Cycling levels increase as fatalities drop

Cycling is at its highest level for 17 years, coinciding with a substantial fall in cycling deaths official figures released today reveal.  

According to official government figures released today by the Department for Transport, cycling increased by 12% from 2007 to 2008.

This was matched by a 15% fall in the number of cyclists fatally injured, from 136 in 2007 to 115 in 2008, although the number of seriously injured in accidents reported to the police rose slightly by 1% in the same period.

“Official statistics prove that cycling is on the rise in Britain," explained CTC's policy co-ordinator, Chris Peck. "Yet casualties don’t appear to be rising at the same rate. This bears out CTC’s Safety in Numbers campaign which shows increased levels of cycling and safety go hand in hand.”

Whilst the news that an increased level in cycling - coinciding with a decline in fatalities -  should be welcomed, total reported casualties did in fact rise by 1%, the same as for reported serious injuries.

To lend weight to its campaign, CTC is calling all on cyclists to ask their MPs to sign an Early Day Motion (EDM 1431) which has been table by Gwyn Prosser MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group, in support of CTC’s ‘Safety in Numbers’ campaign.

RELATED LINK

Early Day Motion: http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=38595&SESSION=899