Labour councillor says cyclists are 'often the biggest threat to pedestrians'

A Labour councillor in Bristol has said that cyclists "are often the biggest threat to pedestrians".

Fabian Breckels was responding to a local news article which detailed criticism of the Labour mayor of Bristol's response to a petition calling for safer cycling in the city.

He initially wrote on Facebook, under the Bristol 24/7 post: “If the Bristol Cycling Campaign were not so arrogant and dismissive of other road users, perhaps the Council would listen to them more. Cyclists, and scooter users, are often the biggest threat to pedestrians.”

This was later edited to: "If the Bristol Cycling Campaign were not so arrogant and dismissive of other road users, perhaps the Council would listen to them more. Inconsiderate cyclists and scooter users can pose a real threat to pedestrians. 

"I'm often having to get out of their way in shares spaces and had near misses, as has my other half and friends of ours."

According to a 2020 report by the parliamentary advisory council for transport safety, which used Department for Transport numbers, “pedal cyclists and small motorcycles were involved in very few collisions where pedestrians were killed”. In 2019, five pedestrian deaths involved a bicycle. Meanwhile, 48 cyclists and 305 pedestrians were killed by cars.

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Bristol Cycling Campaign has been calling for the mayor to complete and publish an updated transport plan that it hopes will “include the creation of a comprehensive network of protected cycle lanes connecting all parts of the city”.

To that end, it started a petition that gained 3,859 signatures, which argued: "Currently there is no plan for cycling despite the 2019 Bristol Transport Strategy committing to the production of an updated Cycling Strategy."

However, this resulted in a blog post by the mayor, Rees, which was deemed as the official response.

In it, he wrote that Bristol “has a clear transport hierarchy which prioritises pedestrians and then cyclists”.

It also outlined how the council’s Local Cycling Walking Infrastructure Planincludes plans and routes which will help “enable the growth of cycling amongst more disadvantaged communities”.

It continues: “Our driver for the LCWIP proposals have been the clear disparity of cycling journeys to work between wealthier and more deprived areas of the city.

“In addition to the above all developments and infrastructure plans, we want to maximise the inclusion of safe cycling with segregation where possible.”

“The council constitution requires a specific response to a petition,” shadow cabinet member, David Wilcox, told Bristol 24/7 in response. “This blog doesn’t qualify as a response and doesn’t address the issues.”

Bristol 24/7 reported that Bristol Cycling Campaign’s Tom Swithinbank replied to Breckels on Monday: “It’s unfortunate you feel bikes/scooters are the threat to pedestrians, evidence says that’s not the case. Do have a look at the East Bristol consultation, you’ll see that it’s vehicle danger that is the biggest concern to Bristol residents.”

Michelle Grace wrote: “I can’t breathe due to vehicle pollution. I cycle. I’ve never been a threat to any pedestrian. Your response is not based on reality.”

Cycling Weekly has contacted Councillor Breckels for a response.