Freshening up on cyclist safety

MPA runs successful ‘Cycle Safe’ event at Cambridge University’s Freshers’ Fair

EARLIER this month the Mineral Products Association (MPA) supported Cambridge University Freshers’ Fair by running a Cycle Safe event as part of its national campaign to promote cycle safety. Hanson UK supported the event and provided a cement tanker for the safety demonstrations.

During the two-day event, more than 100 cyclists, including students and members of the public, took the time to get into the vehicle, watch the demonstration with a bicycle and find out where to position themselves safely on the road when cycling in relation to large goods vehicles (LGVs) to avoid collisions.

Emphasizing the mineral products sector’s commitment to playing its part in minimizing hazards and risks for all road users, Nigel Jackson, chief executive of the MPA, said: ‘The MPA’s Cycle Safe campaign aims to prevent collisions between cyclists and LGVs by raising awareness on both sides of how to cycle and drive as safely as possible. 

‘We particularly wanted to attract students new to cycling and are very pleased that we managed to reach as many cyclists as we did. We hope that they will have found the experience very valuable for when they are out on the Cambridgeshire roads. 

‘We urge cyclists to be aware of the potential risks of undertaking LGVs and getting too close to them at left-hand turns and roundabouts. The most dangerous situation is when cyclists are on the nearside of vehicles turning left.’ 

Julian Huppert, MP for Cambridge and Joint Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group, also visited the MPA Cycle Safe event to see the Association’s outreach work in action.

He said: ‘This is an excellent campaign and I am delighted that it was so well-received by the students. Heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) pose a dangerous risk to cyclists and, by raising awareness through campaigns such as this, hopefully we can reduce the number of deaths and serious accidents on our roads.

‘There is a need for HGVs to have appropriate mirrors, cameras and sensors – although not so many that the driver is overloaded – but also for cyclists to behave sensibly around them. By working together and with everyone playing his or her part, we can make cycling safer and encourage more cyclists on to our roads.’