Institute of Advanced Motorists poll calls for more money to be spent on cycling

More public money spent on cycling will make it safer, but compulsory helmets and a licensing or registration process for cyclists won't according to a poll of over 6000 people carried out by the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM).

Overall only 1 per cent of respondents favoured the compulsory wearing of cycling helmets - more 20 mph zones and more physically separate cycle lanes and compulsory basic training for cyclists or a cycling element to the driving test were the two biggest factors IAM members thought would make the biggest difference to the safety of cyclists – while 32 per cent of non-IAM members listed "other" as their favoured method, more physically separate cycle lanes and further intoroduction and enforcement of 20mph zones were the next most popular. Amongst non-IAM members, compulsory basic training for cyclists or a cycling element to the driving test enjoyed enjoyed the support of 11.03 per cent.

Poll highlights

• 21.49 per cent suggested further introduction and enforcement of 20 mph zones.
• 30.1 per cent suggested further introduction of physically separate cycle lanes.
• 40.24 per cent thought additional police resources should be made available to ensure cyclists adhere to the rules of the road.
• 82.46 per cent thought the introduction of a licence or registration process for cyclists was a bad idea.

A full list of questions and responses broken down between members and non-members is attached to this story for you to download.

Of the voters in the poll 16.41 per cent were Institute of Advanced Motorist members, 1.78 per cent associate members, and 81.81 per cent non-members. 

84.52% of AIM members voting in the poll wanted to see more public money spent on cycling to make it safer a figure that rose to a whopping 97.96 amongst non-members – many of whom it's fair to say were probably cyclists. What was most striking about the responses to the poll - which attracted over 6000 votes was the level of agreement between members and non- members on most issues

The other big difference between the responses of IAM members and non-members is that perhaps unsurprisingly for members of a motoring organisation 66 per cent of them either agreed or agreed strongly with the statement "additional police resources should be made available to ensure cyclists adhere to the rules of the road" that figure dropped to 43 per cent amongst non-members.

Commenting on the poll Duncan Pickering, IAM Cycling Development Manager, said: “It is encouraging that people see additional public money – by extension further training and improved infrastructure – as the most important factor affecting cyclist’s safety .
 
“While we would never discourage cyclists from wearing helmets, we would stress that cyclist behaviour, awareness of other road users and visibility are the factors that would make a bigger difference to cycle safety.”

The marked preference for further spending in infrastructure improvements as the best way of making cycling safer reflects the IAM's own position on the subject. The IAM has called for funding to be allocated to cycle training as well as better cycle lanes.
 
“Government, employers and individuals all have a part to play in making cycling a safe and easy way of getting around for everybody, through education and by encouraging a mutual awareness and respect amongst cyclists and other road users,” said Mr Pickering.
 
“As a voice for motorists, bikers and cyclists the IAM looks forward to encouraging better communication and cooperation between every type of road user to make the UK’s roads safer for all.”