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Falling on ice is the second highest cause of cyclist admissions to English hospitals.
Gritting cycle paths can reduce the risk of slipping on ice for cyclists
In this blog, Kevin Daniels, Sustrans supporter, discusses the injury risk posed to cyclists by ice on the road surface and presents recommendations for improving safety, drawing on a 2018 Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA) paper on delivering accident prevention, co-written with Rob Benington, Health Improvement Manager, Bristol City Council.
Falling on ice is the second highest cause of cyclist admissions to English hospitals. Loss of control on ice causes more serious casualties among cyclists than many other better known contributory factors.
By analysing hospital admissions data, we can target preventative actions to better inform cyclists about the risk of ice and to improve the prospects of an ice-free ride.
Reducing injuries is a necessary part of work to encourage more active travel.
The two largest and most detailed sources of data on traffic-related injuries are:
STATS 19 is the source of most government reports on accident statistics. However, it does not give a complete picture of cycling injuries. According to the Department of Transport, ‘a very low proportion of pedal cyclists injured in non-collision accidents are reported to the police’. It is estimated that only 4% of non-collision incidents are known by the police and recorded in STATS19.
According to Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), cycling non-collision Incidents (NCIs) -incidents in which no other road user was involved- accounted for 10,737 hospital admissions during 2016/2017. This represents 64% of all injury-related admissions of cyclists. No further analysis of the causes of NCIs is provided.
HES data shows that cyclists suffered a greater number of admissions than other road users in England in 2016/17.
In 2009, in partnership with Bristol Cycling City, NHS Bristol designed a UK-wide online survey to help understand the causes of non-collision injuries. More than 1,000 cyclists responded, recording the details of their non-collision incidents, giving a good sample for analysis. Please note the methods used created biases in the response, and the results are most applicable to working-age cyclists.
Nevertheless, the survey showed that 26% of all reported non-collision incidents (including 17% of those that resulted in a hospital admission) happened as a result of slipping on ice.
Slipping on ice was by far the single largest reported cause, followed by slipping on wet roads (8%) and slipping on ‘soil, gravel, mud, wet rock, etc’, (6%).
Around 10,000 visits to Accident and Emergency each year in England are as a result of cyclists slipping on ice.
In the study, the total number of non-collision admissions for 2016/17 were apportioned to individual causes using the results from the survey. This highlights ice as the second highest cause of admissions to English hospitals.
Awareness of accidents discourages more people cycling. Hospital admissions are the tip of the iceberg when inactive people consider taking up cycling.
Identifying and acting on the underlying causes of non-collision incidents can directly result in an increase in cycling. Encouraging more cycling in winter months is a relatively low capital cost activity that makes better use of existing infrastructure.
So what can be done to reduce the risk of slipping on ice for cyclists? The study makes seven recommendations:
1. Gritting cycle paths
A survey of 11 authorities in the South West of England (2016) established that only two authorities partially treated their cycling network. It is recommended that:
Roads the council will grit can be searched on gov.uk for England and Wales, and on Traffic Scotland.
2. Weather forecasts
Weather forecast temperatures, that cyclists often rely on to decide if they should cycle, are air temperatures. Whether ice can form is highly dependant on road surface temperatures. The distinction is significant, as road surface temperatures can be 4 or 5 degrees lower than the forecasted air temperatures.
Currently, road surface temperatures are not usually included in weather forecasts. This is one of several improvements in ice forecasting that would be helpful to cyclists.
In 2016 four cycling organisations called upon the MET Office to improve ice forecasting and a meeting was held in November 2016. There appear to have been no substantive improvements in ice forecasting since this meeting.
Daily gritting routes and road surface temperatures for the whole of Scotland are available online. The road surface temperatures appear under the weather station tab.
Over 50 local authorities publish near real-time road surface temperatures on http://www.trafficweather.info/Index/example/Index.action.
3. Employers
Employers are encouraged to adopt flexible working practices so that cyclists can choose to cycle when the risk of ice has passed. The Think Twice campaign gives suggestions.
4. Co-ordinated action
The government, NHS, local authorities, cycling organisations, broadcasters and weather forecasters are encouraged to coordinate campaigns to raise awareness of:
5. Phone App
Weather forecasters and mapping organisations are encouraged to cooperate to produce a phone app that reliably forecasts ice along a planned cycling journey.
6. Improved analysis of non-collision incidents in HES statistics
The published HES data should include a breakdown of the non-collision admissions along the lines of the 2009 survey.
7. Use of HES statistics
All organisations are encouraged to use Hospital Episode Statistics alongside STATS 19 data when making decisions about priorities for cycling.
The Government Cycling and Walking Investment strategy calls for underlying performance of cycling injury and incident statistics to be understood. The analysis in this blog - which has identified the significance of the risk posed by ice - contributes to this objective. Taking the mitigating actions set out in this blog should help achieve the Government objective of reducing the injury rate among cyclists and increasing the number of cyclists and the frequency with which they ride.
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David Reilly during his adventure on route 78
The route offers some magnificent views
David Reilly celebrates completing the 10-day long Caledonia Way challenge ride
In September 2018, disability sports and travel writer David Reilly cycled 237 miles from Campbeltown to Inverness along National Cycle Network Route 78, The Caledonia Way.
We filmed his 10-day adventure along the route, to help raise awareness of accessibility along National Cycle Network routes in Scotland and to help challenge perceptions about disability participation in cycling. This is the story of his adventure, in David’s own words.
It didn’t matter how steep the hill up to Inverness Castle was, I was just smiling and feeling such elation that I had made it.
Standing on the steps and looking back into the distance, it was hard to believe that I had cycled the 238 miles to get there. Eight days ago we set off from Campbeltown on what was to be my biggest challenge yet, to cycle the length of The Caledonia Way. Supported by Sustrans Scotland, we embarked on a journey that would take us through some of Scotland’s most spectacular scenery, up the Great Glen and into Inverness.
Leaving the ferry terminal in Campbeltown felt like quite a moment because so much planning and preparation had gone into the journey. The seeds of doubt in my mind were asking if I could really do this, and would I really make it to Inverness in a weeks’ time. But, before I knew it, we had done 12km, and then 20km became 30km, and we were well underway. I soon settled into the ride and I was enjoying the rolling roads of Kintyre that took us along some forest lined roads as well as open farmland.
The next three days would take us as far as Taynuilt just short of Oban, with overnight stops in Tarbert and Ardrishaig.
Cycling up the Kintyre peninsula was a joy with its mixture of forests and open coastal stretches. The way the light shone across the Kilbrannan Sound to Arran for example, was quite majestic. In this section, I catch sight of an otter on the shore of Loch Caolisport and an eagle high over Inverliever Forest.
The weather during this section was not however in our favour. High winds and rain brought a storm that only added to the challenge and the adventure. Raining or not, I felt so alive and happy to be doing what I loved most, just riding my bike. The only saving grace was that the wind was right on our backs pushing us along and helping us over some of the Argyll hills.
More settled weather arrived when we reached Oban which made for very pleasant riding for the next stage of our journey. Segregated cycle paths along with the autumn colours made this particularly flat stage of the journey very enjoyable indeed. I was surprised how little of the route was on main roads, and how much was on ‘B’ roads or traffic-free cycle lanes. Safe paths made it easier to enjoy the stunning surroundings and backdrop of the mountains. This stage of the route struck me as being one of the most accessible to families or for disability cycling.
From The Caledonia Way, it wasn’t difficult to find smaller routes that would make ideal loops for shorter day trips. This section of the ride was fairly flat so it gave lots of options to less able cyclists.
I particularity enjoyed the final two stages from Fort William to Fort Augustus and onto Inverness. The route took us along the towpath of the Caledonian Canal which, with the autumn colours against the backdrop of the Monadhliath Mountains, was quite spectacular. Skies were often clear and crisp making for some wonderful views.
The most difficult climb of the route was shortly after we left Fort Augustus. The road climbs very steeply up the east side of Loch Ness, and this was quite challenging. We were soon rewarded, however, with spectacular views across the Great Glen and a long descent towards Foyers, then a relatively flat road right into Inverness.
I do feel a tremendous sense of achievement to have cycled The Caledonia Way in its entirety. If I hadn’t had the offer of support from Sustrans, I wouldn’t have attempted it under my own resources.
I have not always had the confidence to tackle challenges like. The physical logistics of organising a trip like this would have been a struggle, so I feel particularity grateful for this opportunity.
The experience has changed me. So many adventures or outdoor experiences have a huge influence on people’s lives. It has given me so much more confidence in my own ability and given me a thirst to get out, explore, and see what else I can achieve. I was really surprised by my own capabilities.
Although there may be pieces of the route are still to be developed, I was really encouraged by the thought that had gone into accessible cycling.
Brand new bridges with all ability access such as that at Soldiers Bridge at Inverlochy, are a great example. While I suspect the numbers of disabled people riding the route in its entity will remain low, parts of The Caledonia Way lend itself nicely to inclusive cycling. The stretch around Appin, for instance, is also particularity flat and accessible to less able riders.
There are stretches of the route that follow the towpaths of both the Crinan and Caledonian Canals. These sections provide lovely flat, traffic-free cycling on particularly nice surfaces that would be ideal for less confident riders. I thoroughly enjoyed following the Caledonian Canal. With shelter from the wind and lined with autumn trees, it was really pretty.
Having cycled the length of 'The Caledonia Way’, I don’t think there is any of it that I wouldn’t happily go and ride again. I would particularity like to return to Appin, cycle there and maybe take in the island of Lismore.
Whatever I do in the future I will do with a sense of confidence that this ride, with the support of Sustrans, has given me.
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Peter having completed his journey from Land’s End to John O’Groats
Day 26 of Peter’s epic journey from Land’s End to John O’Groats
Peter Langford has always led an active lifestyle and has enjoyed cycling and walking since he was a young boy. Even when diagnosed with arthritis in both knees, Peter didn’t let this hold him back from doing what he loves.
This is because the low-impact exercise helps the knees to maintain a normal range of movement without adding further stress. Cycling hundreds of miles a year to remain fit and healthy, he decided to take on the epic challenge of travelling more than 1,000 miles by bike on his 85th birthday from Land’s End to John O’Groats.
When we spoke to Peter he said:
“A mixture of things motivate me to cycle. I’ve experienced some of the UK’s most breath-taking landscapes by bike and enjoy being out in the fresh air but have to say the health benefits that come with riding a bike is one of my top motivators. I suffer from arthritis in both of my knees which causes me some discomfort and can become stiff if I do too much high-impact exercise.
“My physiotherapist suggested cycling because unlike other activities it doesn’t put too much pressure on your joints and helps to strengthen the muscles which support your knees. That’s not to say it cures arthritis.
- Peter Langford“ But for me, cycling is one of the easiest ways to get my heart racing without causing any discomfort and I believe regularly going out on two-wheels has contributed to my good health over the years. ”
“I remember the first time I took on Land’s End to John O’Groats – I thought to myself never again! I was underprepared and using an old bike, so found the whole journey incredibly difficult, both physically and mentally.
“This time round, I cycled 2,500 miles in the run up to the challenge, double the length of the actual ride. It’s the third time I’ve completed it and the most prepared I’ve ever been. This is because I was determined to get out on my bike, come rain, shine or gale force winds, cycling up to 100 miles a week.
“I travelled on a mixture of terrain this year, including routes on the National Cycle Network. It was lovely cycling down quiet streets, small lanes and disused rail paths instead of busy main roads. The signage was also fantastic on most of the routes and there was plenty of stunning scenery to stop off and admire along the way. Overall, cycling on the Network made the journey feel much safer and I’d recommend anyone considering taking on the challenge to do the same.
“Although the ride was tough, it was really enjoyable. I travelled through a lot of incredibly beautiful countryside. Especially the National Cycle Network route through Scotland, between Loch Lomond and Inverness, which was the most attractive of the three rides I’ve completed.
“For now I don’t think I’ll be taking on any more large-scale biking adventures. There’s no doubt that I’ll be out on my bike in the near future but I think I’ll be sticking to more local paths. National Cycle Network route 1, passing through Beccles and Norwich is particularly useful and just down the road so I imagine I’ll ease back in with that. Getting out there and having fun is the main thing for me.”
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