Taunton cycle safety operation sees police stop 24 cyclists and three motorists

A three-hour cycle safety operation in Taunton on Wednesday resulted in 24 cyclists being stopped and just three motorists.

Avon & Somerset Police’s road safety team stopped cyclists and motorists on Station Road with members of Taunton Area Cycling Campaign also attendance towards the end of the operation.

We have been working closely with @tauntonareacyc1 to address #cycle safety in #Taunton. Yesterday we were present on Station Rd to observe. A number of drivers & cyclists were reported for offences #mobilephone #seatbelts #redlights - cycle safety/legal advice was also offered. pic.twitter.com/pwOJBYGdC3

— A&S Police Road Safety (@ASPRoadSafety) March 28, 2019

Officers reported that 24 of those stopped were cyclists, 16 of whom were cycling on the footpath.

In contrast, just three motorists were stopped: one for use of a mobile phone, one for not wearing a seatbelt and one for having a child incorrectly secured.

Cyclists:
2 x No Entry/One Way Street
4 x Red Traffic Light
16 x Adults cycling on footpath.
1 x Pulling a wheelie as he undertook traffic.
1 x with missing brakes & jumping on & off the footpath.
Vehicles:
1 x Mobile phone
1 x No seatbelt.
1 x Child incorrectly secured

— Dave Adams (@dave_roadsafety) March 29, 2019

The same officer expressed surprise at the number of cyclists stopped.

Please feel free to share the results from our work on Station Road. 3 hours of work has captured a much better understanding of the issues. Personally I had anticipated the drivers being the bigger problem.

— Dave Adams (@dave_roadsafety) March 28, 2019

A spokesperson from Taunton Area Cycling Campaign told This Is West Country that the unsafe nature of that stretch of road contributed to the high volume of pavement cycling.

"Two members of Taunton Area Cycling Campaign were observers only at the police action on Station Road for half an hour at the end of the event.

"TACC believes that cyclists, like other road users, should abide by the law obeying red lights and being lit at night. We also abhor those who cycle as a matter of course on the pavement as a way of getting around not appearing to understand that the road is for that purpose.

"However, there are some places where the road network is hostile and traffic heavy and some cyclists use the pavement for short stretches for their own safety. These areas need addressing. In our 2016 local survey, cyclists told us Station Road is one of these locations. Station Road near the station also has the highest concentration of injury accidents to pedestrians and cyclists in Taunton."