Edinburgh
From BBC News
'Ghost bike' protest over cycle safety
The ghost bikes feature a plaque with a tally of cyclist deaths in Scotland over the past five years
Two
"ghost bikes" for fallen cyclists have been placed outside the Scottish
Parliament by campaigners calling for investment into cycle safety
measures.
Organisers said the bikes, which are completely painted white, represent the deaths of two cyclists last week.
A plaque also details the number of cyclists killed in Scotland since 2009.
The demonstration has come the same day as a female cyclist died following a collision with a car on a road near Drumnadrochit in the Highlands.
The accident happened on the A831 near the A833 junction at Milton at about 08:41.
Ghost bikes have been used across the world over the past 10
years to raise awareness of cycle safety - usually at the spot where a
cyclist was killed.
Organisers of the memorial said the Scottish government had
rejected calls to increase the amount spent on cycling infrastructure,
including safe, separated cycle tracks, to £20 per head (£100m each
year).
They also expressed disappointment that the 2010 Cycling Action Plan for Scotland
had rejected calls for the implementation of strict liability laws in
civil cases, whereby the driver involved in an incident would have to
prove he or she was not at fault for an incident involving a cyclist.
Anecdotal evidence has suggested that this could lead to drivers having more respect for cyclists.
'Spontaneous reaction'
The number of cyclists killed on Scotland's roads rose from
seven in 2011 to nine in 2012. Nine people have already died this year.
Ghost bike organiser Andy Arthur said the memorial was "a
spontaneous reaction to the anger and hurt felt by cyclists" at the news
of two more deaths - 79-year-old Douglas Brown and 14-year-old Connor
Shields.
Continue reading the main story
Cyclist deaths in Scotland
- Alastair Dudgeon, 51, Kincardine (A985) 6 January
- Alistair MacBean, 74, Inverness (A82) 22 January
- Charles Aimer, 42, Errol (A90) 17 March
- Craig Tetsill, 21, Gorthleck (unclassified road) 16 May
- Kyle Allen, 8, Aberdeen (Great Northern Road) 21 May
- David Wallace, 52, Perth (West Mains Avenue) 12 June
- Douglas Brown, 79, West Lothian (B9080), 14 July
- Connor Shields, 14, Ellon (A975), 17 July
- Female cyclist, Highlands (A831), 22 July
Mr Arthur said: "It is the
political leadership in Holyrood who have the power and the budgets to
do something about the safety of cycling, yet they seem to lack
political will.
"By leaving the memorial in full view of parliament we hope
it will stir some of our elected representatives to action, or else
shame them for their inaction."
A Transport Scotland spokesman said an average of £3.80 per
head was currently spent on cycling in Scotland - more than double the
amount being spent in England, outside of London.
He said: "We are currently investing almost £58m on cycling
infrastructure, training and road safety projects through Cycling
Scotland, Sustrans and local authorities over this spending review.
"Funding of £20m goes directly to local authorities for cycling, walking and Safer Streets projects."
He added that there was no robust evidence to suggest strict liability improved safety.
Sara Dorman, of Pedal on Parliament, said: "Unfortunately,
the state of our roads means that deaths are inevitable as bikes are
regularly brought into conflict with fast-moving traffic.
"Despite the government finding £3bn to dual the A9 -
supposedly on safety grounds - they've told us there's no money to
increase investment into safer cycling.
"All they've suggested is an information campaign urging
mutual respect, the sort of campaign which has failed over and over in
the past."
Next month, the Scottish government plans to unveil details
of a £424,000 "Mutual Respect" road safety campaign, to help change
behaviour on Scotland's roads.
From BBC News
'Ghost bike' protest over cycle safety
The ghost bikes feature a plaque with a tally of cyclist deaths in Scotland over the past five years
Two
"ghost bikes" for fallen cyclists have been placed outside the Scottish
Parliament by campaigners calling for investment into cycle safety
measures.
Organisers said the bikes, which are completely painted white, represent the deaths of two cyclists last week.
A plaque also details the number of cyclists killed in Scotland since 2009.
The demonstration has come the same day as a female cyclist died following a collision with a car on a road near Drumnadrochit in the Highlands.
The accident happened on the A831 near the A833 junction at Milton at about 08:41.
Ghost bikes have been used across the world over the past 10
years to raise awareness of cycle safety - usually at the spot where a
cyclist was killed.
Organisers of the memorial said the Scottish government had
rejected calls to increase the amount spent on cycling infrastructure,
including safe, separated cycle tracks, to £20 per head (£100m each
year).
They also expressed disappointment that the 2010 Cycling Action Plan for Scotland
had rejected calls for the implementation of strict liability laws in
civil cases, whereby the driver involved in an incident would have to
prove he or she was not at fault for an incident involving a cyclist.
Anecdotal evidence has suggested that this could lead to drivers having more respect for cyclists.
'Spontaneous reaction'
The number of cyclists killed on Scotland's roads rose from
seven in 2011 to nine in 2012. Nine people have already died this year.
Ghost bike organiser Andy Arthur said the memorial was "a
spontaneous reaction to the anger and hurt felt by cyclists" at the news
of two more deaths - 79-year-old Douglas Brown and 14-year-old Connor
Shields.
Continue reading the main story
Cyclist deaths in Scotland
- Alastair Dudgeon, 51, Kincardine (A985) 6 January
- Alistair MacBean, 74, Inverness (A82) 22 January
- Charles Aimer, 42, Errol (A90) 17 March
- Craig Tetsill, 21, Gorthleck (unclassified road) 16 May
- Kyle Allen, 8, Aberdeen (Great Northern Road) 21 May
- David Wallace, 52, Perth (West Mains Avenue) 12 June
- Douglas Brown, 79, West Lothian (B9080), 14 July
- Connor Shields, 14, Ellon (A975), 17 July
- Female cyclist, Highlands (A831), 22 July
Mr Arthur said: "It is the
political leadership in Holyrood who have the power and the budgets to
do something about the safety of cycling, yet they seem to lack
political will.
"By leaving the memorial in full view of parliament we hope
it will stir some of our elected representatives to action, or else
shame them for their inaction."
A Transport Scotland spokesman said an average of £3.80 per
head was currently spent on cycling in Scotland - more than double the
amount being spent in England, outside of London.
He said: "We are currently investing almost £58m on cycling
infrastructure, training and road safety projects through Cycling
Scotland, Sustrans and local authorities over this spending review.
"Funding of £20m goes directly to local authorities for cycling, walking and Safer Streets projects."
He added that there was no robust evidence to suggest strict liability improved safety.
Sara Dorman, of Pedal on Parliament, said: "Unfortunately,
the state of our roads means that deaths are inevitable as bikes are
regularly brought into conflict with fast-moving traffic.
"Despite the government finding £3bn to dual the A9 -
supposedly on safety grounds - they've told us there's no money to
increase investment into safer cycling.
"All they've suggested is an information campaign urging
mutual respect, the sort of campaign which has failed over and over in
the past."
Next month, the Scottish government plans to unveil details
of a £424,000 "Mutual Respect" road safety campaign, to help change
behaviour on Scotland's roads.