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| A cycle lane sign in Brigg |
We followed a club cyclist for some distance while driving along the A18, Barnard Avenue. He was wearing the familiar sort of club rider's kit, including helmet, and was on a racing machine (if that term still applies).
As we approached the roundabout near the Tesco store he did a classic right turn, including appropriate hand signal.
Perhaps the authorities could get him to give a few lessons to some of the others who take to Brigg streets on two wheels.
Decades ago, if you were a pupil at Glebe Road School, the police came in and taught you how to ride properly - to keep yourself safe and show courtesy to motorists, rather than leaving them to second guess the rider's intentions when approaching junctions.
Back in the late 1960s, police not only did cycling proficiency training but undertook all manner of prosecutions at our magistrates' court (no Crown Prosecution Service back then). Nowadays the "regular" constables on the staff are assisted by police community support officers (PCSOs).
Local councils also have traffic enforcement officers. And we note with interest a current suggestion that those employed by North Lincolnshire Council might have their range of duties extended to include enforcing litter laws and even dog fouling regulations.
Is it worth considering whether PCSOs and/or traffic enforcement officers might be able to play a part in cycling proficiency training within our schools?
There are repeated calls for today's youngsters to be more active, and cycling surely has a price to pay in that. But, as with everything else today, health and safety must be a consideration. Which is why added cycling proficiency surely has a part to play.
Now, if I recall properly, Mister Nige, and I'm also going back a few decades to circa 1990......under the old Humberside, there was a council controlled, Schools' Cycle Proficiency Team, based at Laceby, Nr Grim & Bear It.
ReplyDeleteThey use to have a programme of visiting the primary schools in county (or was it the South Bank?), offering safe cycling and Highway Code advice to the youngsters.
I don't know if such a team still exists, although I've seen the local Wrawby kids, at times, cycling about the village, supervised by adults in hi-viz jackets and clip boards......the signs indicate, 'CYCLE TRAINING'...
Yes, I think it was Mr (Alan?) Bates who was the road safety officer for Humberside. He used to come to Glanford Council road safety meetings in Brigg 30+ years ago. The point I was trying to make was cycling proficiency would benefit many people. Could the PCSOs and Traffic Enforcement Officers play a part in the training? It's great to have volunteers like parents helping with training, but if there's no-one willing to help, then we presume nothing will happen. Surely better to have a system in place so all schools get it provided by the police and/or council. Isn't there a group called Safer Roads? Maybe they could be asked to advise or even organise.
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