Home News RoSPA survey shows the country must do more to protect cyclists

RoSPA survey shows the country must do more to protect cyclists

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Almost 70 per cent of people in Britain would support greater cycling route provisions in their local area, new statistics show.

Results from a new YouGov survey, commissioned by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), has revealed that 68 per cent of the 2,169 people questioned would support the introduction of more cycle route provisions in their area.

The survey also shows that a startling 58 per cent of people never cycle, with nearly half (48%) stating that they think it is unsafe to cycle in their local area – with 15 per cent stating that their roads are “very unsafe”.

The results have been revealed at the start of RoSPA’s Family Safety Week – www.familysafetyweek.org.uk – which this year is calling for more cycling safety on Britain’s roads in order to encourage more people to get on their bikes.

Nick Lloyd, RoSPA’s road safety manager, said: “This survey reveals a stark message – we need to do more to ensure the country’s cyclists are safe on the road.

“Just over two-fifths (41 per cent) said they do not cycle more often specifically because of worries for their safety, so this is an issue that we all need to take an interest in and address.

“The purpose of Family Safety Week is to encourage more people onto their bikes for the countless benefits that cycling offers, not least health and environmental, but to do this we need to ensure as a nation that people can do so without fear.”

Of those who said they would support more provision in their area, 78 per cent said they would like to see more cycle lanes separate from the roads.

Greater numbers of people cycling would also potentially address some of the other transport priorities which respondents felt need tackling.

Nick added: “One of the biggest transport priorities people think is facing the country at this time is reducing congestion on the roads, with a total of 59 per cent saying they feel it is a problem that needs to be tackled.

“Although not the whole solution, if we can get more people cycling, particularly on their commutes to and from work, congestion will be eased. It could also help to reduce overcrowding on public transport, which 52 per cent of people identified as an issue.”

Family Safety Week was set up by RoSPA in a bid to help millions of people protect their loved ones from accidents – the number one cause of preventable death. This year’s six-day event, is being launched today, Monday March 2, by double Olympic champion James Cracknell, TV property expert and Family Safety Week ambassador Martin Roberts, and Nazan Fennell, a Birmingham-based campaigner whose 13-year-old daughter Hope was knocked off her bike and killed in 2011.

Advice and information is available at www.familysafetyweek.org.uk

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