Rise in number of crashes involving cyclists in North Yorkshire: Share the road and follow rules, say police

It follows a rise in crashes involving cyclists as families, novices and experienced riders take to two wheels for exercise.

The proportion of collisions involving pedal cyclists in the county has risen from 20% to 27%.

The figures are based on a comparison between the same four weeks in 2019 and 2020 and involve crashes involving cyclists only, cyclists and pedestrians and those involving a cyclist and one or more vehicles.

It coincides with quieter roads but an increase in excessive traffic speeds recorded by North Yorkshire Police.

North Yorkshire Police, City of York Council and North Yorkshire County Council, who are part of North Yorkshire’s 95Alive initiative, are joining forces to urge drivers and cyclists to “share the road, follow the rules” to keep each other safe this weekend.

They are urging cyclists to:

Follow Government measures to stop the spread of Covid-19 which allow “one form of exercise a day, for example a run, walk, or cycle - alone or with members of your household”. The government goes on to say: “When doing this you must minimise the time you are out of your home and stay at least two metres away from anyone else that isn’t from your household.”

Remember that less traffic does not always mean safer traffic, so plan routes accordingly especially if you’re cycling with children and consider using cycle paths. Make it easier for vehicles to pass you safely by filtering down to single file.

See and be seen – wear protective clothing that makes you visible, focus on your surroundings at all times and communicate with other road users with hand signals when turning

They are also urging drivers to:

Stick to the rules of the road and only make essential journeys. The rules of the road, including speed limits, continue to be enforced as normal.

Give cyclists 1.5m when passing and only overtake when it’s safe to do so.

Expect the unexpected, especially on narrow country roads. And bear in mind that some cyclists have less experience of road riding than others.

North Yorkshire Police Sergeant Kirsten Aldridge said: “We’ve seen a lot more cyclists using our roads recently, from young families and novices to experienced riders. The number of collisions involving cyclists has also sadly risen during this time. But if drivers and cyclists remember to share the road and stick to the rules this weekend, their risk of being involved in a serious crash can be significantly reduced.”

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