Granfondo San Diego, April 21st 2024 - REGISTER NOW!
United States | Midwest | Ohio >> UK Government pulls social media campaign targeting dangerous cyclists

UK Government pulls social media campaign targeting dangerous cyclists

Conservative party fuels the fire regarding the protection of vunerable road users on UK roads

The UK Conservative party, quickly pulled social media updates after receiving an unpresidented surge of criticism after a new consultation backfired dramatically, fueling anti-cycling.

Former Tour de France stage winner Chris Boardman, who is a one of the UK's biggest campaigners in trying to improve the infrastructure and safety of cyclists, comments - really hit home on what the UK's current government really thinks about cyclists.

Chris Boardman whose mother was killed whilst cycling said "That say's it all really. Wow, just wow!"

Cycling in the UK have exploded in growth, however the number of high profile deaths of cyclists' on Britain's roads has risen, investment in new cycling infrastructure has stalled.

Instead of focusing on making the roads safer for all users, the campaign seems to have been trying to focus on cyclists who ride irresponsibly, however their message "ensuring the most venerable road users are protected" back fired dramatically.

They failed to explain who "the most vunerable road users" are - horse riders, pedestrians, cyclists, car or lorry drivers?

In a recent rare high profile legal case, a pedestrian was killed by a cyclist who hit them on a fixed wheel bike which had no brakes. The cyclist was convicted.

In 2016, 448 pedestrians were killed on our roads, but only three of those cases involved bicycles, and in the last 10 years 99.4 per cent of all pedestrian deaths involved a motor vehicle.

Both cyclists and pedestrians are being failed by the legal system, only 27 per cent of drivers convicted of causing death by careless driving, which has a maximum prison sentence of five years, are sent to jail with an average term of 14 months.

The situation was so bad, the MP for Roads, Jesse Norman had to personally apologise "I am delighted to say this tweet has now been taken down. It did not reflect either this set of policy announcements or the very careful work the Government has done to improve road safety for all users, including cyclists. On behalf of all involved, I would like to apologise"