Road Harm
Bike Worcester’s primary aim is to enable and encourage more people to use a bike as a mode of transport, notably in and around Worcester. Quite the mouthful ain’t it?
Whilst we love doing the fun things that involve riding bikes, it’s also important that we acknowledge what is most likely the biggest blocker to people riding bikes; the perception of road danger. And while there is evidence that the risk of travelling by bike is much smaller than the benefit of regular exercise that using a bike as a mode of transport provides us, it is essential we listen to the reasons given as barriers to people cycling.
The ultimate aim is that all journeys in the city can be made independently by a competent 12 year old, and for that there is a desperate need for infrastructure for people cycling that is segregated from both cars and pedestrians.
This can and will happen in Worcester, it’s really a question of how far we will fall behind other towns and cities waiting for it to happen. Given infrastructure changes don’t happen overnight even with political support, what can we do to make the roads safer for people riding bikes (and by the safer, we mean that it feels safer, and IS safer).
Much of the mainstream guidance directed at people using bikes is focused on choices we can make for our own personal safety (clothing, lights, personal protective equipment, occasionally some sensible road craft), and while this is all sensible it completely misses the biggest risk to those on two wheels; the behaviour and choices of people driving motor vehicles.
Bike Worcester volunteers spend large amounts of time behind the scenes on a number of projects on the issue of road safety; aka road harm; aka road danger. We take the subject incredibly seriously, and aim to raise awareness of the issues, and provide a best practice evidence based approach to reducing the danger for all road users, be they pedestrians, cyclists or drivers.
Vision Zero
We believe that to reduce road danger for all road users it is essential to have leadership with a clear vision. Vision Zero is a strategy to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries, while increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all. First implemented in Sweden in the 1990s, Vision Zero has proved successful across Europe, and has been adopted as an aim by a number of police forces and local authorities in the UK, including Essex, Liverpool, London, Greater Manchester, Leeds, Oxfordshire, Devon and Cornwall, West Yorkshire and Kent. For more information visit the Vision Zero Network. Bike Worcester are working with the team at Action Vision Zero to request that West Mercia Police, Worcestershire County Council and Worcester City Council all adopt the Vision Zero concept.
Operation Snap
Bike Worcester have a number of members who are experienced in reporting road crime to West Mercia via the Operation Snap portal, which accepts video evidence of illegal driving. The over arching aim is to improve driving standards, notably around people cycling on our roads. Bike Worcester’s guidance on submissions is here. We have also received grant funding from the West Mercia PCC to purchase cameras, and have had a number of meetings with the Road Safety Team and Chief Constable to discuss reporting and outcomes. We also have experience of attending the Magistrates’ Court as witnesses. We were advised by West Mercia that if we care about reducing road danger, it is essential that illegal driving is reported.
Close Pass
Operation Snap will take action against a number of driving offences, but by the far the most frequent experienced by people riding bikes are illegal overtakes by people driving motor vehicles, generally referred to as close passes. The Highway Code was updated in 2022, which included ‘leave at least 1.5 metres when overtaking cyclists at speeds of up to 30mph, and give them more space when overtaking at higher speeds’. Whilst a close pass isn’t specifically defined, it is covered as an offence under Section 3 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 under ‘driving without due care and attention (careless driving): driving too close to another vehicle. Bike Worcester also record the location of all submitted and actioned close passes on our Close Pass Map here, which is used as a tool to raise awareness of the problems experienced by people cycling, and to share hot spots with County Council Highways. If you’re a driver who has received a warning letter or an NIP and would like to provide feedback of your experience, please complete our Operation Snap Questionnaire here.
National Road Harm Reporting Forum
Bike Worcester are part of a national campaign group which reviews the performance of police forces across the UK with regard to their performance in dealing with 3rd party reporting, notably close passes of cyclists. Members of the group feed into the National Police Chiefs Council. Unfortunately the consistency of outcomes when comparing forces, and within forces is poor. Whilst some forces take the issue seriously, and acknowledge that responding appropriately to reports of illegal driving is a useful tool in improving driving standards and reducing the frequency and severity of RTCs, other forces do not. The current project is to document this inconsistency with a detailed benchmarking exercise, which we will feedback on as soon as possible.
School Streets
Bike Worcester volunteers experience first hand the risk posed to parents and children at the school gates caused by people (including other parents) driving. Many of us are parents, and whilst we understand first hand the challenges of getting children to school in a morning, it is essential that measures are taken to eliminate risk caused by people driving causes in the same space as parents and children. The gold standard in this regard is to introduce School Street trials (if successful they should be made permanent), where through traffic past a school is prohibited for the period covering drop off and pick up. Whilst other local authorities have embraced this road safety initiative, in Worcestershire we continue to wait for the first trial. Bike Worcester will support School Leadership Teams or parents in the introduction of School Streets. More information can be found on our School Streets page here, including an explainer video.
Safe Streets Now
Bike Worcester support the national campaign for Safe Streets Now, and have organised events in Worcester as part of national days of action. Safe Streets Now is a UK-wide campaign advocating for safer roads for all users, particularly those most vulnerable like pedestrians and cyclists. They are calling for lower speed limits in built-up areas, increased physical and legal protections for vulnerable road users, and tougher penalties for drivers who engage in reckless behaviour. Their aim is to reduce the number of deaths and injuries on UK roads, making streets more welcoming and enjoyable spaces for everyone.
Bike Bus
Whilst not really thought of as a part of our road safety campaigning activity, it is noted that the only reason our Bike Bus programme exists is as a direct result of the risks posed to parents and children cycling to school. Bike Worcester support schools and parents to set-up Bike Buses, and provide volunteers to help the safe and smooth operation each morning. In April 2025 Worcester will be the host city for the World Bike Bus Summit, following on from the previous host cities of Barcelona and Frankfurt. More information is available on our Bike Bus page here, including an explainer video.
Critical Mass
Bike Worcester support the monthly Worcester Critical Mass bike ride, starting at Café Viaduct on the 3rd Saturday of each month at 10:15. Suitable for all abilities, the ride is an opportunity to have a chat with like minded people who would like to see an improvement in infrastructure to enable and encourage more people to travel by bike in the city. More information is available on our Critical Mass page here, including an explainer video.
Speeding
People driving cars (and other motor vehicles) above the speed limit in the city is not difficult to spot, or even hear, whether these are people driving notably faster than other vehicles, accelerating and then braking sharply, or setting off Vehicle Activated Speed signs, based on anecdotal evidence it would appear we have a problem. The police consider speeding to be one of the Fatal 4 contributors to killed or seriously injured RTCs on our roads, but amazingly discussions about speeding in our city is almost entirely absent from discussions in local authority meetings, as if it doesn’t exist as a problem. Bike Worcester volunteers have analysed traffic survey data made available through Freedom of Information requests by Worcestershire County Council to provide evidence demonstrating the scale of the issue, with the aim of raising awareness, and demanding improvement. Our Traffic Survey Map is here, and our Speeding Contour Map summarising all the data is here. Bike Worcester also have 2 radar speed devices and can undertake speed surveys on request.
Bikeability
Whilst we strongly believe that the biggest source of risk on our roads are caused by illegal or anti social driving there are a number of approaches we can take when cycling to improve our own safety. Bike Worcester provide Bikeability lessons for the community, with the aim of improving knowledge and skills, and increasing confidence for those travelling by bike. The sessions can be provided for individuals, groups, families, or arranged through your employer, and can be a single lesson, or a series of lessons over a period of time. The sessions will be tailored to the abilities and experience of individuals attending the training. For information can be found on our Bikeability page here.
Illegal Parking
People parking cars illegally can have a negative impact on a number of road users; drivers where vehicle flow is impeded contributing to congestion, pedestrians and wheelchair users where cars block footways or impede crossing points, and people cycling which force us into less safe road positions. Bike Worcester are working with other local stakeholders to work to improve the situation in the city.
Pass Pixi
A Pass Pixi is a small sign resembling the speed camera road sign that fits on panniers, ruck sacks or cycle jerseys. Bike Worcester have undertaken some rudimentary research over the period of a year based on a single cycle commute which demonstrates that they reduce close passes by drivers by approximately 50%, increasing the safety of your journeys by bike. Bike Worcester have received grant funding from the West Mercia PCC to distribute Pass Pixies within the local community. More information can be found on the Pass Pixi page here, including a form to complete if you’d like to try one.
