UK
National and local government should encourage improved public health by making walking and cycling more attractive to everyone, as has been done on the Continent, according a new report by the National Institute for Health Clinical Excellence (NICE). Read article (inc. video clip)
Follow-up: Which really is more deadly: cycling or sitting down watching TV?
And another: Ditch the car to walk or cycle short journeys ‘for healthier Britain’
Years of government efforts to promote cycling have had almost no impact on a sceptical population who largely view bikes as either children’s toys or the preserve of Lycra-clad hobbyists, a university study has found. Read article
Work to do!
With 13 cyclists killed in September so far in Britain, Rob Penn and Gerhard Weiss debate whether our roads are too risky to brave on two wheels. Read article
Car “dooring”, or being hit by an open car door, poses significant risks for cyclists, yet many cyclists ride eye-wateringly close to parked cars.
I once attended a cycle instructor training course, where one of the first things we learned was to ride “a door and a bit more” away from parked cars, even on narrow roads. To many cyclists this is counterintuitive as moving cars can feel – and act – like the most threatening thing on the roads.
The danger comes either from hitting a door or swerving to avoid one and falling into the path of oncoming traffic. Read article
People have always wanted to reach destinations quickly, safely and efficiently. But as the UK transport environment has become increasingly complex, transport’s impact on health has become unnecessarily harmful – to the point where it is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality.
Read article | Download full report
Nothing new here for likely readers of this blog, but good to see the BMA flying the flag.
… and another IT article on lack of exercise
Twelve UK cities and urban areas may have to ban or fine heavily polluting traffic from their centres within months after the European commission refused to allow Britain more time to reduce dangerous exhaust emissions, according to air quality campaigners Read more
Do 57% of UK cyclists jump red lights? (or Irish ones?)
One motoring organisation claims so – on very flimsy evidence.
Survey finds that just 10% use their bikes as their main form of transport, but 35% would switch to cycling if roads were less dangerous. Read article
It would be surprising if the perception in Ireland was much different
A white ghost bicycle parked at Kings Cross in London
A tiny proportion of accidents involving cyclists are caused by riders jumping red lights or stop signs, or failing to wear high-visibility clothing and use lights, a government-commissioned study has discovered. Read article
Cyclists’ lobby group CTC said the report needed to focus on driver behaviour rather than issues such as cyclists wearing helmets.
It is (just about) possible to find bikes that are British-made in part, but is it a pointless exercise or a good use of your money? If you owned a bike before the 1980s in the UK, the chances are it was British-made. If you own one today, it most likely isn’t. Read article
No much chance of an Irish one either, but check out Men’s Sheds; they’re doing work on second-hand bicycles …