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Video: 'Safety in numbers' not working in Hackney, says academic - and number of hit and runs is rising

Dr Rachel Aldred will be talking about her research at tonight's Hackney Cyclists monthly meeting...

An academic who specialises in cycling says the supposed ‘safety in numbers’ effect does not appear to be working in Hackney, the London borough with the highest proportion of cyclists, and has also highlighted “worrying trends” there in collisions involving vulnerable road users.

Dr Rachel Aldred of the University of Westminster, who launched The Near Miss Project in 2014, analysed Stats19 road traffic casualty data from police reports for Hackney Cyclists.

She found that the number of hit and run collisions in the borough is rising, with one taking place every other day, and that a motorist failing to stop after a crash in which someone has been injured was a particular problem in Hackney.

In Great Britain as a whole, Dr Aldred said that a little more than one in ten road traffic collisions resulting in injury was related to a hit and run.

In London, the proportion rose to roughly one in seven, and in Hackney to one in five – and one in four in the borough where a cyclist or pedestrian was the victim.

The past decade has also seen a big rise in the number of cyclists injured on Hackney’s streets, which stood at 250 in 2015 compared to the 134 recorded 10 years’ earlier.

Dr. Aldred said: “Clearly cycling in Hackney has grown during this period, perhaps roughly doubling, but it’s a concern that there doesn’t seem to be much of a ‘safety in numbers’ effect for cyclists – in other words it hasn’t got much safer per trip, as cycling has gone up.”

Back in 2009, broadcaster Jon Snow, who is president of Cycling UK, launched its Safety in Numbers research at Parliament.

The charity, then known as CTC, said that its research suggested that doubling the amount of cycling would lead to a reduction of around a third in the risks associated with riding a bike, partly because riders would become more ‘visible’ to drivers – who would also be more likely to be cyclists themselves.

Hackney Cyclists co-ordinator Jono Kenyon called for greater enforcement of traffic laws in the borough.

He said: “One of our three ‘asks’ for Hackney mayoral candidates was a higher priority for roads traffic policing. Hundreds of people are injured on Hackney’s roads every year while walking and cycling. Road traffic offences, from close passes to hit and runs, need to be tackled to help make our roads safer for everyone.”

Dr Aldred, who is a committee member of Hackney Cyclists, will be talking about her research at the group’s monthly meeting tonight, Wednesday 1 March, with all welcome to attend.

It takes place from 7.30 to 9.30 at the Pembury Community Centre, Atkins Square, Dalston Lane.

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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7 comments

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wycombewheeler | 7 years ago
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"She found that the number of hit and run collisions in the borough is rising, with one taking place every other day, and that a motorist failing to stop after a crash in which someone has been injured was a particular problem in Hackney."

perhaps something should be done about these unaccountable drivers, perhaps a system of testing, licencing and regristration, with each vehicle required to carry a clear identifying mark, so we could know who they were and hold them accountable for their actions. Only this can solve the issues of anti social driving present.

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Yorkshie Whippet | 7 years ago
2 likes

Can anyone see how much cycling has increased?

If the number of cyclists has increased by say  a factor of 10 from 250 to 2500, then an increase from 135 to 250 is proof that roads are safer.

No?

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wycombewheeler replied to Yorkshie Whippet | 7 years ago
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Yorkshie Whippet wrote:

Can anyone see how much cycling has increased?

If the number of cyclists has increased by say  a factor of 10 from 250 to 2500, then an increase from 135 to 250 is proof that roads are safer.

No?

"Dr. Aldred said: “Clearly cycling in Hackney has grown during this period, perhaps roughly doubling, but it’s a concern that there doesn’t seem to be much of a ‘safety in numbers’ effect for cyclists – in other words it hasn’t got much safer per trip, as cycling has gone up.”"

considering this is the key figure in the statement about safety per trip, it would be useful if he knew what the increase was instead of saying perhaps doubled.

My perception is that cycling has more than doubled over a ten year period.

even at doubling it shows a small reduction in accidents per trip.

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Jitensha Oni replied to wycombewheeler | 7 years ago
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wycombewheeler wrote:

considering this is the key figure in the statement about safety per trip, it would be useful if he knew what the increase was instead of saying perhaps doubled.

My perception is that cycling has more than doubled over a ten year period.

even at doubling it shows a small reduction in accidents per trip.

A good point: "perhaps roughly" shouldn't really cut it from an academic, especially when they are specific about the injury stats. In order to be as good as the increase in safety for the whole UK as stated by the linked CyclingUK article, Hackney cycling would have had to have increased a little over 5 times in the corresponding period.  As others are implictly asking: has this happened? 

 

 

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drdr replied to Jitensha Oni | 7 years ago
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Jitensha Oni wrote:

"perhaps roughly" shouldn't really cut it from an academic, especially when they are specific about the injury stats.

To me that paragraph reads like academic speak for 'I don't know the exact stats off the top of my head but here's a ballpark figure.' I'd guess/hope it's a verbal quote rather than an excerpt from a journal article where, as you say, 'perhaps roughly' shouldn't cut it.

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arfa | 7 years ago
4 likes

The rising prevalence of hit and runs involving pedestrians and cyclists is highly indicative of the contempt which many drivers regard them with in London at the very least.
Still, can't wait for Vinnie Stops to tell us all the data is wrong and he's right 'cos Hackney is the best place in the world to cycle. ....

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Metaphor | 7 years ago
0 likes

Boycott the economy until the government gets its priorities right.

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