Geared Up for Road Safety

EBCDA’s Health Development Team supported a road safety initiative for east Belfast with 20 of their road safety champions from Housing, Health, Council departments and groups from the Round Table, Green and Polish community all cycling from the junction of the North Road and Upper Newtownards Road at 7.30am on 3^rd November to the City Hall for a reception with the Lord Mayor of Belfast Cllr Niall Ó Donnghaile. Belfast Mayor, Councillor Niall Ó Donnghaile, said he was pleased to host the event and offer whatever support he could to promoting better awareness of bike safety. He remarked sensitively about the recent cycling fatality and his ongoing support for bike safety.

The resourcing of the event and the funding of public aware material in English and Polish is supported with funding from the DOE Road Safety Grants administered by Community Transport Association. This activity hopes to help promote respect and sharing on our roads and throughout the next months at various community events information will be distributed about how to avoid collisions on the road and to increase awareness of the greater numbers of cyclists on our roads.

Local volunteer Jim Roberts who has taken part in a new community cycling group that meet every Friday morning on the Albertbridge Road and usually achieve a two hour cycle with a stop for refreshment; “I have gained so much by cycling all the routes from North Foreshore to Comber, Lagan towpath to the Newry Canal towpath and I find this to be very enjoyable”. Supporting this initiative keen cyclist Councillor Dr John Kyle, said ' There has been a tremendous increase in the number of cyclists using our roads. This is to be warmly welcomed but it needs to be accompanied by greater safety awareness on the part of both cyclists and drivers.' The flyer being distributed included the following information;

Cycling:

Cyclists should wear bright clothing, fluorescent during the day and reflective at night.
Cyclists should think and act to prevent collisions by reading the road ahead.

Driver:

Think twice for bike.
Allow plenty of room when passing a cyclist.
Pass a cyclist at a cautious speed.
Take extra care turning left.
All road users should show due care and consideration to others.

Kolarstwo:

Rowerzyści powinni nosić jasne ubrania, najlepiej odblaskowe w oziek i w nocy.
Rowerzyści powinni myśleć i działać, by zapobiegać kolizjom poprzez obserwowanie drogi.

Kierowcó:

Pomyśl dwa razy za siebie i za kierujacego rowerem.
Pozostew odpowiednioa ilosc miejsca dle rowerzystow.
Dostosuj wiasciwa predkosc do kierujacych rowerami.
Należy zachować szczególną ostrożność skiacajac w lewo.
Wszyscy użytkownicy dróg powinni wykazać należytą ostroznosc olbajac o siebie i o innyds kierujgcycls.

For further information: - Alan Houston, Health Development Worker, Tel. 90451512 Fax: 90738039 Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Website: www.ebcda.org