Drive Safe, Cycle Safe

A new campaign to make Edinburgh's streets safer for cyclists is to be launched in April.

Streets Ahead, the city’s road safety partnership is running a series of roadshows at various University locations as part of a major road safety campaign aimed at increasing awareness for rules of the road, and encouraging respect among road users.

The campaign aims to reduce the number of road traffic incidents involving cyclists on Edinburgh’s roads through an education and behavioural change campaign targeted at both cyclists and motorists.

Roadshows

The campaign will launch on Monday 2 April 2012 with a series of high profile events focusing on educating cyclists and motorists on the importance of observing traffic lights and advanced stop lines.

A cycling safety roadshow will tour university, NHS and Council buildings.

The roadshows are taking place:

• Monday 2nd April 2012, 11am-2pm, at Waverley Court (City of Edinburgh Council HQ)
• Tuesday 3rd April 2012, 11am-2pm, outside Teviot House (Edinburgh University)
• Wednesday 4th April 2012, 11am-2pm, outside the main entrance to the Royal Infirmary Edinburgh
• Thursday 5th April 2012, 11am-2pm, outside King's Buildings House (Edinburgh University)

Safety advice

Edinburgh City Council road safety staff and Lothian and Borders Police will be on hand to answer safety questions and hand out cycling giveaways.

Security advice

Lothian and Borders Police will be providing bike security marking and advice.

Bike maintenance: Dr Bike

Dr Bike, a qualified bike mechanic from The Bike Station will be there to provide:

• a free bike safety inspection
• fixing of minor problems on the spot (eg punctures, brakes, gear problems).
• a bike ‘MOT’ certificate to take to a bike shop for problems which cannot be fixed on the spot.

Free Dr Bike sessions are available across the University throughout the year.

• Dr Bike timetable

Next phase of the campaign

The second phase of the campaign will involve enforcement action taken by police with cyclists and motorists that are not obeying the law. This activity will commence weeks after the start of the educational campaign.

A campaign focusing on large goods vehicles and cycle safety will be launched in June 2012 to coincide with Bike Week and the Royal Highland Show. This will offer advice to cyclists, especially in-terms of the large blind spots faced by drivers of large vehicles.

This article was published on Apr 6, 2012