Date: 17 September 2007 21:34

CYCLE SAFETY TAKES HIRE PRIORITY IN BRITAIN'S BIKE CAPITAL

 A survey just out has shown a groundbreaking scheme to protect 
Cambridgeshire cyclists has seen a massive rise in hire cycle safety.

Cambridgeshire County Council Trading Standards launched the Bicycle Safe 
Hire Scheme to protect the thousands of visitors and students that hire 
cycles every year.

Before the scheme was introduced in August 2000, a survey found that less 
than a quarter of hire cycles tested were fault free. Now the latest survey, 
which was the largest of its kind, shows 76 per cent of hire cycles are 
fault free - a further 7 per cent up on last year.

The scheme, which was the first of its kind in the country, was set up with 
the aim of continuing to see an improvement in the safety of hire cycles and 
now successfully continues this theme.

Every year since the launch, officers have carried out safety checks on the 
cycles hired out in and around Cambridge. The hire cycles are checked in 
conjunction with a Code of Practice drawn up by the Cyclists Touring Club. 
Six traders throughout Cambridgeshire are approved to participate in the 
scheme.

Trading Standards have visited cycle hire shops, Schools, Colleges, Language 
and Activity Centres in Cambridgeshire to carry out safety checks on hire 
bikes.

This year, five traders based in Cambridge City, which is the cycling 
capital of Britain and a further trader based at a leisure activity centre, 
near Huntingdon, saw almost 550 of their hire bicycles checked.

The problems identified this year ranged from those that were generally 
minor, such as a broken basket, to the potentially more serious, such as 
loose and un-secure handlebars. The tests include checking cabling, wiring, 
brakes, steering, wheels, saddle and the lighting functions. Additionally, 
traders who agree to the Code of Practice will endeavour to ensure that 
cycles are safe an legal to use.

This includes:
* Checking 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.

Most of the City's language schools also actively endorse and "police" the 
scheme. As a result of these actions, the number of faults continues to fall 
and Trading Standards Officers are hoping this trend will continue.

Paul Street of Cambridgeshire County Council Trading Standards said: "All 
across the UK, Trading Standards Officers are checking safety but here in 
Cambridge we specifically 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 in this unique scheme is helping to 
have a real impact in improving the safety of hire 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 reassurance that 
checks are being carried out."

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

A list of the traders who have signed up to the scheme can be found at the
following link on the County Council's website:
www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/community/consumer/info/safety/cycle

John Reynolds