Student Cyclists At High Risk

Cycling down Oxford Road

Cycling crashes in Manchester average five a week, say new figures.

Student cyclists appear to be most at risk. The south Manchester area, which includes the Oxford Road corridor, experienced 22 accidents between 2005 and 2007. There were a total of 66 reported accidents – three times as many – along the student commuter link of Wilmslow Road.

According to Greater Mancester Police, this is officially the most dangerous route for cyclists in Manchester.

The figures revealed four fatalities and 70 serious injuries, all as a result of major accidents in the city.

University of Manchester Neighbourhood Officer PC Scott Scholfield said: “By wearing high visibility clothing and using lights after dark or during poor weather, cyclists can greatly improve their conspicuity, and by wearing a helmet cyclists, can greatly reduce the risk of serious head injuries if they become involved in a collision.”

He said that cyclists who clearly break the law whilst cycling do not help the cause.
“Jumping red lights, riding along non-shared footways, riding without lights at night or contravening one-way orders create risk, fear and frustration in the community.”

However, some student cyclists feel they are forced to occasionally bend the rules, by mounting pavements in order to avoid vehicles.

Nes Brierley from I Bike MCR, Manchester’s student cycling network, said: “There’s kind of a Catch-22 situation in which people are scared of cycling because there’s too many cars, but there are too many cars because there’s not enough people cycling.

“We try and encourage a culture of cycling. For example, we can offer students sessions with qualified instructors to make them more assertive and confident road users.

“It’s not cycling that’s dangerous,” she said, “It’s cars that are dangerous.”

According to Manchester City Council, the good news is that the overall citywide number of cycle casualties has actually fallen by 39.5% since the period 1989-93.

Councillor Richard Cowell, Manchester City Council’s Executive Member for the Environment said: “All the Greater Manchester councils are currently developing an on-line cycle journey planner for summer 2009.”