Burnley police help workers on bikes to stay safe on the road (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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Burnley police help workers on bikes to stay safe on the road
8:00pm Thursday 9th August 2012 in Burnley
ROAD safety advice has been given by police to staff at Burnley’s largest private sector employer.
An increasing number of people are said to be biking their way to Aircelle ’s Bancroft Road plant, at Heasandford. And police have been giving advice about safer riding, the importance of protective equipment, and bike maintenance.
Sgt Claire Pearson said: “We’ve noticed an increase in people commuting to work on motorbikes, and mopeds, so we have been offering workers basic, yet essential, advice about staying safe on the roads.
“The session was well received. Some were experienced riders, but still found it useful to remind themselves of the basic road safety measures.”
Helen Gopsill, the firm’s human resources director, added: “We’re conscious that we’re very close to Sir John Thursby Community College, and that we are Burnley’s largest private sector employer.
“That means we have a lot of traffic and people near our site at rush-hour, so we’re delighted to help both police and our employees, to ensure that we have safer roads around the site, and around Burnley in general.”
Comments(9)
DarkWhite
says...
1:59am Fri 10 Aug 12
If cyclists had to get some form of license where points could be docked for doing stupid things (like there are for equally stupid car drivers). Maybe people would accept them more.
At the moment any Tom, Dick or Harry can hop on their bike and disregard any law of the road (possibly because it doesn't apply to them technically)
DaveBurnley
says...
7:44am Fri 10 Aug 12
I think you'll find that the laws of the road apply equally to cyclists.
happycyclist
says...
9:15am Fri 10 Aug 12
DarkWhite wrote:I've said many times on here that I'd support a road test for cyclists, possibly setting the age at 16. I've no idea why neither cycling bodies nor the Government seem to want to consider this.
Had an inkling that you'd chime in happy. And I agree with you for possibly the first time ever. I'd love to get a bike and take it to work, at the moment my only option is via the canal route because I'm not confident on the road as a bicycle user. You know why? It's because there is no formal training for it. Any idiot can hop on a bike and go wherever they want down a public highway, which I'm sure you'll agree is for everyone, horse riders, cyclists, motorcyclists and cars.
If cyclists had to get some form of license where points could be docked for doing stupid things (like there are for equally stupid car drivers). Maybe people would accept them more.
At the moment any Tom, Dick or Harry can hop on their bike and disregard any law of the road (possibly because it doesn't apply to them technically)
Licences and points deductions would be an administrative nightmare and virtually unenforceable -just look at how many motorists there are on the roads without licences or insurance.
Road traffic laws apply equally to cyclists, 'technically' or otherwise.
Your ferret stinks
says...
1:06pm Fri 10 Aug 12
DaveBurnley wrote:I think you'll find it doesn't!
"At the moment any Tom, Dick or Harry can hop on their bike and disregard any law of the road (possibly because it doesn't apply to them technically)" I think you'll find that the laws of the road apply equally to cyclists.
Are helmets compulsory? do they pay road tax or have insurance incase they are the ones who cause an accident? did you ever see a copper stopping a cyclist and issueing fines for riding through red lights? are motorbikes allowed to ride down the pavement?
Your ferret stinks
says...
1:21pm Fri 10 Aug 12
happycyclist wrote:Try testing cyclists skills!
They should know that stuff before they take their test. Make tests harder and stop wasting police time. OR... if the problem is actually motorists, then sort them out rather than putting the onus on motorbike/moped/cycl ists.
Is it ok for them to ride under the influence of drink or drugs, pavements are for people walking and not cycling, why do the d1ckheads think it's ok to ride two or three abreast whilst having a good old chinwag regardless of if anythings behind them.
As a motorcyclists there are road laws that i have to abide by, however not so for cyclists.
Now the weather has warmed up and britain has done well in the olypics there's going to be a load more out there in their brand new spandex for the next two or three months until the novelty wears off or they run out of sudocrem.
JayEss
says...
4:08pm Fri 10 Aug 12
Your ferret stinks wrote:No-one pays road tax.
DaveBurnley wrote:I think you'll find it doesn't!
"At the moment any Tom, Dick or Harry can hop on their bike and disregard any law of the road (possibly because it doesn't apply to them technically)" I think you'll find that the laws of the road apply equally to cyclists.
Are helmets compulsory? do they pay road tax or have insurance incase they are the ones who cause an accident? did you ever see a copper stopping a cyclist and issueing fines for riding through red lights? are motorbikes allowed to ride down the pavement?
Cyclists do get fined for running red lights.
Should drivers wear neck braces? Whiplash claims are costing everyone, they should be forced to wear a brace to reduce the risk. Seems fair.
Your ferret stinks
says...
2:57pm Sat 11 Aug 12
JayEss wrote:If thats the best you can come up with your not pedalling fast enough!
Your ferret stinks wrote:No-one pays road tax.
DaveBurnley wrote:I think you'll find it doesn't!
"At the moment any Tom, Dick or Harry can hop on their bike and disregard any law of the road (possibly because it doesn't apply to them technically)" I think you'll find that the laws of the road apply equally to cyclists.
Are helmets compulsory? do they pay road tax or have insurance incase they are the ones who cause an accident? did you ever see a copper stopping a cyclist and issueing fines for riding through red lights? are motorbikes allowed to ride down the pavement?
Cyclists do get fined for running red lights.
Should drivers wear neck braces? Whiplash claims are costing everyone, they should be forced to wear a brace to reduce the risk. Seems fair.
Chris P Bacon
says...
7:48am Tue 14 Aug 12
Your ferret stinks wrote:1. Cycling helmets are NOT compulsory, and with good reason.
DaveBurnley wrote:I think you'll find it doesn't!
"At the moment any Tom, Dick or Harry can hop on their bike and disregard any law of the road (possibly because it doesn't apply to them technically)" I think you'll find that the laws of the road apply equally to cyclists.
Are helmets compulsory? do they pay road tax or have insurance incase they are the ones who cause an accident? did you ever see a copper stopping a cyclist and issueing fines for riding through red lights? are motorbikes allowed to ride down the pavement?
2. You don't pay 'road tax' so why should a cyclist? You pay VED which, nowadays, is based on emissions. The 'road tax' you refer to was abolished by Secretary of State for Transport, Winston Churchill, in 1937.
3. An accident cannot be 'caused'; through negligence on someone's part and incidents caused by cyclists are so few and carry considerably less damage than cars, buses and lorries, it isn't considered necessary, though lots do have insurance, actually.
4. Yes, I have seen a copper issue a fine to a cyclist going through a red light.
What's your tipple; a pint of bitter and twisted?
happycyclist says...
9:40pm Thu 9 Aug 12
ists.