MP tells councils - make our roads safer for cycling

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has welcomed a major report urging councils to use 'all the tools at their disposal' to promote safe road sharing between cyclists and drivers.

The Transport Committee's report on cycling safety which was released on Friday, said a cycling budget of £10 per head by 2020 is essential to fund long-term development of cycling infrastructure to make our roads safer for cycling.

Some 109 cyclists were killed on UK roads in 2013, while over 3,000 were seriously injured.

The Committee's report concludes that:

• Road safety measures should aim to curb the number of cycling casualties while increasing the overall number of cyclists on the road. Achieving both these goals will require steps to improve actual and perceived levels of safety for cyclists on the road.
• Central government, regional and local authorities, should use all the tools at their disposal to promote the safer sharing of the road between drivers and cyclists.
• Safe cycling should be made an integral part of the design for all new infrastructure projects. Local authorities should be required to demonstrate that cycling was considered and incorporated into the design of new roads at the earliest stage, and that local cyclists were consulted as part of this process.
• The disproportionate number of HGVs involved in collisions with cyclists demonstrates that the industry must improve its road safety record.
• Cycle training should be available to all cyclists: children in primary and secondary school, adults seeking to gain confidence, and those looking to refresh their road skills.
• DVSA must ensure that drivers are tested-in the practical test if possible, and certainly via the theory test-on their approach to sharing the road with cyclists.
• Government should reassess its approach to road safety awareness and set out, in its response to this report, the steps it will take to ensure a clear and consistent message of mutual respect between all road users and compliance with the law by cyclists and drivers.
• Government should consider amending the Highway Code to promote cycle safety and ensure that it reflects the rights of cyclists to share the road with drivers

Last week Tim called on Cumbria's councils to work together to improve cycling provision throughout the county.

Tim said: "This report is welcome news, but we need the Government to now agree go one step further and make the commitment to at least £10 per head funding to make safe cycling within the UK as soon as possible, not in 6 years, but now. I think Cumbria can lead the way and I will be pressing for this to happen at a local and national level."