated injury rate for child pedestrians is four times higher in the most deprived area than the least deprived.

The commission found that, according to police data, good progress had been made in the past 10 years to meet targets for reducing the number of casualties. But an analysis of hospital admissions suggested that road accidents had remained constant. The Department for Transport is investigating the discrepancy.

According to the department, the number of motorcyclists killed or seriously injured has risen by 1% since the mid-1990s, while the numbers for car users, cyclists and pedestrians fell by almost 40%. A fifth of all drivers involved in an accident are under 25, with a quarter of all men who die by the age of 25 killed in road accidents.

Research shows that urban roads are more than twice as dangerous as rural roads, but accidents in the countryside claim more than 60% of fatalities.

Attitudes to road safety were found to be contradictory. About three-quarters of people support 20mph speed restrictions in residential areas, including 72% of drivers. But only 43% of drivers favour speed bumps which, the commission says, can be necessary to enforce the lower speed limit.

The report said: "This is symptomatic of the paradoxical views often expressed by road users. The risk of having an accident is the least pressing worry for British motorists; their top concern is traffic congestion, followed closely by financial cost."

The proportion of motorists exceeding speed limits is still high. Yet 82% of drivers approve of speed cameras.

No trains through the Hope Valley this weekend

Buses replace trains between Sheffield and Manchester this weekend, the 3rd & 4th of March. So if you're planning to take your bike to Manchester or pootle out to the Hope Valley and get the train back, forget it - you're stuffed unless you've purchased a marvellous folding bike.

Five Weirs Walk Phase 6b Passes Accessibility Audit

The new section of the Five Weirs Walk, Phase 6b including the Bailey Bridge has passed its Accessibility Audit - a Human Powered Vehicle, 1.2 .metres wide can pass through the access points. This is good news for load-carrying zero emissions vehicles, which we are going to need a lot more of if we need to set a carbon reduction target of 9% a year, as Councillor Bernard Little claims. Let's see more cycleways built to this standard, as well as retro-fitting of existing cycleways so they are Fit For Purpose in a low-carbon 21st century.

Brooklyn Bridge project approved

The Brooklyn Bridge replica project, a vital link in the emerging North Don trail, has now been approved by councillors. See http://www.sheffieldtoday.net/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleID=2062780&SectionID=58 [soft link]

'Hundreds' of bikes stolen daily says insurance company

See http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6367309.stm

Cobweb Bridge open again

The Cobweb Bridge on the Five Weirs Walk has had its cables replaced and is open for business again. The Bailey Bridge remains closed for the time being.

Location map

New Issue of Focus out

The latest issue of Focus, the newsletter of the Yorks and Humbs Transport Roundtable, is out.
Go to http://www.yhtar.org.uk and click on "Newsletters" . Simon Geller's article on cycling in the region is on p. 10. Ray Wilkes' controversial views on de-regulated buses and Quality Contracts are worth reading as well.

MIdland Mainline New Cycle Policy

Midland Mainline has launched its new cycle policy. You can download the leaflet at
http://www.midlandmainline.com/upload/Cycle%20Policy%202007.pdf

The main point about it is that they have intoduced temporary cycle storage points which you can use if you are boarding or alighting at short platforms. Capacity remains at 4 bikes per train on HST's, 2 on Meridian trains (they had attempted to reduce it to 2 bikes on all trains but concerted campaigning prevented that.)

Support the Sheaf Valley Bridge

Please click here to show your support for the Sheaf Valley Connect 2 Bridge project:

Bernard two-bikes!

Sheffield Green Councillor Bernard Little turned up at the Sheffield Campaign against Climate Change conference on Saturday, 3rd Feb 2007 with his bike...in two pieces! Owners of bikes with aluminium frames are advised to check their frames regularly. This bike was about 5 years old and otherwise in good condition. Luckily Bernard wasn't hurt when it collapsed. Our other Green councillor, Jillian Creasey ,can be seen on the right with her bike - we showed her how to adjust the brakes. (Try cleaning it sometime Jillian!)

Northern Rail launches Cycle Policy

Northern Rail launches its Cycle Policy on the 8th of March at Manchester Airport Cycle Centre. The policy contains clear action points to improve facilities for cyclists at stations, as well as a more flexible policy on bikes on trains, and Sheffield Cycle Campaign welcomes this development.

If anyone would like to attend the launch please contact Simon.

Northern Rail Cycle Survey

Simon Geller & Martin Bright are conducting a survey of cycle parking and proximity to cycle routes at Northern Rail stations. If you visit a Northern Rail station please help us by making a note of whether there was any cycle parking, if so how much and what kind, and whether there was a signed cycle route nearby, NCN or otherwise.

There is a pro-forma you can use for this at

http://axelrod.plus.com/ppmw/index.php/Image:Northern_Cycle_Questions.doc

Next Cycle Campaign Network Conference, Derby

* Next Cycle Campaign Network Conference, Derby, 19th May 2007. Ride down with Pedal Pushers on Friday night, camp or hotel, return Sunday - contact Simon if interested. Theme of the conference is getting more young people cycling, more safely, more often.

Derby riverside route open again

Participants in previous Sheffield to Derby bike rides will be pleased to hear that the riverside route alongside Derby industrial museum (Silk Mill) is open again. see http://www.derbycyclinggroup.org.uk/news.php for more info.