On Thu, 7 Jun 2007 11:29:02 +0100, "Dave"
<
[email protected]> wrote:
>This was mentioned on GMTV this morning.
>
>http://www.gm.tv/index.cfm?articleid=26043
Here's the article...
No cycling
It was revealed today that some people are being put off from taking
to the roads on a bike through fear of traffic.
As many as 47% of people never cycle and a further 17% only use
cycle paths and trails away from roads, a survey by road safety
charity Brake and breakdown service Green Flag found.
Of those not taking to the roads...
* 17% said they shunned roads mainly because they were dangerous.
* 19% included danger as one of the reasons for not cycling on
roads.
* 35% of all those surveyed said they would choose to ride a bike
on cycle paths and trails if those routes connected their home
to local amenities.
The survey follows recent Government figures showing that 2,420
cyclists were killed or seriously injured on British roads in 2006.
Bicycle use is decreasing, with the average number of cycle trips
made per person per year falling from an average of 18 from 1995
- 1997 to just 14 in 2005.
Every year, statistics show that more and more young people, to
the detriment of their health and well-being, are being driven
to school.
Jools Townsend, head of education at Brake, said: "It's terrible
that so many people are afraid to get on a bicycle because of fear
of traffic, and worse their fears are justified.
"Too many people try to cocoon themselves and their families in
cars, leading to more vehicles on our roads and an even greater
threat to pedestrians and cyclists.
"Choosing cycling and walking over the car is good for your health
and the environment, so we should be encouraging it.
"But people won't be persuaded to get on their bikes - quite rightly
- unless they can do so without putting their lives in danger.
"It's time the Government put some serious investment into the
national cycle network and other measures to enable people to walk
and cycle safely."