We’ve just received this email from our colleague, David, in West Yorkshire. As many of you are regular commuters, you may wish to help out by giving some feedback …
I’ve been asked by the guys who made the ‘Great Roads Great Rides’ DVD’s if I can pass on the message below. They’re putting together a new riders DVD and want your input:
Filming for the Commuter Survival Guide for Motorcyclists starts 15th June and we want the input of real bikers to shape the production. The film will deliver practical guidance and tips from a top rider’s perspective on surviving the commute. This commentary based film will follow a motorcyclist on a journey out of a busy UK city during rush hour.
To ensure we create a programme with all the information a biker could ever need, we would appreciate it if you could take a few minutes to complete the pre-filming survey on the link below. Please tell us a bit about yourself. This information will not be shared and is for internal use only.
Bedfordshire Highways are considering the retro-fitting of motorcycle safety rail to some existing safety barrier installations in selected locations on the Network.
This does not include the A5, A1, or A421 as these are Trunk Roads and are the responsibility of the Highways Agency.
We would appreciate your comments regarding:-
- Have you been involved in a collision that included an impact with a safety barrier and if so, where was the location?
- Are you aware of any locations in Bedfordshire were a motorcyclist has been involved in a collision with a safety barrier?
- In your view which locations in Bedfordshire with safety barriers could benefit from this installation?
- Any further comments regarding the use of motorcycle safety rail in Bedfordshire?
Please also see the consulting riders section found on the hompage of this website.
For the last two years, the Highways Agency have placed Think Bike poster boards in Bedfordshire along the A421 and A5 from early Spring to late Autumn, as these are roads used by many motorcyclists.
It is very difficult to assess whether these posters have had an effect on drivers’ behaviour by looking at casualty information alone. They are therefore asking for feedback from the forum …
Do you think that these poster boards help raise awareness of the presence of motorcyclists?
Do you think they may encourage better driving behaviour – for example, reminding drivers to look out for motorcyclists before overtaking?
Do you think it is worthwhile to continue to put these posters on roads with lots of motorcycle traffic?
Do you think these posters do any harm -for example, distracting motorists?
If you think these posters are worthwhile, on which roads would you recommend they are placed?
Do post your comments here, or email info@motorcyclingmatters.org and we will forward them on to the Highways Agency (or the relevant local highway authority, if not a trunk road).
Please note: Highways Agency look after trunk roads – in Bedfordshire, these are the M1, A1, A5 and A421. All other roads in our area are the responsibility of Bedfordshire County Council or Luton Borough Council.
Chris Chandler, Road Risk Adviser with Bedfordshire County Council Road Safety Team would like your feedback.
Thanks!
This site has been live for nearly four months, so now seems a good time to review what’s good, what could be better and what developments we should plan for the future.
Please email your suggestions to info@motorcyclingmatters.org or post a comment here with your suggestions for what will make this website a really valuable resource for everyone with an interest in motorcycling in our area.
As a start, we plan to introduce a photo gallery of past events, and are considering having an “Ask the Expert” section where you can put questions to various experts – whether it be riding instructors, engineering matters or matters of law … No promises at this stage – just an ideas to consider. What do you think?
Britain’s roads are so littered with road debris such as broken glass, metal, gravel and other rubbish, that they are a real and constant danger to motorcyclists and cyclists say the BMF.
Based on 2005 figures, properly swept roads could have prevented 1,565 accidents and saved 36 lives say Britain’s largest rider group, the 100,000 strong British Motorcyclists Federation. Further, say the BMF, more accidents (6.3%) are caused by road debris than the 4% of motorcycle accidents that the Department for Transport attribute to excessive speed.
The BMF has produced a ‘Rubbish Roads Ahead’ booklet and is now writing to every local highway authority urging them to clean-up the areas of carriageway near pavements, on the crown of the road and on the outside of corners and bends; in other words, the areas unused by other vehi cles but prone to use by two wheeled vehicles.
Motorcycles and pedal cycles have a very small contact patch between the road and the tyre say the BMF so even a small amount of loose material can cause a loss of traction. Road sweeping is a simple and effective method of road safety improvement that could save dozens of lives and prevent expensive and time-consuming litigation for highway authorities say the BMF
Debris can also cause punctures and on a motorcycle or cycle they can seriously affect the handling characteristics and often cause accidents. The European-wide Motorcycle Accidents In Depth Study (MAIDS) found that punctures were a cause in 3.7% of all the motorcycle accidents studied. Skidding can also frequently result in an accident. MAIDS found that in 2.5% of the accidents, gravel or sand were present. The Department for Tran sport reports that in 2005, 4,065 motorcycles and 444 cycles were involved in an accident after skidding on an otherwise dry road (Road Casualties Great Britain 2005 page 114). This represented 20% of all dry road motorcycle accidents and 3.2% of all dry road cycle accidents recorded.
BMF Government Relations Executive Chris Hodder said: “Local authorities are quite prepared to spend a small fortune on traffic calming and other anti-speeding measures, but here’s a bit of good house keeping that we think will bring real benefits at minimum cost. After all, who wants Rubbish Roads?”
Many thanks to everybody that turned out on Saturday for the A6 safety ride. Despite the scorching sunshine, about twenty riders turned up to ride the route, and the engineers were really pleased with the quality of feedback they received. Emerging themes related to the maintenance of the verges, road surface improvements and identifying signage improvements.
So what happens next?
Well, we shall take a closer look at the feedback to draw out the key issues on which we will be taking action over the next few months and more information will be posted on this website in due course.
From our perspective the day went really well. If you came along and have any feedback on the event itself, why not leave a comment here? We’d like to hold similar events in the future so would appreciate any constructive comments!
Stay safe and see you soon.
Simon Deards
Chairman – Motorcycling Matters
Luton Borough Council are currently reviewing the speed limit on their main roads following the government’s announcement that local authoritities must formally review the speed limits on all A and B roads and implement any changes by the year 2011.
If you would like your say please click here to complete the ONLINE QUESTIONNAIRE
NOTE: This consultation closed on 21st September. Luton Borough Council would like to thank all of you who took the time to complete the survey.
Luton Borough Council and Bedfordshire Highways are both considering allowing motorcyclists to use bus lanes.
Good or bad idea? What are the issues? Are there any particular bus lanes that you feel may be more approporiate than others for bikes?
Post your comments here …
Addendum: Luton Borough Council have now completed their consultation and would like to thank all who completed their survey.