CEMEX readymixers get on their bikes

Readymix Central region cycling duo pedalling 600 miles over five days to raise funds for RoadPeace

STUART Keighley and Al Laverty of CEMEX Readymix Central region have been pushing the pedals for charity this week as they cycle from CEMEX’s Uddingston office, near Glasgow, to the company’s Thorpe office, near Heathrow.

Over five days they will have covered 600 miles (966km), calling in at three other CEMEX offices along the way, all in aid of RoadPeace.

Readymix regional director Stuart Keighley explained: ‘RoadPeace, the national charity for road crash victims, is chaired by Cynthia Barlow. She has been involved with the charity since her daughter was killed in 2000 in a road collision involving one of our ready-mixed concrete trucks.

‘Since then, CEMEX have come a long way in cyclist safety awareness with regular driver training, fitting safety features to our vehicles that will aid the driver, and helping to educate cyclists about safe cycling around large goods vehicles. But there is still a long way to go, which is why we are doing this ride.

‘We want to raise awareness among our driver community in particular; there are still so many incidents on the roads that we can’t be complacent. The ride will be hard, but nowhere near as hard as coping with the death of a loved one in a road accident.’

Cynthia Barlow, chair of RoadPeace, commented: ‘Since I became involved with RoadPeace I have met many other victims, both cyclists and pedestrians, of incidents involving large vehicles working in the construction industry. We believe that these are not ‘accidents’ – they are preventable and avoidable tragedies.

‘I continue to be grateful for all the work that CEMEX have done to improve working practices in the management of their vehicles and to set higher ‘good practice’ standards which other companies can follow.’