Safer Cycling Research

[Christianne]

Hi,

I am currently in my Final year of studying product design at Edinburgh Napier. I am focusing on the cycling industry as a basis for my final project and dissertation. I am still in the research stages and am focusing on producing a product to improve safety.

I am interested to speak to anyone who may have been involved in any type of cycling incident to find out the factors that caused or were an impact on the accident, e.g. distraction or other motorists.
All replies would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks
Chrissie

 

[Cyclopathic]

I was knocked off my bike a couple of months ago. What do you want to know?

 

[snorri]

Fell off my bike due to poor design/construction and lack of a maintenance programme(grass cutting) of a joint user path.

 

[Christianne]

I was knocked off my bike a couple of months ago. What do you want to know?

Were you wearing any protective equipment at the time, like a helmet or any high visibility stuff? Also what time or day and the environment where the accident happened, was it in town or out in the country.

 

[fossyant]

Christianne can you be more specific rather than adding open ended questions as this could become a high viz/helmet debate.

Ie. Accident type, cause, injuries etc.

 

[fossyant]

There are plenty of safety devices out there anyway, so you need to be more specific. It's a bed of hot coals discussing 'safety' equipment.

 

[Shaun]

I've removed a number of posts that were either unhelpful or not related to Christianne's general line of enquiry, but Christianne, if you want sensible and on-topic answers you need to be more specific:

• What is the nature of your safety device?
• Is it for the bike or cyclist?
• Day / night / anytime use?
• What sort of safety issues would you hope your product would address?

People aren't going to be able to help you or provide full and detailed answers if you don't ask for specifics.

Cheers,
Shaun

 

[Christianne]

Sorry for being vague in the initial post. I have put together a short questionnaire, which I would really appreciate people filling out.


1. How many times do you cycle in a week?

2. Do you usually cycle at night or day?

3. Do you usually cycle for fun or commuting?

4. Do you usually cycle in urban or rural areas?

5. Have you ever had an accident whilst cycling?

6. If so, what was your most serious injury?

7. Do you wear any safety equipment whilst cycling?

8. Would you compromise looks for safety?



Thanks for taking the time to read and reply.

Chrissie

 

[snorri]

Sorry for being vague in the initial post. I have put together a short questionnaire, which I would really appreciate people filling out.


1. How many times do you cycle in a week? 5 or 6

2. Do you usually cycle at night or day? Day

3. Do you usually cycle for fun or commuting? Utility.

4. Do you usually cycle in urban or rural areas? Rural

5. Have you ever had an accident whilst cycling? No

6. If so, what was your most serious injury?

7. Do you wear any safety equipment whilst cycling? Sometimes...... a hi-viz/refl jacket

8. Would you compromise looks for safety? yes



Thanks for taking the time to read and reply.

Chrissie

 

[Drago]

1. How many times do you cycle in a week? At least daily, more often than not twice daily, more if I'm cycling at work too.

2. Do you usually cycle at night or day? Both

3. Do you usually cycle for fun or commuting? Both

4. Do you usually cycle in urban or rural areas? Both. i live in the sticks, commute into town.

5. Have you ever had an accident whilst cycling? Yes, plenty

6. If so, what was your most serious injury? Minor aches and pains

7. Do you wear any safety equipment whilst cycling? Yes, Helmet, gloves/mitts, eye protection in poor weather or off-road, elbow pads off road (one elbow is full of titanium else I wouldn't bother with the pads).

8. Would you compromise looks for safety? Yes, provided it's not too stupid or outrageous. I'm not remotely interested what I look like on a bike. function before form, every time.

 

[palinurus]

1. How many times do you cycle in a week?

10 journeys per week minimum

2. Do you usually cycle at night or day?

Depends. In the winter I mainly cycle at night.

3. Do you usually cycle for fun or commuting?

Usually for commuting, also training/ racing

4. Do you usually cycle in urban or rural areas?

About equal mix

5. Have you ever had an accident whilst cycling?

Several

6. If so, what was your most serious injury?

Cuts and grazes, bruising

7. Do you wear any safety equipment whilst cycling?

Not for everyday cycling.

8. Would you compromise looks for safety?

Depends. I won't wear fluorescent stuff etc. to ride to the supermarket / cinema / pub etc.

 

[Trail Child]

Sorry for being vague in the initial post. I have put together a short questionnaire, which I would really appreciate people filling out.

Thanks for taking the time to read and reply.

Chrissie

1. How many times do you cycle in a week? 7-8 times a week

2. Do you usually cycle at night or day? Both.

3. Do you usually cycle for fun or commuting? Both.

4. Do you usually cycle in urban or rural areas? Both. I live in a very urban part of Ottawa but green space bike/pathways connect to rural areas.

5. Have you ever had an accident whilst cycling? Yes but very minor.

6. If so, what was your most serious injury? My pride.

7. Do you wear any safety equipment whilst cycling? Helmet, bell, light & reflective gear at night.

8. Would you compromise looks for safety? Yes.

 

[akb]

1. How many times do you cycle in a week? 4 days commuting

2. Do you usually cycle at night or day? Both - Winter is dark on the return leg.

3. Do you usually cycle for fun or commuting? Both

4. Do you usually cycle in urban or rural areas? Both - cycle from a small village to a large town

5. Have you ever had an accident whilst cycling? - Yes
6. If so, what was your most serious injury? - Scraped knee and elbow.

7. Do you wear any safety equipment whilst cycling? Helmet, Gloves and Glasses.

8. Would you compromise looks for safety? No.

 

[summerdays]

Sorry for being vague in the initial post. I have put together a short questionnaire, which I would really appreciate people filling out.

1. How many times do you cycle in a week?
3-7 days

2. Do you usually cycle at night or day?
Mostly daytime but do cycle at night too

3. Do you usually cycle for fun or commuting?
Both

4. Do you usually cycle in urban or rural areas?
Both

5. Have you ever had an accident whilst cycling?
Yes

6. If so, what was your most serious injury?
Broken arm

7. Do you wear any safety equipment whilst cycling?
I wear bright clothing - not necessarily hi-vis, I normally wear a helmet but again not always. I use lights at night and also sometimes during the day depending on the light conditions/weather. (Safety equipment is a lower priority than me thinking clearly and cycling safely).

8. Would you compromise looks for safety?
Within limits.

 

[Theseus]

1. How many times do you cycle in a week?
10

2. Do you usually cycle at night or day?
Morning & evening. Lighting depends on time of year

3. Do you usually cycle for fun or commuting?
Mainly commuting, but some fun rides

4. Do you usually cycle in urban or rural areas?
Commute in urban, fun in rural

5. Have you ever had an accident whilst cycling?
Yes

6. If so, what was your most serious injury?
Road rash on face, knees & hands

7. Do you wear any safety equipment whilst cycling?
Gloves & cycling glasses

8. Would you compromise looks for safety?
Looks are low on my list of priority, safety is more about interaction with other road users than anything on me or the bike