Time for action

[Jake]

I think for realism (and thus impact) it needs a real junction with traffic lights, railings, lane-markings, etc.

I don't think it would be too difficult to get permission to do this on a Sunday.

i think it would be very hard to get permission on the roads, there would need to be all kinds of risk assesment forms filled out and inssurence.

 

[CopperBrompton]

No different to a fun-run, doing a photo-shoot or anything else. You need public liability cover and a permit and that's about it.

 

[jonesy]

Thought it might be helpful to dig out some relevant stats and links for background information.

Pedal cyclist casualties in road accidents: 2007
Road Accident Statistics Factsheet No. 4 – November 2008


http://www.dft.gov.uk/adobepdf/162469/221412/221549/227755/328843/pedalcyclistfsheet07.pdf

Vehicles involved.
• 81 per cent of pedal cycle accidents involve a pedal cycle and a car. Such accidents account for 73 per cent of killed and seriously injured pedal cyclists, and 82 per cent of all pedal cyclist casualties.
• Accidents between a pedal cycle and HGV were more likely to result in serious injury with 10 per cent of pedal cyclist casualties in these accidents being fatalities, compared with 1 per cent of all pedal cyclist casualties. Nearly 1 in 4 pedal cyclists killed was in an accident with an HGV.

Transport for London
Surface Transport
London Road Safety Unit
LAAU topic 2008-1
December 2008
Pedal cyclist collisions and casualties in Greater London

http://www.londonroadsafety.co.uk/www/downloads/publications/PC-Cas-Factsheet-Final-1986-2007.pdf

79% of P/C casualties were injured at or within 20m of a junction,

...

Table 11 – Fatal summary
The most common conflict in fatal P/C collisions (5 out of 15 or 33%) involved the other vehicle turning left across the path of the P/C. 20% (3 out of 15) involved the other vehicle running into the rear of the pedal cyclist, and a further 13% (2 out of 15) involved a head on collision between the cyclist and other vehicle.
In 53% of fatal collisions the pedal cyclist was in collision with a goods vehicle – 13% with a medium goods vehicle (MGV) 3.5 to 7.5t and 40% with a heavy goods vehicle (HGV) over 7.5t. Cars were involved in 40% of collisions in which a pedal cyclist was killed.

Information from RoSPA

http://www.rospa.com/roadsafety/advice/cycling/info/cyclists_and_lorries_factsheet_0206.pdf

In 2004, 367 collisions between HGVs and cyclists resulted in 22 riders being killed, 79 seriously injured and a further 262 injured. Although only 2% of cyclists casualties occurred in collisions with HGVs, this resulted in 22% of cyclist deaths.

 

[magnatom]

Thanks jonsey. These are the sorts of statistics that will find a place on the website.

So doesn no-one have any opinions of the name of the campaign etc?

 

[sheddy]

ww.donotridedownthelefthandside.co.uk
just a bit too long !

 

[wesa]

I just found this on the CTC forum, I appologise if it has already been posted here.
http://forum.ctc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=26755

I can't view the video at work but the title of the thread is 'Lorries & Cyclists: new Met video' so I am guessing it is something similar to what we are planning.

A direct link to the youtube video is

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPkbNFt5NuY


edit - Sorry, just found the video discussed in campaigning & public policy, I'll leave the links for this discussion

 

[CopperBrompton]

It's addressing the general issue, but not the specific one. It's also (a) 3.5 minutes long and ( so boring it's in danger of causing brain-death in cyclists just from watching it. It's even worse than the RoSPA one!

 

[ttcycle]

hello - been really busy of late (fingers and too many pies comes to mind) CotterPin- I like the approach you mentioned and feel that there would need to be this element in mind for a campaign to work.

I'm currently sounding out costings of labels etc - for back of buses and also labels/flyers for bikes stands/talking to people etc - not having many people coming back but when I have a moment will call round some printers to get a general idea of pricing. Have contacted fillmmaker friends - not had a chance to check - what about other people on here re filming?

Haven't had a chance to listen to the radio 4 broadcast yet but from other posts on here it didn't seem to reflect very well on cyclists.

I suppose the sunday filming with as much off our own backs as possible is the best way- if we need a large junction then we'd definetly need permission; Also agree that getting HGV people on board is essential to this working. Collaboration for sure.

Sorry, I am short on time - wanted to log in and just say that I'm still on board but have a lot on right now - will be away for some of next week so if i dissapear off the radar that's why- haha. Will contribute more when things ease off a bit - but yeah plenty of +1 and thumbs up from me for the ideas I mentioned above.

 

[Arch]

Haven't had a chance to listen to the radio 4 broadcast yet but from other posts on here it didn't seem to reflect very well on cyclists.

I wouldn't say that - it was just a bit gutless I felt. (Needless to say they didn't refer to my email* or any others - they might come back to the subject though and read some emails, they sometimes do if they get enough). It was a wasted opportunity. We heard all about one mother's campaign (and good on her), to get safety features fitted to trucks, but the police rep who was saying that cyclists can also do their bit by understanding blind spots just didn't really get the point across, to my ears, anyway - and there was no specific mention of not cycling up the inside.

And there was no mention at all of getting adult cycle training, which was a real missed opportunity.

*I haven't had an auto 'thanks for your email' reply which you sometimes do, so it's possible it got lost in the ether...

 

[magnatom]

Well that just proves there is a need for a ground routes campaign. We know the issues, have the experience etc. Hopefully we can get it across.

Thanks ttcycle for getting back to us. I know everyone is busy so any time people can give is very much appreciated.

So it appears that the the Plenty of Room theme is ok then, with only Mr P make (valid) points against it. As no one else is providing any other ideas I say we go with this. I also suggest that any video should be along the lines of what Ben suggested. If you disagree say now, as we need to move forward.

Ok.So we need to start thinking about the logistics of filming, including trying to firm up exactly what we want to film. Does anyone have the expertise to take what ben has suggested and produce a proceedure (or whatever it is called, script perhaps) for filming.

What about locations? Any suggestions, remembering that London is the likely location, depending on people available to film etc (although feel free to make other suggestions).

Mr Paul has a poster. Does this fit, or can we make it fit with the campaign? If it doesn't fit that certainly doesn't mean that it isn't worth following it up of course.

I have had a few offers to host, but do we have a someone (or a few people) who are willing to look at creating the website itself? Obviously it would have the video on it, links to other material, information, statistics, photos of aftermaths etc.

lets get the creative juices flowing!

 

[CopperBrompton]

It's easy enough to host the video on youtube and just embed it in our website, that way we don't have to worry about bandwidth.

 

[Speicher]

On the list of offers of help, back on page 17, Jake has said that he makes websites.

I have been updating this list as more people have made offers. If anyone thinks I have missed them off, please pm me.

 

[sheddy]

nicked from the other thread - MIND THE GAP!
ww.mindthegap.co.uk

 

[classic33]

Not trying to steal anyones thunder, so I'll apologise now in case anyone thinks I am.

Sent this:
Cycle campaign, to try & get cyclists to appreciate the difficulties with driving lorries. More so when making left turns in an articulated lorry.
See: http://www.cyclechat.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=37713
The idea behind it is to try and cut down the nuber of injuries & fatalities to cyclists who fail to recognise the problems drivers face & travel up his left side when the lorry is turning left. For this manoeuvre they, lorries, require more room.

Would you, company name, be willing to get involved in this scheme. There are people involved in this that have a poster/sign similar in size to the hows my driving & the blind spot warning signs seen on many trailers these days.

The aim is to educate the people following the lorries about the dangers of travelling up the left side of lorries. Not about trying to put the blame on the shoulders of the drivers.

Would you be willing to try & help. Even if it meant just having the sticker on the back of your lorries.

Got this response:

Thank you for your message. Dear Sean Thank you for contacting the company name, Service team about your Cycle campaign. I've forwarded your email to the relevant department here at company name, House and I'm sure if they're interested in taking part in this scheme that they'll be in touch with you direct. In the meantime, we wish you well with your campaign.

Kind Regards

company name Service Team

 

[ttcycle]

Hi guys

feedback re filmakers - both interested- have sent them a link to this so they can check it out - have asked them to look at the idea on here.

Magnatom; I agree with Mr P's observations- I also dont feel it is a big enough impact for a hard hitting campaign - not suggesting sloganism but a phrase that is more definitive; conversely I'm terrible at coming up with these things though!