Criminal Justice system 'failing' to protect people who cycle...

Last week the Manchester Evening News reported that hundreds of people had been fined as Greater Manchester police launched a  "crackdown on pavement cyclists". The article went on to question whether it was a good use of public resources to fine or prosecute people who may well be cycling on the pavements as they do not feel safe cycling on the roads because of the speed and volume of the road traffic.

Only a day later, the cycling website Road.CC ran a story highlighting how a school caretaker in Hull who "deliberately ran down a cyclist in a fit of rage walked away from court with a £350 fine."

It was reported that the caretaker, Cal Groves, 45, shouted abuse at Gerard Lumb before knocking him over and driving off. The driver convicted of 'careless driving' and given nine points on his licence

Perhaps the caretaker was friends with the new Transport Minister, Simon Burns, who was convicted in 2009 of careless driving in an incident which left a cyclist with a broken neck. Road.cc reported how the Conservative MP had told the police that the "coast was clear as he drove out of Houses of Parliament - CCTV evidence proved otherwise".

A previous blog, in January 2011, Cyclists 'left unprotected by police and courts' highlighted a fascinating paper by Jake Voelcker entitled "A Critical Review of the Legal Penalties for Drivers Who Kill Cyclists of Pedestrians" takes as its starting point a CTC news comment:"

The review provides a fascinating and clear, if depressing, picture of how poorly the legal system responds to cases where drivers have killed, or seriously injured, cyclists.

Amongst many interesting comparisons the review highlights how the "Health and Safety regulations would not permit thousands of one-tonne steel and glass machines with exposed moving parts to repeatedly pass feet or inches away from unprotected workers on the shop floor at well over 10m/s (HSE 1998, Sect.11). Yet this is the situation in our towns and cities today. Why are drivers allowed to impose this danger on pedestrians without more strict prosecution of liability?"

Two cycling organisations, the CTC and British Cycling, have joined together to ask MPs to support an early day motion (EDM) that is demanding a review of the criminal justice system for those injured on the roads.


The Early Day Motion 407 "Victims of Road Accidents" notes: "That this House notes that many victims of road accidents do not feel that the criminal justice system adequately protects or supports them in the aftermath of their case; further notes that it is important that those who have suffered traumatic incidents are given effective and sympathetic support as they attempt to rebuild their lives; welcomes the work of British Cycling and other groups, including CTC, Sustrans, London Cycling Campaign, The Times, Cycling Weekly, RoadPeace and Brake to raise the profile of the issue; and calls on the Ministry of Justice to review carefully the evidence they have submitted and undertake a comprehensive review of each part of the criminal justice system, from crash investigation standards through to sentencing guidelines, to ensure that it is fairer for cyclists, pedestrians and other road users who are hurt or seriously injured on the country's roads."

The following Greater Manchester MPs have already supported the Early Day Motion (407).

Bolton North East: David Crausby
Heywood and Middleton: Jim Dobbin
Manchester Withington: John Leech


As of the 22nd September, the following Members of Parliament had not signed up.  Why not drop them a quick email asking them to support the Early Day Motion and get a review of the way the criminal justice system treats people who cycle.

Altrincham and Sale West: Graham Brady MP.   Email   crowthers@parliament.uk
Ashton-Under-Lyne: David Heyes MP.                  Email    heyesd@parliament.uk
Bolton South East: Yasmin Qureshi MP.               Email   yasmin.qureshi.mp@parliament.uk
Bolton West: Julie Hilling MP.                                Email   julie.hilling.mp@parliament.uk
Bury North: David Nuttall MP.                                Email  david.nuttall.mp@parliament.uk 
Bury South: Ivan Lewis MP.                                   Email  ivanlewis@burysouth.fsnet.co.uk
Cheadle: Mark Hunter MP.                                    Email mark.hunter.mp@parliament.uk
Denton and Reddish: Andrew Gwynne MP          Email  gwynnea@parliament.uk
Leigh: Andy Burnham MP                                     Email  burnhama@parliament.uk
Manchester Blackley: Graham Stringer MP         Email  stringerg@parliament.uk
Manchester Central: Tony Lloyd MP                      Email  contact@tonylloydmp.co.uk
Manchester Gorton: Gerald Kaufman MP            Email   kaufmang@parliament.uk
Makerfield: Yvonne Fovargue MP                          Email  yvonne.fovargue.mp@parliament.uk
Oldham East and Saddleworth: Debbie Abrahams MP   debbie.abrahams.mp@parliament.uk
Oldham West and; Royton: Michael Meacher MP Email  massonm@parliament.uk
Rochdale: Simon Danczuk MP                               Email  simon.danczuk.mp@parliament.uk
Salford: Hazel Blears MP                                        Email  blearsh@parliament.uk
Stalybridge and Hyde: Jonathan Reynolds MP     Email  jonathan.reynolds.mp@parliament.uk
Stockport: Andrew Stunell MP                                Email  enquiries@andrewstunell.org.uk
Stockport: Ann Coffey MP                                       Email   coffeya@parliament.uk
Stretford and Urmston: Kate Green MP                 Email   kate.green.mp@parliament.uk 
Wigan: Lisa Nandy MP                                            Email  lisa.nandy.mp@parliament.uk
Worsley: Barbara Keeley MP                                 Email  keeleyb@parliament.uk
Wythenshaw and Sale: Paul Goggins MP             Email  gogginsp@parliament.uk

If you don't know who your Member of Parliament is - plunk your postcode into the Write to Them website....


Meanwhile, here's a suggestion for Greater Manchester Police, instead of prosecuting and fining people for cycling on the pavement - who may be wary of cycling on the road because of traffic speed and lack of confidence - why not follow Merseyside police and give people postcards advertising the free adult cycle training available for people in Manchester.  See here for details.

West Yorkshire 1.... Greater Manchester 0

A blog earlier this week highlighted the lack of activity in Greater Manchester for European Mobility Week.

Contrast this with the Free Metrocard campaign from the West Yorkshire Travel Plan Network.


Which makes a simple offer:

Free monthly MetroCards

If you use the car to get to work you could now benefit from a free monthly MetroCard.

These tickets are valid on all buses and trains in West Yorkshire, and are available to staff who normally drive to work, and are willing to leave the car at home for their commute to work. The tickets will be valid for the whole of October 2012.

If you would like to take part apply now for a free monthly MetroCard


If we were watching a football match - perhaps the chant would be "Are you watching.... Manchester."

What would be the Mancunian version of the Boris Bikes ?

Velib bike hire scheme in Paris.

Back in June, the Manchester Evening News ran a story entitled "Council in bid to make Manchester 'cycle city' with bicycle hire scheme". Despite being a little confused about the difference between Manchester City Council and Transport for Greater Manchester, the article reported that "transport bosses" said that they would "look at possibilities for private funding to roll-out a city-wide scheme, like those in London and Paris."


A bike hire scheme had been mooted in the original Transport Innovation Fund (TIF) bid but since the TIF bid, commonly referred to as the Congestion Charge, was rejected in December 2008 there has been little public discussion of such schemes until the launch of the Brompton Dock scheme at Piccadilly station in March 2012

However, a little electronic birdie delivered an interesting document into this blogs inbox. Entitled 'Terms of Reference: Cycle Hire in Greater Manchester ' the document states that:

"Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) is undertaking a study to explore the feasibility of establishing cycle hire schemes for improving sustainable access to key destinations, including employment. Apart from small, local schemes, cycle-hire has not previously been operated in Greater Manchester and this work is being undertaken to understand the role it could potentially fulfil within the wider transport network and the requirements, feasibility, costs and liabilities for setting up and operating a scheme."

The study objectives are to:

• understand the market for cycle hire in the context of Greater Manchester and advise on its potential.

And if the potential for cycle hire is identified to:

• identify the options for the development and operation of cycle-hire schemes; and 
• develop a recommended option for a cycle-hire scheme.

The study is also expected to explore the feasibility of developing and operating cycle-hire in:

• the wider Regional Centre (Manchester City Centre and parts of neighbouring areas of Salford and Trafford; and 
• other locations in Greater Manchester.

The study will be undertaken in 2 stages:

Stage 1: Determining the potential market and role for cycle-hire in Greater Manchester.

Stage 2: Subject to the outcome of Stage 1, Stage 2 will develop and recommend detailed proposals.
 
The consultants will be required to produce conclusions on the potential for operating cycle-hire in Greater Manchester - specifically taking into account:

• Contribution to enhancing sustainable access to key destinations;
• Key markets and origin-destination movements which would be served;
• Potential demand and whether this is likely to justify the set-up and operation of a scheme;
• Types of cycle scheme which may be suitable for operation in Greater Manchester; and
• Lessons learned from schemes operated in similar locations.

Timescales.

The deadline for consultancy firms to bid for the scoping study is 28th September 2012 and the final report for Stage 1 is 26th November 2012.

It will be very interesting to see what findings the successful applicants come up with.... that is assuming that TfGM make the consultants findings public.   Watch this space......

Its European Mobility Week... but not in Manchester

September 16th - 22nd is European Mobility Week and 1920 participating cities across Europe have registered events to promote and support sustainable transport, cycling and walking.

This years theme is "Moving in the right direction" and asks the question: "Who would not want to live in a city where the air is clean and where there is little noise. A place free of congestion, where getting around town is easy and citizens enjoy a high quality of life. A city that you are proud of because it is protecting the climate and that is known across Europe for being innovative and forward looking. With some strategic thinking it is possible to make this vision a reality."
 
Brussels kicked off the week with its Car-Free Sunday which is "planning to involve citizens in a wide array of activities, ranging from “bike to work” services to live concerts in the metro stations, and from green urban picnics to walking and cycling tours of Brussels. Since the European capital’s Car Free Day is already a well-established event, the organisers are taking advantage of its popularity to promote their subsequent thematic days via mobility debates and contests."

Brussels will also host the Sustainable 2Wheels event on Tuesday 18 September 2012 on the esplanade of the European Parliament in Brussels from 9 a.m. till 3 p.m and is a "demonstration of contemporary bicycles, electric bicycles, scooters and motorcycles, particularly suited for urban transport. Visitors will have ample opportunity to test the vehicles on show. The demonstration is also open to companies that wish to present modern, innovative components or accessories for urban 2Wheels."

As one of the participating cities, Manchester has signed up to the European Mobility Week Charter which lists three key criteria. 

These require participants to:

* Organise a week of activities, 16-22 September, taking into account the air quality and carbon emissions theme.

* Implement at least one permanent measure which contributes to modal transfer from private car to environmentally sound means of transport.  Where possible at least one of these measures should be a permanent reallocation of road space in favour of walking, cycling or public transport (eg road closure, wider pavement, new cycle or bus lane, new traffic calming scheme, lower speed limit). (Emphasis added)

* Organise the In Town Without My Car! event, i.e. car free street, setting aside one or several areas reserved solely for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport for at least one whole day,
preferably (but not essentially) on 22 September. 



Previous years has seen Manchester City Council organise different "In Town without my car day" events in partnership with Salford City Council (as part of European Mobility Week) and also announce measures such as the launch of Pay by the Hour Cars in 2006, the expansion of the Whizzgo car network in 2007.   

In 2008, the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive (GMPTE) ran a competition which offered "anyone who ditches their car for the day, or who has already made the switch to public transport" a chance of winning a Brompton folding bike – ideal for taking on the bus, train or tram.

But there has been little (read, no) activity in 2011 and 2012 and the question needs to be asked whether Manchester City Council and Transport for Greater Manchester remain committed to meeting the spirit, let alone the letter, of the European Mobility Week criteria..... 

With nearly £40 million Local Sustainable Transport Funding available it is a great shame that Manchester seems to have been unable to organise any events for European Mobility Week to promote sustainable transport and make Manchester a "city that you are proud of because it is protecting the climate and that is known across Europe for being innovative and forward looking."


Perhaps next year ?