Cyclists Surveyed about Bus Behaviour

On Friday 26th February during its Bike Friday ride, the Love Your Bike campaign will be promoting a survey asking cyclists to recount their experiences of sharing road space with buses in Greater Manchester. [1]

Anecdotal evidence we have received from cyclists and non-cyclists alike highlight a perception that buses make the roads more dangerous for cycling. Love Your Bike are concerned about the risks to the cycling community, and the potential for others to be put off cycling at all because they perceive the roads to be too dangerous because of the behaviour of other road users.

The survey is designed as a first step to get a sense of the types of behaviour that is the most problematic. Alongside this survey we are talking to bus drivers to learn about their perceptions of cyclists, since we need to accept that the cycling
community could often do better too.

Graeme Sherriff, Manchester Friends of the Earth Transport Campaigner said:

“We intend this survey to be part of an ongoing dialogue with bus companies and local transport authorities to make the roads safer for cyclists, to make cycling in Greater Manchester a more attractive prospect, and ultimately to get more people
cycling more often.”

Bike Friday combines a range of cycle rides into the City Centre from various locations as well as working with companies and local authorities in Greater Manchester to promote cycling, improve cycle facilities and to encourage more people to continue cycling to school, work and for leisure all year round. Bike Friday is part of the Love Your Bike campaign. [2]

ENDS

Notes to Editors

[1] The survey is available at www.tinyurl.com/busesandbikes
Closing date is 19th March. Results will be announced by the end of May. Please do take 5 minutes to fill it in.

[2] The Bike Friday cycle rides start at 8am from Chorlton Library, Levenshulme Station, Prestwich Pizza Express, Stretford Mall and Withington Library and finish at approx 8.30am at the Triangle, Corporation Street, City Centre. The Bike Friday cycle rides take place on the morning of the last
Friday of every month (except December). The rides go a moderate pace, have experienced ride leaders, are entirely law-abiding and can help people develop more confidence in their cycling abilities.

For details of the routes see: www.bikefriday.org or join the Bike Friday Facebook group.

[3] Bike Friday is part of the Love Your Bike Campaign. www.loveyourbike.org