A road safety campaign urging motorists to “share the road” with cyclists, give people on bikes 1.5m space when overtaking, and acquaint themselves with the Highway Code has been met with a decidedly mixed reaction from locals.

Some drivers in Hull have even used the council’s campaign to criticise cyclists for “wobbling all over the place”, failing to ride single file, cycling on the pavement, jumping red lights, wearing dark clothing, not paying tax or having insurance, and failing to wear helmets – prompting one local bike shop owner to claim all cyclists are being “tarred with the same brush”.

Earlier this week, Hull City Council launched its ‘Share the Road’ campaign, as part of the local authority’s efforts to make the city more cycle-friendly.

The campaign, which aims to publicise cycling-related elements of the Highway Code and encourage motorists to drive safely around people on bikes, will include regular messages displayed on ‘variable message signs’ installed across the city, as well as a social media campaign and partnerships with local businesses.

One of the messages displayed on the road signs advises motorists to “give cycles 1.5m space in passing”, as instructed by the Highway Code when overtaking at 30mph.

Other messages, the council says, will focus on educating drivers about “why people cycling take certain positions when riding on the road, such as when cycling in the centre of the lane when approaching junctions and roundabouts for safety or when passing parked vehicles.”

The local authority will also stress the “need for motorists to check before opening their doors when parked up”, in order to avoid hitting passing cyclists or pedestrians, while reminding drivers about changes to the Highway Code, introduced in 2022, that give “priority to people cycling straight on and pedestrians crossing at junctions”.

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Announcing the campaign, Mark Ieronimo, Hull City Council’s cabinet portfolio holder for transport and infrastructure, emphasised that the local authority’s bid to improve road safety “isn’t about lecturing people or catching people out”.

“At Hull City Council, it is our ambition to create a cycle friendly city that supports those who choose to cycle, wheel or walk, whether it is for their daily commute or for leisure purposes and exercise, to do so with confidence,” councillor Ieronimo said this week.

“Share the Road isn’t about lecturing people or catching people out. We are all just trying to get somewhere at the end of the day, and we all have a part to play when it comes to safety on the city’s highway network.

“The Highway Code states that those who can cause the greatest harm, have the greatest responsibility to reduce the risk they pose to others. What we are asking is for people to take a moment to reflect and to think of the safety of others.

“However you get around Hull and whoever you meet on your journey, we encourage you to travel like you know them.”

Meanwhile, Alan Gribben, the sustainable travel lead for local climate action group Hull and East Riding Friends of the Earth, added: “Cycling, walking and wheeling are low impact modes of travel that benefit our physical and mental health, the environment, and the local economy.

“People often tell us they would like to cycle or walk more but don’t always feel safe. We hope that these messages will encourage people to think about other road users and help everyone feel safer when moving around the city.”

Hull City Council's 1.5m overtaking sign
Hull City Council's 1 (Image Credit: BBC)

Judging by the response to the campaign this week, it has certainly encouraged drivers in Hull to think about cyclists – but perhaps not in the way the council intended.

Responding to an image posted by the BBC of the council’s new ‘Give cycles 1.5m space in passing’ road sign, Facebook user Lee Holderness replied: “Why? They mainly share the pavement with pedestrians. If we have to share the road, let them know we’re willing to share red lights too.”

Holderness wasn’t alone in his critique of the sign, with Joanne Wilkinson writing: “Not always sure that’s enough because cyclists wobble all over the place and pull out in front of you without any warning or hand signals, expecting car drivers to give them what they consider their right of way despite the fact that they don’t pass a test [and] aren’t taxed or insured.”

“What about cyclists actually having to pass a road competency test first and I don’t mean cycling proficiency?” suggested Alison Taylor.

“If they ride single file that’s not a problem, but when they’re side by side two, three at a time taking the whole lane up, what do they expect?” asked Rob Featherstone.

“When a cyclist moves past my car, they give me 1.5 inches of space not metres. If that’s enough for them,” added Stiv Baldwin, missing the point of the campaign entirely, it seems.

“1.5 metres is easy as most cycles are on the footpath anyway,” noted Creed Soundman, a theme shared by Owen Grantham, who asked: “Can cars share the pavement?”

BBC’s Look North also shared emails sent in by viewers, including Sue, who told the programme: “Cyclists will earn respect from me when they wear helmets, don’t cycle on pavements, jump red traffics lights, and only ride two abreast.”

Meanwhile, Cheryl argued that many cyclists do not use cycle lanes or other dedicated cycling infrastructure, “resulting in increased conflict and a lack of tolerance for cyclists”, and Paula questioned why cyclists, many of whom also drive cars, behave differently “as soon as they slip on their Lycra”.

> “Let’s do better for everyone without wagging fingers”: ITV News reporter “catches” 200 cyclists jumping red lights in one hour – but cycling campaigners say design issues are to blame

Of course, not everyone used the council’s road safety campaign to criticise cyclists. One Facebook user pointed out that there are “good and bad drivers and riders using all types of transport”, reminding the drivers in the comments that vulnerable road users are more likely to be killed or seriously injured in collisions with motorists.

Another cyclist argued that people on bikes who also drive have better awareness than someone “who travels exclusively in a two-tonne steel killing machine”.

“It’s drivers who kill other road users, not cyclists,” they said.

Meanwhile, local bike shop owner Ed Neilson told the BBC that the debate that’s sprung up in the wake of Hull City Council’s campaign is indicative of all cyclists being “tarred with the same brush”.

Neilson told Look North that there is a “huge difference” between cyclists who ride during the weekend for sport and leisure and people “dressed in black riding through the middle of Hull”.

“I see these people ride through red lights and it’s terrifying and I totally agree with every motorist who is upset by that,” he said.

> Changes to the Highway Code mean very little if they are not known or followed by motorists

However, he refrained from laying all the blame on urban cyclists, adding that one of his colleagues was almost struck by a motorist cutting across him recently.

“When he stopped to remonstrate, the driver said, ‘I bet you are one of these cyclists who go through red lights’,” Neilson said.

When the campaign was announced this week, a local cycling campaigner emphasised the need for motorists to share the road “safely and responsibly” with cyclists.

“The summer holidays are always a peak time for active travel in Hull, including cycling,” Steve Walsh, a member of active travel group CycHull, said.

“This safety campaign provides a timely reminder to drivers and riders of motor vehicles of some simple measures they can adopt to share the road safely and responsibly with more vulnerable road users.”