World Day of Rememberance

Today is UN World Day of Remeberance

in honour of all those lives lost or injured on roads...

Picture sourced from http://www.roadpeace.org/

(c) S-C Peace

With so many lives being lost or broken on our roads and in particular those of cyclists with an overwhelming number in the past week it's time to take a stand. 

Respect all those effected, change the 'them & us' approach to 'we are all human & trying to get somewhere'. Help to raise awareness on our roads. We can sit and hope for attitudes to change or we can take action and do something about it. An important step is helping people realise the vulnerability of different types of road users. Education is very much needed as we all know. 

An improved justice system is definitely needed and here's where you can help; I am campaigning with #CTC for safer roads with their #roadjustice petition please sign 10,500+ and counting!  

http://www.roadjustice.org.uk/police-petition

For further information on WDR visit http://www.worlddayofremembrance.org/

'NOT LOOKING CHANGES LIVES'...

22.08.12 @ 17.45

                     

1 year ago today a driver who admitted she 'didn't look' struck me down by my back wheel and ran over both my legs with front and back wheels, spitting me out she continued for some distance down the road (12mtr/40ft) finally stopping after dragging my bike along wedged underneath the car gauging a line in the tarmac. I remained conscious throughout, many don't realise the disabling effects of this...

My life remains far from normal and my future career as a Yoga Teacher and Registered Exercise Professional is as yet still unknown...the driver received less than £200 in fines, 9 points on her license and was charged with 'careless!' driving...I

- had emergency surgery & spent 2 weeks in hospital
- had 10 casts over 3 weeks for multiple soft tissue injuries
- still attend hospital at the very least 5 times a week
- have RSD & severe PTSD
- after having an awful solicitor now have an amazing one
- finally have a case manager and a rehabilitation plan
- have pain every single day, occasional highs and incredible lows

BUT I haven't taken it lying down...I've tried to make changes

1. campaigning for 20mph www.20splentyforus.org.uk (goes under council scrutiny Sept. '13)
2. campainging for Road Justice with CTC, read and watch my story here : http://www.roadjustice.org.uk/category/story-types/sentencing-and-courts
3. I've met with West Mercia Police to improve road policing : http://www.roadjustice.org.uk/police-petition
4. I've raised awareness for countless road safety campaigns too and will continue to do so... 


#APPCG RECOMMENDATIONS TO #GETBRITAINCYCLING ARE UNDER DEBATE IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS 2ND SEPTEMBER JUST A FEW CLICKS TO EMAIL A TEMPLATE LETTER TO YOUR MP TO APPEAL FOR THEM TO ATTEND


http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/campaigning/article/cam20130718-Get-your-MP-to-debate-cycling-0

Thank you to all who support these campaigns, please share them, raise awareness, lets be safer out there on our roads, 'not looking' really changes lives.

CTC Justice Report with West Mercia PCC

Please sign this petition asking your local Police force to pledge to

 improve Roads Policing in YOUR area. 1000's already have!

 

http://www.roadjustice.org.uk/police-petition 

Meeting West Mercia Police Crime Commissioner Bill Longmore 

to discuss 'The Role of Police' for CTC #roadjustice

• According to CTC Road Police numbers in West Mercia dropped 72% between 2002 and 2012, compared to the national average of 29%
• CTC want to work with West Mercia Police and other forces across the country to help make our roads a safer place to be for VRUs (Vulnerable Road Users)
• You can view my road victim video here http://www.roadjustice.org.uk/Sarah-Charlotte
• You can support the campaign further by donating or signing up for the newsletter here http://www.roadjustice.org.uk/

  Thank you for helping to make our roads 'safer for all'

  

  
  

CTC Cycling Campaign for Justice Reform for Vulnerable Road Users

As an injured cyclist my experience has been documented to demonstrate how the legal system fails to deter bad driving. 

Every year 1000s of VRUs (Vulnerable Road Users) ie pedestrians, cyclist and motor cyclists are injured or killed on UK roads. I am one of 3 UK injured cyclists campaigning for Justice Reform with CTC the National Cycling Charity to improve the way the legal system handles VRUs to improve road safety and ensure justice. 

• RTCs with VRUs are often not thoroughly investigated by police/coroners, leading the CPS to throw out charges due to lack of evidence/coroner verdicts
• Drivers at fault are often given the choice of a driver awareness course or accepting a charge
• Charges of ‘careless’ rather than ‘dangerous’ driving are favoured by the CPS, leaving courts limited to issuing lenient sentences. Failing to; deter bad driving, enforce re-testing or raise driving standards
  
• VRUs are more often than not assumed to be the guilty party until proven otherwise
• There is no guidance or victim support for VRUs following an often life changing RTC

By improving the legal system for VRUs bad drivers will be prosecuted with appropriate punishment. The fear of prosecution and a long-term driving ban/damaging fine will motivate drivers to exercise greater caution.

Find out more and support Road Justice here;
www.roadjustice.org.uk

View my story here;
http://www.roadjustice.org.uk/node/465

Velodrome & Watch This Space...

Tonight see's me taking my trauma therapy to a new level after my cycling RTC. 

I'm off to the Velodrome ?!? Scared - Lots of bikes and unexpected noises - YES! 

Hoping it goes well and brings me one step closer to recovery... wish me luck!

Manchester Velodrome (C) S-C Peace

2013 will be bringing more campaigns and support for existing ones, keep checking this blog to see what you can do to make our roads "safer for cyclists and safer all".

Next week will see the launch of; How you can campaign for '20's Plenty' where you live. Followed swiftly by the creation of a 'Rural Cyclists Wishlist'. 'Ride of Silence' is looking likely for May too.

You can start emailing me direct - peace cycling@btinternet.com - with your comments and suggestions for making a 'Rural Cyclists Wishlist' helping cyclists feel safer on our roads. I will be focusing on Shropshire, but there's nothing stopping you from following my lead and campaigning where you live. I look forward to hearing from you.

BBC RADIO 2 OPPORTUNITY TO RAISE AWARENESS

Potential opportunity to raise awareness of cyclists injuries...

Bizarrely listener's have been contacting the Ken Bruce show on BBC Radio 2 describing the agony of treading on upturned plugs in bare feet...if you happen to know of anything more painful then you can take this opportunity to email - ken.bruce@bbc.co.uk

Oh well now let me see, I'm pretty sure getting run over whilst cycling home is a bit more painful so I have taken this opportunity to email Ken. This is your chance to do the same, any opportunity to raise awareness is worth taking even if it is from a sideline approach.

Send your emails to;

ken.bruce@bbc.co.uk

Make the voice of the 'Injured Cyclist' heard! 

BBC RADIO SHROPSHIRE LISTEN AGAIN

If you missed the live broadcast with my cycling feature on Monday 12.11.12 you can 'listen again'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p00zwhnd/Eric_Smith_and_Clare_Ashford_12_11_2012/

Clips of what I have to say are scattered between 7.00 - 9.00am. This will only be available for a short time (7 days) on Listen Again.

Once you've listened don't forget to go to the "Get Britain Cycling" post and get your email on it's way to;

Adam Coffman (coffmana@parliament.uk) before 5th December

Make our roads a shared space "Safer Roads for Cyclists = Safer Roads for All"

MAKING THE NEWS - BBC RADIO & IN PRINT

ADVERTIZER NEWSPAPER 17.12.13 Injured cyclist still fighting for a 20mph speed limit


SHROPSHIRE STAR NEWSPAPER 31.10.13

http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2013/09/27/plans-for-20mph-speed-limit-in-oswestry-put-on-hold/

ADVERTIZER NEWSPAPER 28.05.13 Cyclist's speed limit fight gathering pace...A campaign to make Oswestry a 20mph zone...

SHROPSHIRE STAR NEWSPAPER 14.04.13
http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/transport-news/2013/04/04/councillors-call-for-20mph-speed-restrictions-on-all-oswestry-roads/ 

ADVERTIZER NEWSPAPER 09.04.13 http://www.bordercountiesadvertizer.co.uk/news/121531/council-backs-town-centre-speed-cut.aspx

CHRONICLE NEWSPAPER 04.04.13

SHROPSHIRE STAR NEWSPAPER 04.04.13

http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/transport-news/2013/04/04/councillors-call-for-20mph-speed-restrictions-on-all-oswestry-roads/ 

OSWESTRY TOWN COUNCIL 04.04.13
http://www.oswestry-tc.gov.uk/news/article/article/town-centre-20mph.html 

OSWESTRY 21 COMMUNITY VOICES 04.04.13
http://www.oswestry21.com/?features=town-council-backs-20mph-limit-for-town-centre 

ADVERTIZER NEWSPAPER 26.03.13

CHRONICLE NEWSPAPER 26.02.13 
http://www.oswestrychronicle.com/2013/01/25/cyclists-in-campaign-for-20mph-town-zone/

SHROPSHIRE STAR NEWSPAPER 26.02.13
http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/transport-news/2013/01/31/call-for-20mph-limit-over-whole-of-oswestry/

CHRONICLE NESWPAPER 22.02.13 (Shrewsbury)
http://www.shrewsburychronicle.com/2013/02/22/councillors-back-plan-for-20mph-speed-limit/ 

CHRONICLE NEWSPAPER 14.02.13

SHROPSHIRE STAR NEWSPAPER 12.02.13
http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/transport-news/2013/02/12/two-hundred-back-20mph-petition-in-oswestry/

CHRONICLE NEWSPAPER 07.02.13 

ADVERTIZER NEWSPAPER 05.02.13
http://www.bordercountiesadvertizer.co.uk/news/119602/injured-cyclist-says-justice-system-is-too-lenient.aspx

SHROPSHIRE STAR NEWSPAPER 31.01.13

SHROPSHIRE STAR NEWSPAPER 30.01.13

CHRONICLE NEWSPAPER 31.01.13

CHRONICLE NEWSPAPER 24.01.13
http://www.oswestrychronicle.com/2013/01/25/cyclists-in-campaign-for-20mph-town-zone/ 

BBC RADIO SHROPSHIRE 12.01.2013
Live - Discussing cycle safety, raising awareness and safety on our roads 
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p012jxyd
(listen again available for a limited time only) 

BBC RADIO SHROPSHIRE 12.11.12
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00zwhnd
(listen again available for a limited time only)

CHRONICLE NEWSPAPER 18.10.13

SHROPSHIRE STAR NEWSPAPER 16.10.13
http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2012/10/16/injured-shropshire-cyclist-in-calls-for-improved-safety/
I am proud to have been a part of campaigning for the Early Day Motion 'Justice Review' alongside British Cycling, encouraging people via social and local media to write to their local MP asking them to sign the Early Day Motion.

ADVERTIZER NEWSPAPER 25.09.12

ADVERTIZER NEWSPAPER 29.08.12
http://www.bordercountiesadvertizer.co.uk/news/115748/cyclist-injured-in-rush-hour-incident.aspx
Subsequently I spent 2 weeks in hospital following emergency surgery and it was from my hospital bed that I started campaigning for "Safer Roads for Cyclists = Safer Roads for All"

ITV GRANADA
News Live: Peace Cycling Blog, Cycling RTC and campaigning Novmber 2012 (no link available)

BBC RADIO 2
Jeremy Vine Show Live: Cycling RTC feature August 2012 (no link available)

ABOUT ME

"My Aim is To Encourage & Protect Cyclists"
'Safer Roads for Cyclists = Safer Roads for All'

"I have been a cyclist for over 20 years and a driver for over 15 years. I have never caused an accident, but sadly in the space of 13 months I was unfortunate to firstly be on the receiving end of a truck whilst driving and secondly by a car whilst cycling home"

Both accidents were totally unexpected, on both occasions I was hit from behind and they were both traumatic but the cycling incident was by far the worst experience I have had to suffer. As a cyclist you are far more vulnerable out there on two wheels rather than being encased in a heavy chunk of metal and plastic. 

I was hospitalised for 2 weeks as a result of the cycling RTC and have yet to recover from the injuries I sustained almost 12 weeks on and I am still unable to walk. That said I was born to fight and fight I will in the shape of campaigning, my mission is to help create peace on our roads, my belief is that "Safer Roads for Cyclists = Safer Roads for All"