So read "Manchester Evening News'" piece following the Welsh Tragedy.
I have decided to split the whole piece into chunks as people may wish to comment on each bit.
I find the paper's piece informative and without any implied criticism of cycling despite the eye catching headline - which has more to do with the other two chunks I am posting up later.
Quote:
Following the aftermath of last week’s horrific accident
in North Wales, the media went to town over bringing the dangers to public attention. Their efforts appear to have been applauded by all – apart from our Critical Massing Militia!
One daft letter appeared later in the week.
The Manchester paper commented that more and more are, in fact, taking to jam-busting and unreliable public transport systems by taking up cycling to the office instead – but wonders if they are taking their lives into their hands.
They report the hard and harsh reality of the facts as published by RoSPA and easily verified as correct reporting – and also reported by the rest of the press:
Quote:
KSI figures (2004) published last June revealed 134 cyclists died on the roads, 2174 SI and 14340 slight injuries. These are the reported figures: there are countless others – such as one bicycle only incidents.
Colleague reports to me that he treated a lady with a broken ankle after falling off her bike on a country track. After two weeks of pain and believing this to be a sprain – she appeared in A&E. 
Quite worryingly 
– she had been driving her car in that condition for the past fortnight and admitted the pain had caused her to almost collide with something more than once. 
Now this is an attitude we need to change.
Look 
- it is swells and pain continues and increases and refuses to go away after 24-36 hour max - please, please come and visit A&E. They do try to keep the waits to a minimum and the screening nurse will use professional judgement and speed you up the priority list if a suspected broken limb.
The paper publishes the recorded statistics – oddly disputed by a handful of cyclists who wrote to the papers to dispute these facts – two seen published and recognisable names!
Quote:
90% accidents occur in urban areas
75% occur or near a road junction
80% occur in daylight (more ride in daylight and summer accidents do increase for all two wheelies)
80% are male (statistically – we take more risks)
33% of cycling deaths are, in fact, children.
75% of all cycling injuries are HEAD injuries – (and there is NO hiding from this one – figures reconcile back to hospital stats!)
Protecting our Cyclists:
Cycle Route Networks as they have in Switzerland, Germany etc
Improved Driver Awareness and Training
Cycle Training – especially in a world, which has changed greatly since they passed a Proficiency test, aged 11 or so – and modern bikes are not as basic as the one you rode as a boy!
Cycle Helmets and protective and visible clothing.
The paper reports that the accidents appear to happen in urban areas where most cycling takes place and surely as a means of fresh/exercise/cost – it has to be a winner? But based on its own cycling journalist’s reports concludes that cycling is not the green ideal it appears to be.
And I will now post/paste up each account for people to read through as they are a bit long!
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