Following the death of cyclist Claudia Comberti earlier this month, a petition has been launched requesting a ban on private cars and motorbikes in certain parts of Oxford.
Comberti was killed after she was struck by a bus while cycling on Botley Road on May 9. Her death resulted in hundreds of cyclists taking to the streets to call for safer roads in the city.
Comberti was a student at the University of Oxford and a petition has now been launched, calling on it to request improvements that will help protect cyclists.
“The University is the dominant force in this city and gives a huge amount to it. It is in a strong position to ask for changes. And only through material changes can we prevent the loss of yet another life.”
The petition makes four requests:
- No private cars or motorbikes within the area of town bounded by central University and college property
- Clearly marked and wide cycle lanes on all major roads throughout the Oxford area
- Physical barriers, such as kerbs, between cycle and vehicle lanes
- Greater investment and publicity for cycle safety courses
To sign the petition, click here.
At the time of writing, it had attracted over 2,700 signatures.
12 thoughts on “Petition calls for cars to be banned from parts of Oxford”
The University owns land in
The University owns land in Bicester, Long Wittenham and Witney. So that’s a 15 odd mile or so radius of the Centre of Oxford with no private cars then?
Don’t think I’ll sign as written.
while i somewhat agree, i’d
while i somewhat agree, i’d want to cover vans and trucks, but exclude motorcycles, because they aren’t nearly as hazardous as cars, also motorcyclists are just as vulnerable as cyclists.
ashliejay wrote:
“Motorcycles not as hazardous as cars”? – Clearly this poster hasn’t seen the A4 bike/motorcycle lane between Bristol town centre and the Portway Park & Ride – 40 mph limit, motorbikes hurtling down the bike lane at high speed – not just the odd one either!
RMurphy195 wrote:
You mention the ‘lane’ rather than, say, the shared path – if you’re talking about the section of highway leading into the city (South-bound) on the Portway then that’s basically PSV, taxi, motorcycle and bicylcle – not a ‘bike lane’, it’s predominantly 50mph and i’ve not noticed any particular issue with motocycles either when on the bike or from the car going down there. There’s always the odd idiot but that’s the same regardless of mode of transport. The worst offenders I see are the general motorist in a car or van who can’t be arsed to wait in line and belt down there regardless of anyone. Love to see some more of them nicked, wondering whether an ANPR camera and license check is possible – there are some ridiculously dangerous idiots going down there…
If it’s the cycle lane on the road going out of the city (North-bound) then I can’t say i’ve ever seen a motorcyle in it.
Can you clarify ?
RMurphy195 wrote:
Or the section of A4 Bath Road going into Bristol through Brislington and Totterdown the motorbikes speed down the bus lane then harrass cyclists in the cycle lane.
Can we put the picture the
Can we put the picture the right way up please, makes my head hurt.
ktache wrote:
I had to turn the laptop upside down… and then my instant migrane was cured
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ktache wrote:
Oh yeah! I hadn’t even noticed that
Am I missing something or is
Am I missing something or is the article inaccurate? It doesn’t make sense when a bus kills a cyclist and a campaign is launched to ban private cars and motorbikes instead of asking of better safety for heavy vehicles. Definitely banning cars and motorcycles at certain routes can give a boost to cycling and walking as a means of transport, but heavy vehicle safety is often overlooked. With the given vehicle design, driver education and legislation it is much easier for a cyclist to get involved in a fatal accident caused by a such vehicle.
Bottomline is that we should demand improvements in the aforementioned 3 factors that affect heavy vehicle safety and until then keep your distances from heavy vehicles. They can’t see you easily, it is much harder for them to change their direction compared to a passenger car and should they hit you, it is much more possible to cause a fatal accident.
No you aren’t missing anything. And the person who was killed was in a place which is, effectively, a bike lane, with its own traffic signal. It is very sad, but it appears she fell off and was hit by a bus which was too close. Nothing to do with private vehicles at all.
Would love to ban all
Would love to ban all motorised vehicles from the road but that’ll have to wait till I die and get to heaven. In the meantime, here’s a novel idea… whilst preparing to get one’s licence, as well as having to complete “x” number of hours driving about, every able bodied person should also have to ride a bike “y” number of hours on urban and country roads. It might just help plant a seed of goodness in their heads for later on.
No idea why its directed at
No idea why its directed at Oxford University. It’s the City Council and the County Council that are responsible for the roads!
It’s a mess, no private cars should be allowed to cross the city. And they could do something about the rash of competing bus services. It’s a shambles – surface parking between the station and the city centre! Giant multistorey carparks under construction within the old town! Shockingly dated.