External resources

There are a number of cycling safety campaigns currently running in the UK, with each one designed to raise awareness of the dangers of cycling on public roads. These campaigns provide information, resources and advice on cycle safety and ways of taking action to prevent accidents:

• Transport for London (TfL), in partnership with Barclays Cycle Superhighways, are at the forefront of raising awareness and promoting cycle safety. They have developed a toolkit which offers practical advice to help minimise the risk of collisions between vehicles and vulnerable road users on the Capital’s roads. However, this information is just as applicable for sites based outside of London and provides excellent advice on how to promote safer cycling. Please click here for more information on the toolkit.

• TfL have also published a number of safety tips on their website for both drivers and cyclists.

• TfL and University College London (UCL) have a Cycle Safety Ambassador Scheme promoting cycle safety at London universities. They offer free cycling support, training sessions and cycle checks.

• The London Cycling Campaign aims to transform London into a healthier, cleaner and happier place to live where people can cycle without fear. With regards to cycle safety, they run a successful programme in conjunction with TfL to promote cycling projects across Greater London, including a campaign for safer lorries.

• The Times newspaper has created a formal campaign to improve awareness of safety to cyclists. The Cities Fit for Cycling campaign manifesto calls for all lorries to be fitted with extra safety measures to protect cyclists and pedestrians.

• See Me Save Me is a campaign website coordinated by RoadPeace, the national charity for road traffic crash victims, dedicated to reducing lorry danger and saving lives. One of their objectives includes reducing the threat posed by lorries to cyclists and pedestrians, with a focus on eliminating lorry blindspots.
• The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) publish a wealth of information regarding cycle safety advice and information which can be found here.

• RoSPA also publish a short video which highlights the dangers faced by cyclists on the road especially when in the vicinity of lorries. Click here to watch the video.

• The Department for Transport’s THINK! campaign provides road safety information for road users. Their aim is to encourage safer behaviour to reduce the number of people killed and injured on the UK’s roads every year. For more information, please click here.

• British Cycling is the national governing body for cycling. British Cycling works hard to represent cyclists’ interest at all levels, including campaigning on important issues including road safety. Petitions are set up for GO20 (20mph limit in all residential areas) and cycling awareness in driving tests.

What is currently being done in the industry?

• Crossrail have undertaken a number of initiatives including training 3500 lorry drivers in cycle awareness; making additional safety equipment mandatory on all lorries and vans working on Crossrail; translating their road safety information into 18 different languages; organising safer cycling awareness events near their construction sites to help cyclists become more aware of the risks of cycling next to lorries and fitting road safety mirrors around their construction site. They have also produced 10 top tips for cycle safety aimed at cyclists. For more information, see here.

• Crossrail confirmed that they complied with safety demands when contractors started turning away companies whose lorries were not fitted with full safety features. They have written to local councils asking them to impose the same strict rules. Crossrail require their vehicles to meet strict safety standards and have cycle specific safety equipment, blind spot mirrors and detection equipment.

• The Mineral Products Association (MPA) launched their Cycle Safety Strategy in June 2011. MPA’s position is that there is joint responsibility for road safety. National and central government must ensure that roads and junctions are designed for safety and properly maintained, Large Goods Vehicle (LGV) operators and drivers must take action to minimize the risk of collisions and cyclists and other vulnerable road users must behave responsibly.

• MPA launched the Vulnerable Road User Safety Policy on 31 October 2012, which included the Cycle Safety Action Plan, a six-point plan to help reduce the number of cycling accidents.

• As members of the MPA, Lafarge Tarmac have been involved in many cycle safety initiatives over the years, including attending events with demonstrations. June is Lafarge’s Health and Safety Month, and on one occasion they visited a school in Wales to educate pupils about cycle safety and lorry awareness.

• NCE magazine has reported that a number of major construction clients have voiced their support for the See Me Save Me campaign.

• One particular Longcross Construction site is promoting cycling and the protection of cyclists on delivery routes. One initiative is to have security stationed on one particular corner a distance away from site (a corner where someone previously had been killed) when large deliveries are being made.

• Last decade Cemex embarked on an ambitious programme to improve safety for cyclists. They have made numerous safety improvements to its fleet of vehicles. They have held open days for cyclists, to make them aware of how difficult it is for a cyclist to be seen from a driver’s cab. They have organised training for HGV drivers which was delivered by CTC, the national cycling charity. Their campaign has been supported by key organisations such as TfL and the Metropolitan Police. All Cemex vehicles have been equipped with extra mirrors so the blind spot is now visible, as well as rear signage and sensors. Cemex works closely with RoadPeace and RoSPA. For more information, click here.

• Kier, BAM and Skanska apply Crossrail’s edict that delivery lorries should be ‘cycle-compliant’, and inspect lorries for compliance before letting them onto their sites to deliver or collect.

• BAM organised its ‘BAM bikes for Macmillan‘ challenge where over 100 employees embarked on a nine-leg 900-mile cycling trip of the UK in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. Not only did the challenge raise funds for the charity but also promoted the benefits of cycling to its workforce. BAM is a great supporter of cycling and offers a discounted cycle-to-work scheme on all of its construction projects.

• GRAHAM Construction workers at the Rolls-Royce site in Derby are being provided with a fleet of recycled bikes to get around the site, allowing them on tracks where cars and other vehicles cannot go. Life Cycle UK’s Bike Back Derby recycling scheme works with prisoners and teaches them skills in cycle mechanics. Once refurbished and checked by a mechanic, the bikes are sold at affordable prices. For more information, click here.

• Construction Logistics and Community Safety (CLOCS) aims to achieve a visionary change in the way the construction industry manages work related road risk. CLOCS has developed the CLOCS Standard for construction logistics: Managing work related road risk, a common standard for use by the construction logistics industry. Implemented by construction clients through contracts, it provides a framework that enables ownership in managing road risk which can be adhered to in a consistent way by fleet operators.

• Cambridge University has launched a lorry safety scheme to protect cyclists and pedestrians. All contractors working for the university are being asked to make safety improvements to their vehicles and provide additional staff training. More information can be found here.