Internet map that pinpoints danger spots for cyclists to avoid
Mark Prigg, Technology Correspondent18.03.09
LONDON'S most dangerous roads for cyclists are revealed today.
An online map details every cycling accident in the capital reported to police over a 12-month period. Software experts and safety campaigners say they hope it will help cyclists avoid the worst areas and reduce the number of people injured.
Users can zoom in on their route to work and switch between map and satellite views of London. Crashes are identified with red dots.
The statistics have been released free online as part of a government plan to improve access to official data. The Google map was created by Tom Taylor, a software developer from Hackney.
He said: "I hope we will see a lot more uses for the data in the future. For instance, we could see a cyclist's travel planner that avoids blackspots, or league tables which show the most dangerous areas."
Green London Assembly member Jenny Jones, who was knocked off her bike at Elephant and Castle roundabout - a major blackspot - last July, said: "This is a very useful tool." But she added that a lot of accidents were never reported to police. "I think what you are seeing is the tip of the iceberg. I was knocked off by a car and broke my wrist, but stupidly didn't report it at the time." Her arm was in plaster for six weeks, and she still suffers pain.
Ms Jones called on Mayor Boris Johnson to reconsider his plans to alter traffic light timings in favour of road vehicles. She said: "In areas like Elephant and Castle, pedestrians just aren't given enough time to get across the road, and cyclists are the frontline with this problem. If the new timings are wrong, it is going to be disastrous for cyclists. The blackspots have heavy traffic but also a lot of people milling around."
Charlie Lloyd of the London Cycling Campaign said the maps were interesting but key data was missing. "What isn't here is how many cyclists are using each route. It's good the Department for Transport has released this, but we need more."
He advised bike users to look for routes on the London Cycling Network, which avoids blackspots.
Click here to see the map of reported cycle accidents
Reader views (25)
A woman was just crushed to death by a lorry on 8 April at Elephant & Castle roundabout. Its been a major blackspot for years. This should be a wake up call that this and other areas need to be made safer for cyclists and pedestrians both.
- Eddie, London
Perhaps a future edition will classify each accident as to cause: No attributable blame, Cyclist at fault, Driver at fault, Pedestrian at fault (yes it can happen: I see more pedestrians running out at red lights than I do Cyclists).
- Tim, United Kingdom
Looks like a plague of measles has broken out in London,
- Albert Hall, hove england
Looks like a good general indicator of cycling density and car madness.
Re the cars: Why is it legal to sell and use cars that do more than twice the maximum speed limit and have almost enough power to get airborne?
Re cycling: Research/refine routes and avoid the conflict where you can. I'm still alive after 30 years of regular cycling in London and attribute it to that approach.
- Martin Preece, London UK
The whole concept of accident blackspots is dubious for a map of a single year's incidents because safe cycling routes can appear dangerous just because of bad luck and, vice versa, dangerous areas can appear safe.
You need a much longer timescale than one year to make a reasonable judgement.
- Fluffy_Mike, London
It is interesting that a custom cycle crossing on Holloway Road - intended no doubt to make cycling safer - is the scene of a large number of incidents. This map should be compulsory viewing for all traffic planners who want to make the roads safer.
- Andrew, London
Which isd the corner where Boris Johnson regularly runs red lights and cycles over the pavement? I believe we need to be told
- Keith Price, Luton, England
Be interesting to see the equivalent map for car accidents. I assume it would look more or less the same since the accidents follow the traffic density for the most part. Though presumably there would be more accidents since there are more cars.
The problem with just showing this bike accident map is that it gives the impression that cycling is somehow a dangerous activity, which I've never found it to be in ten years of cycling in London.
- Nick, London
Discourteous cyclists and pavement cyclists need to be radically controlled. Cycling works well in Holland as there are no helmeted maniacs going around at over 30mph there. They don't realise how intimidating they are to pedestrians.
- Martin H. Watson, Teddington
I would have thought that every road in the A to Z would pose a danger to cyclists. And quite a few pavements too.
- Mr S.Port, London
why are children allowed on the back of bikes.
Every day I see parents weaving in and out of trffic with small children on the back of there bikes some as young as two, without helmets.
If I take a child out in a car they have to have a special seat. If I don't follow these rules I could be arrested. But I can take a child out on the back of a bike WITHOUT A HELMET and not be breaking any law's.Where is the logic.
- Neil, edgware
Why don't they pinpoint the danger areas for pedestrians on our pavements ? I see pavement cyclists every day. If I hold out my hands to defend myself and they cycle into a shop window or a car, whose fault is this ? Try it.
- Michael Waugh, South Kensington
A link to the map would be handy...!
- Pavement Walker, London
"Where are all these pavement cyclists? I certainly don't see many in London, the pavements are too full of pedestrians, its difficult enough walking along them!
- Cyclist, London"
Try walking along the South Bank and you'll see plenty. Saw one today skid and end up in a heap because he was cycling too fast where there were a lot of people walking about.
All roads, junctions, crossings etc are danger spots to any vulnerable road user. The trick is to be careful, look, take your time, give yourself enough room, act with care and, remember you are only sharing the road space...even then you are only minimising the risk, not eliminating it.
- Escobar A-Lop-Lop...Also A Cyclist., Camden County
Lets hope this map shows us the junctions where Boris Johnson regularly runs red lights and cycles on the pavements
- Keith Price, Luton, England
Where are all these pavement cyclists? I certainly don't see many in London, the pavements are too full of pedestrians, its difficult enough walking along them!
- Cyclist, London
"In areas like Elephant and Castle, pedestrians just aren't given enough time to get across the road, and cyclists are the frontline with this problem. If the new timings are wrong, it is going to be disastrous for cyclists."
Well funny that I use the the E&C a lot and the crossings are adequate for pedestrians yet it's the place I have have more run-ins with cyclists jumping red lights!!!
- Mark, South-East London
Google are also putting a map online of area's dangerous for pedestrians nearly hit by cyclists.
Trouble is it covers every pavement in London.
- P Staker, London
I'm with Peter on this one. The change of attitude needs to include not driving on the streets of central London in the first place and especially not on the pavements.
- Sarah Bradshaw, Enfield, Middx
Accidents would be reduced if more cyclists followed the highway code. I have seen three accidents involving cycles in the past few years. The common factor was they were all breaking the law. In one two cyclists shot the red lights and hit each other at right angles - fortuneately missing the pedestrians crossing. I got the impression each thought the other was to blame!
- Michael, London
Peter is partly right - it won't make the slightest bit of difference - until people stop stereotyping "cyclists".
- Austen, London
It wont make the slightest bit of difference; until motorists change their attitudes; they will always be a danger to cyclists; they will always blame other road users for their bad driving habits.
Cyclists use their giant cycles to intimidate car, lorry, and bus drivers.
Yes we Know; Peter...........LOL.
- Mickyinlondon, london
actually peter, you cannot blame all cyclists just as you cannot blame all taxi drivers, pedestrians, bus drivers, whit van drivers etc. the fact is there are some aggressive, arrogant and selfish people who believe their entitlement is far greater than anyone else's, and they will pull out, walk out, turn without indicating, cycle on pavements, go through red lights etc etc etc.
- Um Rahel, london
Nice generalisation there, Peter ex Londoner - but it says more about your ignorance of the risks to cyclists than it does about cyclists behaviour. As a road user (both driver and a cyclist), I think I am correct to assume that 99% of cyclists put their safety foremost - how could it be otherwise when a human on a 10kg bike will always come off worst in a collision with a 1000kg car? There are of course some cyclists who put themselves at risk - but they are a tiny minority - especially compared to a significant minority of drivers who are careless (or aggressive) towards cyclists - as drivers have no fear of harm to themselves if they hit a cyclist. How could it be otherwise!?
- Dc, London
It wont make the slightest bit of difference ! until cyclists change their attitude they will remain a danger to themselves, they will always blame other road users for their plite .
- Peter Ex Londoner, Hartlepool
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