Call Made To Improve Portsmouth’s Cycle Network

Following the death of a 48-year-old cyclist who died in a crash with another bike and a van earlier this month (June 2^nd), cycling campaigners have now put out a call to improve Portsmouth’s cycle network, saying they’ve been highlighting issues with it for nearly ten years now.

Tim Atkins from Southsea sadly passed away on Eastern Road at the beginning of June, with the city council now saying they’ll assess the cycle path in this area as a result, the BBC reports.

Interestingly, figures from the Department for Transport show that Portsmouth has one of the highest rates for injury or death among cyclists outside London – so you’d be wise to wear high visibility accessories and other personal protective equipment if you are planning on biking in this particular city.

“We already have plans to invest £500,000 in making improvements along the Eastern Road for all road users this financial year. We have previously met with the cycle forum and other groups to discuss our proposals for this route,” Portsmouth City Council’s cabinet member for transport Simon Bosher said.

You would think that cyclists would be keen to take as many safety precautions as they can when out and about on their bikes, and by and large the majority of them do – wearing helmets, having lights on their bikes and dressing in fluorescent clothes so drivers can see them easily.

However, it seems that there are some out there who are more cavalier when it comes to road safety, with recent police work revealing that 102 cyclists were caught around Oxford without bike lights in just three hours.

As such, perhaps just sit down and think if there are any small changes you could make to keep yourself safer when you’re on your bike.