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MuckBulligan
Re the claim that about 10% of cyclist deaths happen in roads with segregation: this should be (i) related to the volume of cyclists in those roads and (ii) stated with the appropriate margin of error. This is, of course, an absolutely trivial point.
I am a firm proponent of full segregation, although I think that it would be much more cost effective to start by placing a daytime ban on lorries. These are the types of vehicle that really make the roads shit for everyone, not just cyclists. I'm well aware that this will be countered with the 'economy innit' argument, to which the only answer is that, yeah, it is true that modern cities are build for the business and not for the people who actually live there.
Why should someone that cycles to and from work on night shifts be subjected to HGVs with the added danger of a lack of visibility?
Drivers are now forced to sit an SUD (safe urban driving) course to drive in London and are getting better. No matter how good, how understanding they may become, we still have hundreds or thousands of that lost generation of cyclists* that still undertake at junctions despite the flashing lights and loud alarm. This leads us back to the issue of cycle infrastructure...
*Lost generation = Along with our milk it was thatcher that ended cycle proficiency.
MultiGrooves-
I'm not sure Thatcher got rid of Cycling Proficiency, as I remember doing mine when Major was in power.
I also don't remember fuck all from it other than sticking your arm out to indicate. It took me about two years of riding like a dunce on the streets (and pavements) of Derby about 15 years after I did my test before I got into internet forums and actually read stuff about cycling better.
We really just need to get info out there to people taking to bikes as to better riding techniques and the benefits thereof as no one is really exposed to the information. But sadly there's people like that Donowotsit bloke who are afaik actively against that because it detracts from the exclusive goal of cycle lanes.
Jezston
Re the claim that about 10% of cyclist deaths happen in roads with segregation: this should be (i) related to the volume of cyclists in those roads and (ii) stated with the appropriate margin of error. This is, of course, an absolutely trivial point.
I am a firm proponent of full segregation, although I think that it would be much more cost effective to start by placing a daytime ban on lorries. These are the types of vehicle that really make the roads shit for everyone, not just cyclists. I'm well aware that this will be countered with the 'economy innit' argument, to which the only answer is that, yeah, it is true that modern cities are build for the business and not for the people who actually live there.