As more and more people turn to cycling for its reduced cost, health benefits and lower environmental impact, Transport Secretary Grant Schapps has announced that he intends to bring in legislation to combat “death by dangerous cycling”.
A legal loophole in motoring law means that any cyclist who kills a pedestrian can only be jailed for a maximum of two years, and it’s this loophole he intends to address with the new law.
Schapps said the law is needed “to impress on cyclists the real harm they can cause when speed is combined with lack of care”.
He also stated: “A selfish minority of cyclists appear to believe that they are somehow immune to red lights.
“We need to crack down on this disregard for road safety. Relatives of victims have waited too long for this straightforward measure.”
The announcement comes four years after the government ran a consultation on proposals for new offences of causing death or serious injury when cycling, and the law could be added to the new Transport Bill, slated to go before parliament this autumn.
The legislation seems particularly timely, with the number of cyclists on the roads surging as the number of cars declines. In the five months to the end of July, cycling saw a 47% increase on weekdays compared to the same period a year ago, while weekends saw an increase of 27%.
Cycling UK is calling for local authorities to encourage people to cycle more and drive less, particularly for short journeys, but the organisation’s head of campaigns, Duncan Dollimore, says many don’t believe the roads are safe enough.
The impact on the environment by switching to cycling could be considerable, however, with 71% of journeys under five miles. A switch to cycling would also be better for people’s health and wellbeing, as well as their bank balance.
Comparison site GoCompare has found that the average UK motorist would save £106.60 per month by cycling as well as reduce their carbon output by 5kg per day.
Nevertheless, safety remains the biggest concern for most cyclists, with Tom Bowtell, chief executive of the British Coatings Federation noting: “I put all the infrastructure in – bike racks, showers and everything – but nobody else was taking advantage of it. I think that’s because of the fear of not feeling competent.”
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