Let’s Look Out For Each Other!

The Safer Essex Roads Partnership (SERP) Bikeability teams have been out and about in the past week in a bid to improve the safety of commuter cyclists in towns around the county.

The series of ‘engagement events’ kicked off in Chelmsford and Colchester, and are part of the wider SERP ‘Let’s look out for each other’ campaign.

Let’s look out for each other provides information to help drivers and cyclists share the road safely, rather than getting frustrated with each other. The campaign includes a series of tips for both drivers and cyclists, to help them see each other as equals on the road.

The new campaign successfully engaged with more than 500 cyclists, and raised awareness of safety issues among all road users, including commuters.

On 2 November the Bikeability team was at Chelmsford station between 4:30pm and 7:30pm and the following day (3 Nov) the team was at Colchester station at the same times.

The initiative is planned to continue in 2016 with visits to Epping, Basildon, Braintree, Chelmsford, Colchester and Clacton.

Nicola Foster, chair of SERP, said: “Our teams will be engaging with cyclists on a number of issues including shared access on paths and how to cycle safely on roads during busy traffic times, and to stress the importance of making sure people have working lights on their bikes.”

At the 2016 events the Bikeability team will be joined by Essex Police who will raise awareness of, and where necessary enforce, a range of cycle offences including cycling on the footway, contravening a traffic sign or road marking, carrying a passenger on a bike and a range of cycle lighting offences.

Cyclists caught committing an offence will be offered a choice of either completing an online course called Cycle Safe at a cost of £19.50, or paying fixed penalty fine of £50.

9 November 2015