Date: 28 September 2006 08:12

CYCLE SAFETY GIVEN HIRE PRIORITY

A groundbreaking Trading Standards scheme to keep Cambridge cyclists safe 
has found that approved cycle hire shops are continuing to improve their 
service.

 Cambridgeshire County Council Trading Standards has visited cycle hire 
shops, Schools, Colleges and Language Centres in Cambridge to carry out 
safety checks on hire bikes.

Before Trading Standards launched The Safe Bicycle Hire Scheme in 2000, a 
survey of some 350 hire cycles revealed that 76% of them had one or more 
fault affecting safety.

 This year over 400 hire cycles were checked and this revealed some 69% of 
hire cycles were completely fault free. The results show continued 
improvements on previous years in the number of hire cycles without fault.

The scheme aims to raise the standard of hire cycles and achievements have 
shown the continual improvement in the condition of these bicycles.

 The Bicycle Safe Hire Scheme was the first of its kind in the UK and was 
launched in August 2000, being designed to protect the hundreds of visitors 
and students that hire cycles every year.

 Officers carried out safety checks on the hire cycles in and around 
Cambridge in conjunction with a Code of Practice drawn up by the Cyclists 
Touring Club. Five traders in the City, which is the cycling capital of 
Britain, subscribe to the scheme and saw over 400 of their bicycles tested 
this year.

Most of the City's language schools also actively endorse and support the 
scheme. As a result of these actions, the numbers of faults have gone down 
and Trading Standards Officers are hoping this trend will continue.

Problems identified ranged from those that were generally minor, such as a 
broken basket, to the potentially more serious, such as a mudguard being 
held with string and handlebars held together with self-adhesive tape.

The tests include checking the cabling/wiring, brakes, steering, wheels, 
saddle and the lighting functions. Additionally, traders who agree to the 
Code of Practice will attempt to ensure that cycles are safe and legal to 
use. This includes:
* Ensuring cycles and accessories are checked between each use and that they 
are cleaned and kept in good working order.
* Providing a lock and a safe means of carrying luggage.
* Encouraging users to wear a suitable cycle helmet.
* Ensuring that cycles are suitable for their purpose and that their 
description is accurate, by being provided with the correct size of bicycle 
adjusted to fit the hirer.
* Advising (where needed) on how to use the bicycle and where to ride and 
cycle safety.

 David Broughton of Cambridgeshire County Council Trading Standards said: 
"All across the UK, Trading Standards Officers are checking car safety but 
here in Cambridge we also recognise that a huge number of visitors to the 
City will be relying on a hire bike to get them around. It is very 
reassuring that the work we are doing is helping to have a real impact in 
improving the safety of these bikes. Cyclists are very vulnerable road users 
and often visitors to Cambridge may not be able to ask or check how safe 
their hire bike is. This scheme gives some reassurance that checks are being 
carried out."

Details of the scheme can be found at on the County Council's website:
http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/community/consumer/info/safety/bike_hire.htm

A list of the traders who have signed up to the scheme can be found onthe 
County Council's website at:
http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/community/consumer/info/safety/cycleschemetraders.htm
> ENDS
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Cambridgeshire County Council Trading Standards on 07788 565535.

On a more general note - Trading Standards advise the following if buying a 
bicycle:

Selecting a Bike: When you buy a bike, cycling shorts or a set of spanners, 
it's always worth remembering that you get what you pay for - cheap prices 
usually reflect cheap goods. If you want a bicycle to last a long time, it's 
a good idea to go to a reputable specialist who will advise you on the most 
suitable cycle for yourself or your family. Bicycle Standards: All bikes 
sold in this country should be made to a reasonable standard of safety and 
most should conform to regulations laid down in law. Bikes sold for leisure 
use must bear the British Standards mark BS 6102. If you have purchased a 
bike and are worried about its safety don't hesitate to contact your local 
Trading Standards Office which for Cambridgeshire is 0845 40 40 506.  Cycle 
Helmets: Over half the reported injuries in cycling accidents are to the 
rider's head. Although a helmet will not prevent an accident, it will 
protect you from serious injury when riding, so make sure you wear a helmet 
at all times. Buy a helmet that fits correctly and that bears one of the 
approved marks: BS 6863 or equivalent (e.g. ANSI Z 90.4 or SNELL). Replace 
any helmet that is damaged or has been involved in a major fall. 
Checkpoints: Bicycles are not cheap. To make sure you get the best value for 
money, they must be looked after and serviced by a specialist at regular 
intervals. Between services the owner should regularly check brakes, 
steering, lights, reflectors, saddles, tyres, wheels and chain tension. This 
will ensure that the bicycle stays in a roadworthy condition.

John Reynolds