Learner drivers to learn bike awareness

Finally, learner drivers will now be taught bike awareness thanks to two of the UK’s biggest driving schools AA and BSM. These driving schools will both include a new segment on driving safely around cyclists. Driving instructors will undergo training backed by the Driving Standards Agency and the Department for Transport, to enable them to educate new drivers.

AA president Edmund King said “I am personally committed to breaking down the ‘two tribes’ attitude displayed between some drivers and cyclists. Often we are the same people. I am convinced that this initiative will change attitudes and save lives.”

Head of BSM, Mark Peacock said “Successfully teaching a learner to drive safely around cyclists means instilling a good attitude as well as the necessary practical driving skills. Understanding why cyclists behave in certain ways, such as avoiding potholes or how they are affected in strong winds, is key to being safe around them.”

To cyclists, this may seem a long time coming, but this is a great step in making UK roads much safer for cyclists to use. With motorists learning to respectfully share the roads with cyclists, this should hopefully lead to less cyclist fatalities on Britain's Roads. Hopefully this training will prove to be successful and will rolled out as a must have for all driving schools. This training should also be applied to HGV drives, as the account for a large proportion of cyclist deaths in the UK. 

Asgard High Security Bike Shed

New cycling tunnel in West Yorkshire

A new cycle route has been opened in West Yorkshire, a former railway line has been reopened as a new route for cyclists and walkers. The new cycle route runs between Dewsbury and Ossett and has been renovated with a refurbished viaduct and bridges over the river Calder.

This route is part of a national project run by Sustrans to encourage walking and cycling on everyday journeys. David Hall, regional director of Sustrans said “It’s good for the local economy to have an alternative route into the shops of the town centre…it also is an opportunity for children to explore their environment safely away from traffic”.

So far Sustrans has helped to convert over 1500 miles of disused railway into bike and pedestrian paths, which has encourage more and more people to take up commuting by bike.

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Asgard Director cycles from France to Spain

Asgard doesn’t just sell bike storage units, the staff have a passion for cycling too, which may explain the high quality and care that goes into their bike sheds.

The Asgard Managing Director, Nick Hewitt, has taken it to the next level challenging himself along with a group of friends, to cycle from the northern tip of France to the Spanish boarder in just 9 days. 

The ‘Yorkshire Terriers’  team is made up of Nick Hewitt, Garry Ogden, Rupert Pearson, Oliver Garside, Robin Litten, Matt Milbourn and Andy Mullins. Nick and the team managed to beat their target, managing to finish the 848 mile journey in 8 and a half days after spending 54 hours on their bikes.

Take a look at the highlights of their journey here. 

Is this the new way to scare bike thieves?

Bike theft is a problem in major problem in most public areas, from town centres, to train stations and universities. The use of a good bike lock, or 2, seemed to be the only way to keep bike thieves at bay, however, a team from Newcastle University may have found a new way to deter bike theft. 

The team decided to test out a theory that people behave better when they think they are being watched. Research was carried out for 2 years by placing pictures of staring eyes above cycle racks around the university campus. It was found that there was a 62% drop in crime rates at the bike racks which featured these pictures and the bike racks without these pictures saw thefts increase by 63%. 

Due to the positive effect that this has had on crime rates at the university, it is now being tested at various train stations by the British Transport police, who are hoping for very similar results. I am sceptical about this method working when put to the test in other environments. This may prove to be an effective way to deter bike theft from public areas, however this may become less and less effective as thieves realise there is no real threat behind the image. 

This may work in a public place, but we’re pretty sure it wouldn't have the same effect at some one’s home. Make sure your bike is fully protected from theft at home, by keeping it locked away securely and out of sight. 

If you’re looking for secure home bike storage, Asgard metal bike sheds offer fantastic protection against theft. See the full Asgard metal bike shed range here.