A campaign to support cyclists in Hull to stay safe and stay seen during the winter months has been hailed a success, following a final pop-up event on Princes Avenue.
Hull City Council’s popular Bike Lights for Dark Nights initiative returned late last year and saw five public events take place at various locations across the city.
The activity was funded by the Office for the Police and Crime Commissioner for Humberside and was again supported by Safer Roads Humber.
The initiative identifies and supports poorly illuminated cyclists by providing free bike lights and reflective gear as well as education on the importance of being visible and the need to ride in accordance with the law, with the aim of reducing collisions on Hull’s roads.
Events took place across December and January, with a particular focus on key travel routes as well as busy junctions in and around the city centre, including Spring Bank, Preston Road, Beverley Road/Clough Road, Witham/Lime Street and Princes Avenue.
Staff from the council, Safer Roads Humber, Humberside Police and HEY Volunteering engaged with hundreds of cyclists and issued 139 sets of bike lights and 65 hi-vis rucksack covers.
Another 30 sets of bike lights were also allocated to Humberside Police to support ad-hoc engagement as part of their regular patrols around Hull.
In addition to the terrible impact that a road traffic collision or death on the road can have on an individual, their family or the wider community, it can also have a huge financial cost – estimated to be around £271,000 for a serious injury and £2.4million for a death.
Councillor Mark Ieronimo, cabinet portfolio holder for transportation, roads and highways, said: “Our Bike Lights for Dark Nights initiative provides an excellent opportunity for us, as organisations, to engage with cyclists about the importance of cycling with lights and ensuring they are as visible as possible.
“As a council, we are committed to building safe and welcoming neighbourhoods and to making sure that our roads are safe for everyone to use, which is even more necessary during darker nights.
“Safety is everybody’s responsibility. Cyclists should aim to be as visible as possible when riding around the city, but it is also important that motorists and all members of the travelling public look out for each other too.”
Jonathan Evison, Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “We want all of our road users to feel and be safe and this project goes a long way to ensuring our most vulnerable users can be seen. I am pleased to have supported the project which has not only provided the equipment, but also the opportunity to engage with cyclists about how important their safety is.”
Ian Robertson, partnership manager at Safer Roads Humber, said: “A common complaint is about cyclists not using bike lights and wearing dark clothing when using our roads, so Safer Roads Humber is pleased to support this practical and low-cost project that addresses this very issue.
“When cyclists are stopped, they have been offered lights and hi-vis items but more importantly they have had the chance to engage with partner agencies and, by the way of education, understand the importance of being bright to be seen. If this keeps one cyclist safe it has been a worthwhile project.”
It is a legal requirement to ride with lights between sunset and sunrise in the UK, for more information about these regulations read the guide from Cycling UK
