Rural road warning as cycle deaths rise

Call for action to tackle bike danger on trunk roads.

The number of cyclists involved in serious crashes on England’s trunk roads is rising at a “worrying” rate, it has been revealed.

The Sunday Post has discovered the number of bikers involved in accidents, seriously injured or killed on England’s trunk roads has increased by nine per cent in three years.

The news comes after five cyclists died in nine days in London.

Cycling campaign groups have demanded the Government takes drastic action to cut the trend, including mandatory awareness training for drivers and £10 per head of population funding for cycling infrastructure.

Jason Torrance, cycling charity Sustrans’ Director of Policy, said: “The Government can no longer turn a blind eye to these needless deaths on our roads.

“Statistics show that cycling levels have not increased and yet year after year we see cyclist deaths increasing.

“If we really want to encourage people to get on their bikes, we need to address the safety concerns people cite as a barrier to cycling.”

The statistics, uncovered through a parliamentary question, show that in 2010, 204 cyclists were in accidents, seriously injured or killed, which increased to 221 in 2011 and 222 in 2012.

Roger Geffen, campaigns and policy director at cycling charity CTC backed calls for increased funding for cycling infrastructure.

He said: “If the Government really wants to reduce the health, environmental and congestion costs of our excessively car-dependent society then its forthcoming Cycling Delivery Plan really needs to include some serious funding for councils and the Highways Agency”

Labour MP John Woodcock, who represents Barrow and Furness, uncovered the figures after becoming increasingly concerned about cyclists’ safety.

He said: “The trunk road network is the only available route for cyclists, particularly in more rural areas, but they can be taking their life in their hands.

“It is very concerning we are still facing an uphill struggle to put cycle friendly measures even in notorious accident black spots like the Greenodd junction on the A590 in Cumbria.”

A spokesman for the Department for Transport said: “We have committed to spend more than £1bn on cycling, which includes £94m to fund ambitious plans to increase, and make safer, cycling in eight English cities and four national parks, and £35m for cycle safety projects.

“The Highways Agency is also spending £20m to improve the existing infrastructure for cyclists on the strategic roads network and we gave local authorities £1.9bn last year to spend on transport.

“As announced by the Prime Minister in August, we are also taking steps to cycle proof roads so that all new trunk roads and improvement schemes will be designed with cyclists as well as motorists in mind.”