SPEAKER: Well then, is everybody ready? Let’s go ahead and begin our talk on safe cycling. I know that you are all students and have to get back to your studies, so we’ll keep this as short as possible.

Here in England we’ve been slowly working to catch up with other countries in terms of bicycle-friendliness. Uh, as you know, many of our European and North American counterparts have implemented nationwide cycling regulations, and developed quite impressive infrastructure. Unfortunately, we aren’t there yet, but we are on our way. That’s why the government has invested in informational talks as a way to promote responsible and safe cycling. And we here at the university want to ensure that our students, many of whom, uh, choose cycling as their primary means of transportation, are equipped with the knowledge they need to keep themselves safe.

Now, there are some general rules that any cyclist anywhere in the world should follow. One is making sure you have lights on your bike. In fact, lights conforming to a recognised standard are compulsory in the UK if you are cycling at night. You must have one on the front and one on the back. But for safety’s sake, we recommend also attaching a light to your helmet and to your handlebars. You can pick up these bicycle lights at any sporting goods store.

And helmets…everyone has to wear one, even if you are only going a short distance. Your helmet should fit snugly on your head, with two finger spaces between the attaching strap and your chin. While you’re at it, you may want to consider reflective clothing as well. Many bicycle shops carry jackets and shirts that have reflective fabric woven onto them, which increase your visibility to drivers and other cyclists.

But here in the UK, we have a particular problem with cyclists getting hit by lorries. Part of the problem is our country’s poor cycling infrastructure…uh, few bike lanes, unclear signs for cyclists, turning lanes that force vehicles to cross over the bike lanes… Um, but it’s also that lorries often don’t see cyclists because of large blind spots. They are very dangerous vehicles, really, which is why around 45 percent of cycling deaths in the UK occur from accidents with lorries. That’s five times as much as from bus accidents, and 30 times as much as with cars. Some have proposed banning lorries all together, but I doubt that will ever come to fruition.

So it’s best for cyclists to take safety into their own hands. Obviously, stay away from lorries whenever possible. In the case that you find yourself next to one, stay back or advance ahead quickly. And never go down the side of lorries at junctions. That’s just asking for trouble.

Um, one last thing… As you know, our bike paths are nothing to brag about, and they are often nestled right to the side of the road. But don’t hug the kerb. Stay about a meter to a meter and a half away. In doing so, you’ll avoid debris and drains, and also stay farther away from parked vehicles that may be edging out into your path or opening their doors. Being “doored” is no fun at all, let me tell you!

Now, before we learn the road hand signals universally applied to cyclists, do you have any questions?

Answer Key:

1. FALSE

2. NOT GIVEN

3. TRUE

4. FALSE

5. FALSE

6. visibility

7. blind spots

8. 45 percent

9. advance ahead

10. debris, drains