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London cyclists needed to help with medical charity’s major research project on cycling injuries

Barts and the London Charity wants to hear what matters most to riders at public meeting next week

A medical charity linked to the hospital that is home to London’s air ambulance and where more than 100 cyclists seriously injured in the capital are treated each year is holding a public meeting next week as part of its research into cycling injuries – and it is calling on bike riders and businesses and organisations involved in cycling to attend to put their views across.

In April this year, Barts and the London Charity launched its Safe Cycling Appeal to raise £650,000 for research into the causes of injuries to cyclists, which it said would help with the emergency treatment and rehabilitation of victims as well as giving insight into how to prevent collisions arising.

Next Tuesday 7 October, the charity is holding a public meeting at which it wants to hear first-hand from cyclists about what matters to them should they become injured while riding as a result of a road traffic collision.

The responses will help shape the direction of the Bespoke study currently being conducted by research teams of the Orthopaedic and Emergency Departments at the Royal London Hospital in partnership with Barts and the London Charity.

Broadcaster Jon Snow, president of national cyclists’ organisation CTC, chaired a seminar in January hosted by the charity and is urging people to get involved, saying: “The innovative Bespoke data project lead by researchers in London's biggest Emergency Department is key to unlocking data which is currently lacking from the debate about cycle safety in London. I urge all London cyclists to get involved!"

The charity says: “With any study it is important to decide on what data needs to be collected. The healthcare research team behind the Bespoke study are experienced in designing studies to collect data which can tell us about the severity of injury. However, what is important is that our study represents the outcomes that matter to those who are directly affected by the study: cyclists.

“We want London's cyclists, cycling communities, cycling clubs and cycling businesses to tell us what is important to them when they are injured. It might be the length of time taken to return to being pain free, or perhaps when they could cycle again. Cyclists might be interested in the length of time it took to return to cycling to work, or maybe the time it took to return to competitive/club cycling.

“Whatever is important to cyclists and is practical to collect, we want to collect. To do this we would like to put together two groups: one larger group which can be as big as necessary to enable cyclists and cycle related groups and organisations to feed into the study design; and a smaller group of 4 - 6 individuals who would like to represent London's cyclists and be involved in the oversight and development of the study, throughout the duration of the study.”

It adds that capacity at the venue is limited, so anyone wishing to attend should book a space as soon as possible. It also says that the Bespoke website will be updated after the event with information about it, including what the team has learnt.

You can register here for the event, which takes place from 6pm to 7.30pm next Tuesday 7 October at The Shield Café, Queen Mary University London on Charterhouse Square
Charterhouse Square London.

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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6 comments

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kie7077 | 9 years ago
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Car drivers across Britain don't know how to pass a cyclist safely, spend some money sorting that out. That and the millions of people messing with their mobiles when they should be paying attention to the road.

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kie7077 | 9 years ago
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Spend that £650 training infrastructure designers instead please.

The cause of accidents is drivers not looking where they are going and driving too close to cyclists.

where more than 100 cyclists seriously injured in the capital are treated each year

So why don't you ask them your questions? I'm sure it won't cost £650,000 to ask 100 people their opinions.

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jacknorell | 9 years ago
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What matters to us if we're knocked off?

Speedy, highly competent and advanced emergency care followed by proven, intensely applied rehabilitation services.

There, can I have £250k now?

What actually matters is road policing and safer infrastructure, so we don't get hurt to begin with.

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oozaveared | 9 years ago
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Stay away. Well away. Unless of course you want a lecture on why you need to wear a helmet and really shouldn't cycle at all.

These doctors do not want your opinion they want to give you theirs.

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Simon_MacMichael replied to oozaveared | 9 years ago
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oozaveared wrote:

Stay away. Well away. Unless of course you want a lecture on why you need to wear a helmet and really shouldn't cycle at all.

These doctors do not want your opinion they want to give you theirs.

That's a bit like saying all cyclists jump red lights  3

http://road.cc/content/news/120435-flimsy-little-helmets-completely-poin...

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Airzound | 9 years ago
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I will do the research for £250k. I could knock a paper out in a weekend which would include all the salient points, hazards and dangers cyclists face on a daily basis and suggest half sensible solutions. I have been knocked down 3 times, been hospitalised and received considerable treatment, had countless near death experiences and a hit and run. I feel I am well qualified. Would save the charity £400k. Well how about it?

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