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Have You Heard About the Cycling Revolution?

13 August 2020

The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has launched the ‘government’s most ambitious plans yet to boost cycling and walking’, as announced by the Department for Transport on July 28 2020. The plans will be funded by a £2 billion government spend. 

The launch will see ‘thousands of miles of new protected bike lanes, cycle training for any child or adult, and first ever zero-emission transport city’ as well as a new ‘Fix your bike’ voucher scheme. The vouchers will be available for all members of the public and will give them £50 to spend on fixing their bicycle.  

Given that ‘cycling has been proven to offer huge benefits for people’s physical and mental health’, the PM has rolled out these plans to tackle ill health by increasing the number of people actively in hopes of relieving pressure on the NHS through the coronavirus pandemic. 

Since the outbreak of Covid-19, various studies have shown that those who are overweight are more ‘at risk’. One such study of almost 17,000 patients, conducted by medRxiv, concluded that those who were clinically obese (with a body mass index of more than 30) were 33% more at risk of fatality from Covid-19 than those who were not obese. Another study by medRxiv’s, which used NHS electronic health records, found that those who were obese were twice as at risk of fatality – with an even higher rate of risk if they suffered from obesity-related illnesses such as diabetes or heart disease. 

The Department for Transport wrote, ‘The new plan aims to build on the significant increase in the number of people cycling during the pandemic. It sets out a comprehensive, long term vision to increase active travel and embed the benefits of walking and cycling into how we live, work and get around’.

Active Travel England, a newly formed government department, will oversee the spend of the pledged £2 billion on active travel over the next five years. 

Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, said “From helping people get fit and healthy and lowering their risk of illness, to improving air quality and cutting congestion, cycling and walking have a huge role to play in tackling some of the biggest health and environmental challenges that we face.

“But to build a healthier, more active nation, we need the right infrastructure, training and support in place to give people the confidence to travel on two wheels.

“That’s why now is the time to shift gears and press ahead with our biggest and boldest plans yet to boost active travel – so that everyone can feel the transformative benefits of cycling”.

With more cyclists on the road than ever, we at Marshall Leasing know it is important to understand how to keep all parties safe when driving your vehicle. We have compiled a list of tips on how to drive safely around cyclists:

Indicate

Indicate early and clearly when making a turning, reversing or pulling off. This will give the cyclist advanced warning if, for example, you will be cutting across the cycle lane. 

Pass slow and wide

Always give cyclists plenty of room when passing, particularly if road conditions are poor. If there is a strong wind, a cyclist could skid or veer off-course. 

Never attempt to overtake a cyclist around a bend, or where there is not clear visibility. 

Check your blind spot

Check your mirrors and blind spots before turning, reversing or pulling off. A cyclist may be easy to miss at a glance, so it is best to err on the side of caution. 

Understand cyclists’ signals

Cyclists, for the most part, do not have the use of indicators, hazard or brake lights. Therefore, it is wise to understand their arm signals, so that there is no room for miscommunication on the road. Cyclists’ hand signals include:

STOP – Hand straight in the air. 
SLOW – Waving one hand/arm slowly up and down.
HAZARD – Pointing with arm behind back.
TURNING – Left or right arm extended outwards, respective of direction of turn.

Follow the Highway Code

Always adhere to road signs and traffic light signals. Respect cycle lanes, in particular at traffic lights, where the design allows cyclists to move to the front of traffic in order to see more clearly. And, lastly, maintain the same braking distance between your vehicle and a cyclist as you would with another vehicle – one vehicle’s length for every 10 miles per hour.

All of us at Marshall Leasing hope you find this information useful. Safe travel. 

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