BATTLE CONTINUES FOR CYCLIST-FRIENDLY HIGHWAY CODE

A revised draft of the Highway Code has not properly addressed the concerns of 11,000 cyclists who last year joined a CTC campaign to have the Code re-worded.

The original draft of the Highway Code included a seemingly innocuous addition, which told cyclists to ?use cycle facilities?where provided?. Following the campaigning efforts of 11,000 cyclists, the revised wording, issued on 28th March, reads: Use cycle routes and cycle facilities?wherever possible, as they can make your journey safer.

According to CTC, the new wording does not address its original concern that insurance companies will use the wording of the new Code as an excuse to reduce the amount of compensation they pay if a motorist hits a cyclist that has chosen to use a road rather than a nearby cycle facility.

CTC Campaigns & Policy Manager, Roger Geffen, said: ?We are working hard behind the scenes and very much hope that the Government will see sense and amend the wording to say ?use cycle facilities where they help with your journey? ? thus leaving the decision at the cyclist?s discretion. If it does not, we will seek to persuade the Lords to vote it out, or may ultimately initiate a Judicial Review against it.?

CTC would like to hear about incidents where a cyclist has been injured while using a cycle facility, or has suffered verbal or physical abuse, or hassle from the police, as a result of using the road rather than a nearby cycle facility. Please email adam.coffman@ctc.org.uk

For updates on the CTC's campaign, visit www.ctc.org.uk/campaigns.