Bicycle safety

Response to this request is long overdue. By law, under all circumstances, Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) should have responded by now (details). You can complain by requesting an internal review.

Dear Metropolitan Police Service (MPS),

I read with great interest that the Met are stopping cyclists who are not wearing particular items.

LBC reported:
**Chief-Superintendent Glyn Jones, who is in charge of the operation, told us: "If you're going to cycle in London, wear a helmet, wear high-vis, make sure your bike has the right lights, don't wear headphones and obey the rules of the road.**
http://www.lbc.co.uk/police-catching-cyc...

I can find no academic evidence to support Chief-Superintendent Glyn Jones "opinion" that high vis makes cycling any safer. If you are going to advise citizens, I'm sure that you have evidence to support your claims and ask that you present this.

Of the tragic fatal collisions in the past 12 months, how many of the cyclists were breaking the "rules of the road", and what rules were they breaking? How many were not breaking any rules?

Please would you provide figures for those seriously injured in collisions as above.

Has the lack of a helmet been a feature in any of the fatalities, and is there evidence that the wearing of a helmet would have saved a life in these fatal collisions?

Given your advice regarding headphones, is it safe for those with limited hearing to cycle in London, or should this group of people be excluded from cycling?

Yours faithfully,

Ian Perry

Metropolitan Police Service (MPS)

 
Dear Mr Perry
 
Freedom of Information Request Reference No:  2013110001890
 
I write in connection with your request for information dated [if request
was dated, insert date on request] which was received by the Metropolitan
Police Service (MPS) on 19/11/2013.  I note you seek access to the
following information:
 
·       Dear Metropolitan Police Service (MPS),
 
I read with great interest that the Met are stopping cyclists who are not
wearing particular items.
 
LBC reported:
 
**Chief-Superintendent Glyn Jones, who is in charge of the operation, told
us: "If you're going to cycle in London, wear a helmet, wear high-vis,
make sure your bike has the right lights, don't wear headphones and obey
the rules of the road.**
 
[1]http://www.lbc.co.uk/police-catching-cyc...
 
 
 
I can find no academic evidence to support Chief-Superintendent Glyn Jones
"opinion" that high vis makes cycling any safer.  If you are going to
advise citizens, I'm sure that you have evidence to support your claims
and ask that you present this.
 
Of the tragic fatal collisions in the past 12 months, how many of the
cyclists were breaking the "rules of the road", and what rules were they
breaking?  How many were not breaking any rules?
Please would you provide figures for those seriously injured in collisions
as above.
Has the lack of a helmet been a feature in any of the fatalities, and is
there evidence that the wearing of a helmet would have saved a life in
these fatal collisions?
Given your advice regarding headphones, is it safe for those with limited
hearing to cycle in London, or should this group of people be excluded
from cycling?
 
Yours faithfully,
 
 
 
Ian Perry
 
 
 
EXTENT OF SEARCHES TO LOCATE INFORMATION
 
To locate the information relevant to your request searches were conducted
at (NAMES OF AREAS SEARCHED).
 
RESULT OF SEARCHES
 
The searches located information  relevant your request.
 
DECISION
 
I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.
 
The MPS does not hold this data, Some of our cases involve cyclists who
have head phones or the remains of wires with their personal effects, It
is impossible to say in many cases if the device was on or what the rider
was actually doing with the equipment. Obviously unproven likelihoods
would not appear in court evidence. In addition cyclists or indeed other
road users when questioned on their liability in crashes sometime do not
admit to the full facts of the matter.
It is not an offence to wear personal audio devices on cycles so the
police would not enforce against it and therefore not record statistics
We however would state that the highway code clearly states that cyclists
should be aware of traffic coming up behind them, this will be difficult
if you do not either constantly look behind you and or listen carefully
the highway code also says in general rules and advice that riders should
not use mobile technology and points out the distraction caused.
Our view is with the Mayor that all cyclists should follow the highway
code which has been put together by years of collision research and is
intended to keep all road users as safe as possible.
 
 
 
 
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Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please write
or contact Sue Reuter on telephone number 781184 quoting the reference
number above.
 
Yours sincerely
 
 
 
 
Sue Reuter
Management Information Manager
In complying with their statutory duty under sections 1 and 11 of the
Freedom of Information Act 2000 to release the enclosed information, the
Metropolitan Police Service will not breach the Copyright, Designs and
Patents Act 1988. However, the rights of the copyright owner of the
enclosed information will continue to be protected by law.  Applications
for the copyright owner's written permission to reproduce any part of the
attached information should be addressed to MPS Directorate of Legal
Services, 1st Floor (Victoria Block), New Scotland Yard, Victoria, London,
SW1H 0BG.
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Email [email address]
Address 6^th Floor, Empress State Building, Lillie Road, Earls Court. SW6
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1. http://www.lbc.co.uk/police-catching-cyc...
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Dear Metropolitan Police Service (MPS),

Can I just clarify that you have no evidence that the police are acting on opinion rather than scientific evidence related to safety when stopping people who cycle in London to tell them to wear a helmet and high-vis clothing?

Yours faithfully,

Ian Perry