Cyclists pedal out claims
It has been revealed that cyclists are fighting back against motorists, as new figures displayed that injury claims for bicycle accidents are soaring.
In the past six months alone injury lawyers have reported a 50% increase in the number of personal injury claims from cyclists hit by cars.
Commuting cyclists are most at risk, as growing numbers drop their petrol guzzling motors to beat the city's traffic jams.
As a result, the statistics have sparked calls for city councils to build more cycle-ways and bike lanes which can offer bikers more protection.
Injury lawyer, Jaswant Sandhu stated that the rising number of claims her law firm was receiving emphasised the potential dangers that cyclists face on a daily basis when they share the roads with automobiles.
She said: "If more was done to separate cyclists from motor vehicles that would help reduce the number of injuries that have been occurring."
Among the recent claimants was a father of three, who injured his back in a road accident.
He said: "Every time I take my bike out I am afraid of being hit by a car again. Drivers are becoming more aggressive because of all the congestion."
Reacting to the public worry opposition leader, Shayne Sutton stated that the figures were a real harsh dose of reality. She said: "Modern cities need first-class cycle-ways."
Council Transport chairwoman Jane prentice said: "An unfortunate side effect of traffic congestion is that people become frustrated on the roads and are tempted to take risks. We just urge everyone to take care and realise that a variety of vehicles use the roads."
However, RACQ spokesman, Gary Fites pointed out that cyclists were as much at fault as drivers: "There is an undercurrent of antagonism that runs both ways. Cyclists shouldn't ever forget that in an accident they will come off worst."
Cycle accidents
The The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) claims that 90% of bike accidents occur in urban areas, where 77% of cycling takes place, 75% occur at or near a road junction, while 80% happen in daylight and 80% of cyclist's casualties are male.
In London, the Transport for London analysed that cycle deaths occurred through various factors. Twenty-five per cent of cyclists were hit by a vehicle, as they turned into a road on the left. Seveteen per cent of bikers were hit by a motor travelling alongside them and 10% of cyclists were run into from behind.
More worrying figures revealed that 2% of cyclist casualties occurred in collisions with Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs), this resulted in 22% of cyclist deaths. This is a particular issue in London, where eight to 12 cyclists a year die in these circumstances.
As a result, Transport for London is putting £100,000 into a campaign targeted at cyclists and HGVs in partnership with the Freight Transport Association.
Cycle test
A recent survey found that over 50% of cyclists were unhappy with the location and maintenance of cycle lanes. These were respondents who were invited to rate cycle lanes in their area as part of the National Travel Survey.
Twenty-five per cent of the cyclists involved rated the lanes as very poor, whereas only 10% rated them as very good. Overall, 46% rated them very/fairly poor, while 42% rating them as very/fairly good.
As a result, there are now six cycling demonstration projects around the country, and with backing from Cycling England, it hopes to promote cycling safety, reduce personal injury claims and to make a difference to the journey cyclists make.
Updated on 08/06/2009