the ubiquitous blog

Last year I wrote a post on the need for more cycle parking facilities in Edinburgh, so I am pleased to see the Scottish Government is giving a grant of £208,000 to the cycle charity Sustrans to increase cycle parking at hospitals, universities and colleges. This is a sign of progress and is to be welcomed, however, it is mainly targeting areas which should already be providing cycle parking as standard. But there is a need to go further, secure cycle parking needs to be made available in town centres, shopping centres, retail parks and also where people live (we don’t all have a garage to hand). At least this grant shows some recognition by the Scottish Government that a lack of secure storage for bikes is a common obstacle to encouraging everyday cycling. Hopefully there will be more to come, along with a recognition that there is a need for secure storage at home as well. According to the UK Government’s Home Office, over half of all bicycle thefts take place from an owner’s property. As more than one Edinburgh resident knows, you don’t have to cycle round the world to get your bike stolen from outside your front door. So, two cheers for the Scottish Government and please can we have more …

Leith has long been know for its tight knit community and its hard living, but now a grass roots movement Greener Leith is encouraging Leithers sign the Pledge for a Better Life! You can join the movement by making your green travel pledge by using this on-line form.

Even though I live on the south side of Edinburgh and seldom venture north of George Street (well not since I stopped working for the botanics), I can’t help but be impressed by this local group working to improve their own environment by engaging with the community.

I was recently asked to write something about cycle safety. OK, so it was for another place, but I thought I would try it out here first. Well my first thought was “is cycling dangerous”? Well no, not really, over the last 40 years cycling, along with most forms of road travel, has become safer, mainly due to attempts to idiot proof cars.

Cyclists account for only 4% of road fatalities (2008 UK figures) compared with 17.1% for motorcyclists, 19.6% for Pedestrians, and 50.2% for car occupants. When these figures are adjusted to reflect the numbers of people travelling and the distance they travel, we find that riding a motorbike is the most dangerous, followed by travelling in a car! The level of risk involved in cycling is about the same as (or lower than) walking, even though most cyclists are riding on the road (it should be noted that in the UK on average 70 people are killed by motor vehicles on the pavement every year). Indeed regular cyclists have a life expectancy that is at least 2 years longer than average, they have fitness levels of someone 10 years their junior, also better mental health and are healthier in older age.

It is strange then that many people’s perception of road safety is the opposite. I often hear parents saying that they won’t let their children ride on the road, even though they did as children, because “it is more dangerous now”. Where does this idea come from? When I did start to research this post, I carried out an internet search for “cycle safety”. The top hits were mostly sites sponsored by the British Government, which all start by telling you how dangerous cycling is and quoting the number of cycle casualties, without putting the figures into context. An object lesson in how not to promote cycling as a safe activity and put them off by using fear. The simple fact is, cycling is safe when compared to risky activities such as gardening and travelling by car. The most effective way to reduce the likelihood of injury when cycling is to increase the number of people who cycle. When cycle use doubles, the risk of injury per cyclist falls by 35% to 40%. Having clearly stated that cycling is safe, it has to be recognised that no activity is 100% safe and there are risks out there. So what can you do to minimise the risks further?

First off, your bike should be the right size for you and set up so that you are comfortable. If you are not sure how to do this, then seek advice from an organisation like the Bike Station or your local bike shop.

Next, make sure you maintain your bicycle properly, here are a few things to check on a regular basis:

• Tyres: take a quick look, make sure are no tears or bulges in the tyre wall, then check the tyre pressure. If it is low, pump up and wait a few minutes to check for any punctures, and if necessary change the inner tube.
• Wheels: spin both wheels, watch for wobbles which may suggest a loose or broken spoke. If the spokes are fine and the wheel still wobbles, don’t ride as the wheel need to be serviced. Finally check the quick release levers (if fitted) on the wheel hubs and make sure they are secure so that the wheel will not come loose.
• Brakes: check the brake pads and replace if worn. Test the brakes by rolling the bike forward (while standing next to it) and applying the front brake, the back of the bike should rear up. Then roll the bike back and apply the rear brake, this time the front of the bike should rear up. If necessary tighten the brake cables. Also check that the cables are in good condition and not frayed.
• Controls: stand astride of the front wheel, gripping it with your knees, and waggle the handle bars, to make sure nothing is loose. If there is movement don’t ride, as the bike needs to be serviced. Also check the brake and gear levers and cables, to make sure they are in good working order.
• Drive train: check the gears by lifting the rear wheel off the ground and turn the pedals by hand. If the gears do not change easily, the gear cable may have stretched. Also look at the chain, it should be clean and running smoothly, oil if necessary, especially if it shows signs of rust. Then grip the pedal tightly and check to see if there is any play in the crank-arm/bottom bracket. If you find problems here, again don’t ride as the bike needs to be serviced.
• Saddle: make sure the saddle is the right height for you and is in line with the frame, also make sure the maximum height mark on the seat post is not visible.
• Drop Test: lift the bike 5-10cm off the ground, then let it drop, is there anything loose or rattling?

Advice for cycling on the roads:

If you are new to cycling or haven’t cycled on the road for a long time, then cycle training could be a good idea. The CTC maintains a list of Accredited Cycle Trainers qualified to the National Standards throughout the UK. Remember, cyclists do have the right to ride on the roads, and they should ride with respect to the rules of the road and other road users.

So here are a few things cyclists should do:

• You should always be able to stop within the distance you can see.
• Ride positively and decisively. It helps motorists to understand what you plan to do.
• Think ahead. Anticipate drivers’ actions. Catch their eye.
• Be visible. Ride well clear of the kerb, wear something colourful, and always use lights in poor day-time visibility or after dark.
• Show drivers what you plan to do. Always look and signal before you start, stop or turn. Ride a straight line past parked cars rather than weaving in and out between them.
• Move over, when it’s safe and convenient. Two-abreast is often OK, but try not to hold up other traffic.
• Follow the Highway Code, it is there for everybody.

And a few things cyclists should not do:

• jump red lights, it is not big and it is not clever
• ride on pavements (unless they are shared use paths or you are under the age of ten)
• ride across pedestrian crossings (unless it is a Toucan crossing)
• attempt to filter up the left hand side of long vehicle waiting at road junctions, even if the driver is not signalling left.

Just to keep things balanced (let’s not forget that driver error is the cause of 85% of road traffic accidents), here is a list of things drivers should do:

• do not jump red lights, the Highway Code applies to you too
• Think bike. Expect to see cyclists, and take care.
• Slow down and drive smoothly. Keep within speed limits. Expect sudden movements by cyclists, especially in windy weather and on bad road surfaces.
• Signal: always at roundabouts and every time you pass a cyclist.
• Watch for riders on the inside, don’t overtake them before you turn left. Don’t cut them up.
  
  (Rule 182 Highway Code)
• Give cyclists space – at least as much room as you would when overtaking a car – and never force past them.
  
  (Rule 163 Highway Code)
• Be patient – a few seconds for a cyclist will not affect your total journey time, it is all those other cars on the roads which are causing the congestion.
• Right-turning cyclists need space and time.
• Park considerately and always look for cyclists before opening a car door.
• Use dipped headlights, cyclists are dazzled by full-beam headlights, just like everyone else.
• Expect speed from bikes. Think of a bike as a vehicle – it is. Cyclists can be fast movers – 20mph or more.
• Advanced stop lines: Motorists, including motorcyclists, MUST stop at the first white line reached if the lights are amber or red and should avoid blocking the way or encroaching on the marked area at other times, e.g., if the junction ahead is blocked. Allow cyclists time and space to move off when the green signal shows.
  
  Rule 178 Highway Code

Finally a few other things which drivers should know:

• Cyclist do have the right to use the roads and they do pay for them as well, we all pay for the roads.
• Cyclists can feel threatened by inconsiderate driving. They have a right to space on the road and need extra room at junctions and roundabouts where cars change speed, position and direction.
• Cyclists ride away from the kerb, not to annoy motorists but:
  • to avoid drains, potholes and debris
  • to be seen as they come to junctions with side roads
  • to discourage drivers from squeezing past when it’s too narrow
• Cyclists turning right are exposed – and need extra consideration from motorists, especially on multi-lane roads with fast-moving traffic.
• Cyclists can be forced into faster traffic – by vehicles parked in cycle lanes, at junctions or on double yellow lines, so be considerate when you park.

Final thoughts:
Mutual respect and consideration for other road users makes for safer and more enjoyable travel for all. Acknowledging a courtesy does make a difference, so don’t be shy.

Many years ago I signed up to a document by the name of Charter 88 which called for a new constitutional settlement which would:

1. Enshrine, by means of a Bill of Rights, such civil liberties as the right to peaceful assembly, to freedom of association, to freedom from discrimination, to freedom from detention without trial, to trial by jury, to privacy and to freedom of expression.
2. Subject executive powers and prerogatives, by whomsoever exercised, to the rule of law.
3. Establish freedom of information and open government.
4. Create a fair electoral system of proportional representation.
5. Reform the upper house to establish a democratic, non-hereditary second chamber.
6. Place the executive under the power of a democratically renewed parliament and all agencies of the state under the rule of law.
7. Ensure the independence of a reformed judiciary.
8. Provide legal remedies for all abuses of power by the state and the officials of central and local government.
9. Guarantee an equitable distribution of power between local, regional and national government.
10. Draw up a written constitution, anchored in the idea of universal citizenship, that incorporates these reforms.

All thing which you would expect to see in a mature democracy. However, over the year there has only been slow progress towards some of these aims, but at the same time there has been an increasing centralisation of power. The first past the post system has led to a situation where for most people their vote makes very little difference unless they live in a “key marginal” constancy. The two big parties spend large sums of money to run expensive poster campaigns in these key marginal. To run these campaigns they rely on large donations from a few individuals and the support of a few senior media editors and owners. Our so called leaders are becoming increasingly remote from we the people.

Maybe it was always so, but there was a time when people were far more engaged with the political process and felt they had so influence on it. In the last century the power of the squirearchy was broken by electoral reform, by giving the vote to the people, the universal franchise, thereby giving them power and their using it. However, that time has long gone there has been a constant drop in the number of people voting in elections and a loss of support for political parties, general signs of a failing democracy. What we desperately need is a change to a fairer electoral system, to a system of proportional representation.

Now suddenly the prime minister wants a referendum on changing the electoral system. OK so his preferred system “alternative vote” is far from ideal and this can be seen as a cynical attempt to hang on to power, but it is a sign of progress. It is a small step in the right direction, but not a substitute for a fully-fledged proportional system. So why are the Tories opposing it? What are they afraid of, that we may start moving towards a true democracy, where the people can actually have a real say? Every constancy should be a key marginal, not parachuting in of candidates with patronage into safe seats. So come on what are you so afraid of? Why the fear of giving the people the freedom to decide? We want a meritocracy, not mediocrity. We need Proportional Representation for the health of our democracy.