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Ready, set, slow! Liverpool's cyclists support safer streets

Cyclists from across the city have come together to show their support for the city’s principal road safety campaign: the 20 effect.

The “Cycle for 20”, which took place on Saturday 7th March, saw young and old ride side by side on a 16 mile route from Garston to the Pier Head in the city centre and back.

Since 2012, the 20 effect has been making the city’s residential streets safer by reducing the speed limit from 30 to 20 mph. Once complete at the end of 2015, the programme will cover 70 per cent of the city’s streets.

Other activities on the day included opportunities to ‘bling your bike’ and making a smoothie from using your own pedal power.

The ride coincides with Liverpool being chosen as one of a handful of English cities targeted in a Department for Transport publicity campaign to make cycling safer. During the month of March, a series of poster adverts will appear around the city highlighting practical tips to remind motorists and cyclists of the rules of the road and the actions they can take to help reduce accidents.

Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet member for transport, Councillor Malcolm Kennedy said: “Cyclists make up a significant part of all road users in Liverpool. Not only is it a great form of exercise but also it is a more sustainable alternative to taking the car, particularly for shorter journeys.

“In order to further encourage cycling, it is vital that riders feel safe when using the roads.

“By reducing the speed limit on residential streets, we are making the environment safer for cyclists and all other road users. It is tremendously encouraging that the cycling community has come together in this way to show support for the campaign and its objectives.”

Leader of the ride Jenny Browne, active travel officer at Choose Freedom, a sustainable travel project in Garston said: “Speeding traffic can be really intimidating when you are cycling and it is bound to put people off, particularly those who don’t ride regularly. 20 mph limits can only be a good thing and will encourage more people to take their bikes out rather than rely on the car all the time.

“Liverpool is a great city to ride around and I’d urge everyone to get out and have a go.”

Cycle for 20 has been organised by Choose Freedom, Cycle Speke and Sustrans with the support of the 20 effect.

On the poster campaign, Cycling Minister Robert Goodwill said: “We have some of the safest roads in the world but one cyclist’s death is one too many and we are determined to make our roads safer.

“This poster campaign will build on the success of last year’s work to remind drivers to take care around cyclists and remind cyclists of the actions they can take to stay safe on the road. This message is especially important as the weather improves and more people take to their bikes.”

Information on the 20 effet is available at www.the20effect.com on twitter @the20effect or on facebook.com/the20effect.

Choose Freedom is delivered by BikeRight! on behalf of Liverpool City Council, wholly funded by the DfT’s Local Sustainable Transport Fund

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Henry Roberts .