Make streets safe for cyclists (From Oxford Mail)

Make streets safe for cyclists

6:04am Monday 29th October 2007 in

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News that 12 locations in Oxford have been identified as being dangerous to cyclists will come as no surprise to anyone who regularly uses a bike to get around the city.

In fact, the only surprise is that more areas have not been singled out.

Cyclists frequently have to risk their lives getting to work, school, university - or just for a night out or trip to the shops, and the fact some of the worse "blackspots" have been identified should offer hope to anyone who has been involved in an accident or close shave.

We all know of spots, other than those listed by Cyclox, which are terrifying to ride through - even by the most safety-conscious cyclists.

By leaving the car at home - or choosing not to own one - cyclists are helping to make our city a cleaner, greener and less congested place. But if we are to encourage more people to rely on pedal-power, we have to ensure our streets are safe for them to use.

But, while cyclists are often at the mercy of badly designed road markings and cycle paths, it should not be forgotten that many put themselves at unnecessary risk.

The sight of cyclists running red lights, using pedestrianised streets, weaving in and out of traffic, or riding at night without lights, is sickeningly common.

While we applaud any attempt to highlight the dangers faced by cyclists, we also call on bicycle users to take greater responsibility for their own safety, by riding carefully and responsibly.