We all know it can be daunting cycling through busy streets, especially in city centres. We see cases of people getting knocked off their bikes all too often and the injuries can be severe in some cases.
This is even more common in places like London where it can be a nightmare to drive around needing to pay multiple tolls and download 20 different apps for parking so cycling is becoming more and more attractive. Well, the UK is aware of this and have recruited the Netherland-based bike subscription firm Swapfiets to help, who are providing a free one-day course for an electric bike proficiency scheme which will be ran by cycling safety pros.
It will mask the form of a CBT course for motorcycling and has appropriately taken on the name CeBT (city e-Bike training course).
It is estimated that 67% of people do not feel comfortable riding in city centres due to fear of being hit by cars, becoming the victim of road rage and/or getting lost. However, 2,000 people have been surveyed and they found that at least one third of them wish to cycle more.
This course could help you do so. It will help you learn basic cycling safety i.e., signalling, emergency stops in closed areas etc. It also covers multiple areas of confidence, if you haven’t ridden since you were a child you can start at beginner and work your way up to intermediate which includes roundabouts and multi-lane roads.
The trial starts on 29th April from 11am-3pm and is being trialled in Shoreditch, with hopes that it is successful and possibilities of it branching out.
What makes it even better, is its free! Also, all participants will receive a one-month subscription for a Swapfiets Power 1 free of charge.
If you wish to learn more, I have included the link to obtain the free tickets below.
Over 16,000 cyclists were injured on the roads in 2021, and those are just the incidents that are reported to the Police.
Being involved in a cycling crash is a shock. Your bike may be mangled, your possessions scattered and you will probably hurt somewhere. However, if you can remember to do a few key things straight away, it will make life a lot easier in the days and weeks ahead.
Here’s our quick guide of what you should do if you are involved in a collision:
ARE YOU SAFE?
When you are knocked off your bike, your first priority must be to get to a position of safety. If you are too badly injured to remove yourself from arm, attract attention to yourself by waving, shouting and whistling.
If you assist a cyclist who has been knocked off their bike, help them to get to a safe spot, unless you suspect a neck or head injury.
If there is a serious injury call 999 for an ambulance.
2. SHARING DETAILS & WITNESS INFORMATION
It is a legal requirement for those involved in a collision to supply their details. Make sure you make a note of the make, model and colour of any vehicles involved.
You should also try and get the details of any independent witnesses. If you are injured, ask someone else to get their details.
3. EVIDENCE
If you have a camera, take as many photographs as you can. This should include licence plates and drivers, as well as the location of the accident (parked cars, line markings etc).
4. MEDICAL ADVICE
Don’t ignore your injuries – seek medical attention as soon as possible to rule out any more significant underlying issues.
5. YOUR BROKEN BIKE
Make sure you get good photos of your bike. Even if your own insurance company repairs or replaces your bike, this can be claimed back from a negligent driver. We also have our own in-house bicycle engineer, Dan, who will do his best to get you back on your bike as quickly as possible.
6. LEGAL HELP
We are highly regarded specialist cycling solicitors and have helped hundreds of clients to bring claims for compensation for injuries, bike repairs and other damaged items such as helmets, phones and clothing (TAKE PHOTOS!!). We are able to assist even if the third party driver has fled the scene or is not insured.
For further information, click through to the Two Wheel Claims website or call on 0161 348 7586.
We have a huge amount of experience in dealing with personal injury claims, particularly bike accidents.
These steps should be taken if you have been in an accident
Try to get as much detail from the driver offending vehicle such as their name, address, insurance details, registration number and make and colour of the car and a description of the person. If the driver doesn’t stop, try to take down as much about the vehicle and the driver as you are able to.
Try to get pictures of the other vehicle and take pictures of the damage to your own bike. Take photos of anything that has been damaged, along with any photos of injuries you have sustained and the accident scene showing the position of the vehicles.
Get contact details of any witnesses. If you were cycling in a group this will be easy but if not try other road users, pedestrians, or anybody about really.
Contact the police within 48 hours to report the incident and keep the reference number handy.
Keep as much evidence as possible – all of the above steps and then keep damaged items such as clothing and helmet.
Contact TWC – we will get a bike mechanic out to price or repairs or replacement bike and they will then product a report. There is a time limit of 3 years to make a claim, but we recommend contacting us as soon as possible. If you have not been able to gather all the evidence mentioned above, don’t worry we can still assist. We work on a no win no fee basis, so you have nothing to lose.
The Highway Code will be updated by the end of January – and here are some of the important changes you should be aware of:
A new “hierarchy” model will be implemented that gives clearer guidance on which type of road user has priority over the other. The model is presented in the following order:
Pedestrians
Cyclists
Horse Riders
Motorcyclists
Cars/taxis
Vans/Mini Buses
Large vehicles
One could suggest that the new model aims to provide pedestrians and smaller vehicles more priority over larger vehicles.
For example, a car user will need to be more vigilant of pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders and motorcyclists, whereas horse rider would need to be more vigilant of cyclists and pedestrians.
The changes will also mean that drivers will be expected to use the “Dutch reach” method, requiring a driver to look over their shoulder before opening a vehicle door to reduce the chances of hitting a passing cyclist.
Drivers will also need to leave a space of 1.5 meters when overtaking cyclists at a speed of up to 30mph, and more distance at higher speeds. This gives more clarity to the Highway Code which does not currently specify what the distance should be.
We will also see stricter rules on the use of mobile phones meaning it will be an offence to take photos and videos, select a song on a playlist, or play games on a phone while the vehicle is stationary. Violation of these rules could result in an offender receiving a £200 fixed penalty and 6 points on their licence.
