Leave 150
Leave 150 cm between your vehicle and a bike when overtak
ing
News
Cycling groups
If you want to get out and about on your bike but are not sure where to start, have a look at information from the following organisations. They can help you find the safest local cycling routes, as well as point you to kit and training and link you up with other cyclists.
Junctions are dangerous for cyclists
Junctions are another dangerous hotspot for cyclists, with collisions often occurring because drivers failed to look properly.18 Between 2011 and 2016, 45% of all cyclist deaths occurred at or near junctions, with more than half of these recorded at T-junctions. Just under a third of all cyclist deaths were recorded on roundabouts, mini-roundabouts and crossroads over the same period.
Take time to look properly before you pull out at junctions.
Turn your head to look, don’t just rely on a sideways glance.
Bikes are smaller and narrower than cars and it can take longer for our eyes and our brain to notice that they are there. Turning your head and looking for longer will help you to spot bikes and will help you to judge their speed and distance, so you can pull out safely and avoid a crash.
Always stop behind the lines at a junction.
Never drive into a bike box if the traffic light is amber or red. Riders need this space to enable them to move safely through junctions. Don’t drive or park in cycle lanes either.
Cycling is better for the environment
Cycling is also much better for the environment than driving. More than a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions are produced by cars and other vehicles,6 whereas cycling is generally considered to be a zero-emissions form of transport. Even when emissions from production and maintenance of bikes are taken into account, the emissions associated with cycling are significantly lower. And if UK citizens cycled to work with the same frequency as people do in the Netherlands, for example, where more than a quarter of journeys are made by bike, carbon dioxide outputs could reduce by more than 1,500 tonnes per year.
Estimates suggest that around 12,000 premature deaths could be prevented over the next 10 years if the UK and Scottish governments meet their targets for increasing the number of journeys made on foot or by bicycle.
Choosing to ride a bike instead of driving can also help to reduce congestion in urban areas – almost four in ten people acknowledge that many of the two-mile journeys they currently make in a car could instead be made by bike.
Brake, Cycling -The facts 2018
#BikeSmart
Drive slowly
Drive slowly in places where people live
The vast majority (77%) of cyclist casualties are from incidents on roads with 30mph speed limits.15 At this speed, cars travel an average of 23 metres (or 5.75 car lengths) before stopping, and anyone hit by a car travelling at 30mph has a 20% chance of dying.
Driving more slowly will give you more time to spot danger and more time to react. It also means you can stop a lot more quickly. 20mph is the right speed in places where people live, work and play. Slow traffic makes more people want to walk and cycle in their communities.
Slow down on rural roads.
Cyclists are also vulnerable on roads outside towns and cities. In 2016, 59 cyclists died in collisions in rural areas, while 43 died in urban areas.
Many crashes involving bikes on rural roads are because drivers are travelling too fast.
Slowing down will help you to take sharp bends more safely and you will be more likely to spot riders in front of you. Brake
Brake:
- Cycling – The facts, 2018
- Smart drivers are Bike Smart, 2018
#BikeSmart
Cycling is one of the healthiest forms of transport
Cycling is one of the healthiest, cheapest and most environmentally friendly forms of transport available, with the benefits to public health, congestion and the economy widely acknowledged.
Cycling is an excellent form of exercise and can help with both weight loss and physical fitness. It also reduces the risk of serious conditions like diabetes and heart disease later in life, and can contribute to higher overall personal wellbeing. Cycling can boost brain power too, by increasing blood flow to the brain by around 30–40%.
Even cyclists in busy cities report better lung health. Riders can experience five times lower pollution levels than drivers, because air is more able to circulate around them when they are riding, compared with being stuck in a vehicle. Cyclists who use quieter routes away from busy traffic see even greater benefits.
Brake, Cycling -The facts 2018
#BikeSmart
Bike Smart
For Road Safety Week 2018, we are shouting out about the safety of those on two wheels, and encouraging everyone to be Bike Smart.
Cycling’s popularity has really taken off in the last few years and people are making longer trips on average than ever before. As well as being a fun hobby, cycling is an excellent way to stay fit and commute short distances, and it’s much better for the environment than many other forms of transport. However, cyclists are also one of the most vulnerable groups of people on our roads, and despite efforts to improve safety, the number of cyclists killed or injured has remained shockingly high for the last 15 years.
Will tree protection stop St. Stephens Walk plans?
Visual from proposal
A tree protection order confirmed during Ashford Borough Council’s Planning Committee yesterday evening (14th November 2018) may prevent a plans for accommodation for profoundly disabled adults being permitted.
The tree protection order, ABC case reference 18/TPO/0008, protects 15 trees on the site boundaries of Land East of Lantern House, many of which are shown as being removed in documents accompanying a planning application for 16 apartments for disabled residents and 6 for staff (ABC Case reference 18/00608/AS). The tree protection order was made in July but was put before the Planning Committee for confirmation.
South Ashford Community Forum included a comment in their representation on the proposal expressing concern regarding the limited amount of open/garden space within the development.
KMFRA Survey and Council Tax consultation
Safety and wellbeing plan update 2018
Kent and Medway Fire and Rescue Authority
Chairman’s introduction
This year we wanted to take the opportunity to give local people an update on the work we do and the range of services we provide. Please take a few minutes to read the information below, or look at the infographic on this page (use the Zoom link to see a much larger version) and fill this short survey and consultation* about next year’s Council Tax.
As customers and taxpayers, we always aim to provide you with value for money and the best service we can. Though thankfully I know that many of you have never needed to call on us in a crisis, I hope you are reassured that we will always be there when you need us.
Like everyone in the public sector, finances are tight, but we have managed to make significant savings of around £26m since 2010, much of which has been re-invested in our frontline service. We also work closely with police, ambulance, Kent County Council, Medway Council and others to share expertise and resources and deliver efficient services to keep the public safe.
The Home Office inspection team will be here in the New Year and we expect to hear the outcome of that in 2019. If you want to read more about our work and plans please have a look at our Customer and corporate plan and you can also sign up to email alerts about incidents in your area or to get safety advice.
Nick Chard
Chairman – Kent and Medway Fire and Rescue Authority (more…)
Changes to local care and hospital services
Following our posts announcing listening events and a survey about potential changes to local care and hospital services in East Kent we are now able to give the response from the NHS in East Kent to some questions about the proposals. (more…)