11.11.09 When ladies from Gloucester’s Muslim community decided they should “get on their bikes”, the Partnership had no idea it would prove so popular! Whether new to two wheels or more experienced cyclists, the ladies have been enjoying regular lessons from a team of women instructors have helped them become much safer and more confident road users. Some could even become instructors themselves as they are getting additional training to help them get non-cyclists up and running.
Don Muir, the Partnership’s cycling coordinator said, “Women generally feel more intimidated by today’s traffic conditions, while minority groups can have more cultural barriers to taking up this type of training. That makes it a double challenge for these ladies and we are doing all we can to help them get the training they need to develop the skills to overcome those barriers”.
The scheme was launched in conjunction with Amina Kathrada at the Friendship Café in Barton Street; and Bren McInerney at the Barton and Tredworth Community Trust.
I noticed that there has been a big launch to recommend to motorcyclists that they carry a special CRASH ID card (attached to the inside of their helmet) to aid quicker identification of victims and details of next of kin etc should they be involved in a motoring/road accident . Surely such a card should be made available to cyclists also Is it possible to supply this type of card for cyclists also?
Having been knocked from my bike by motorist and badly injured, I sustained a broken arm and was concussed and incoherent when the paramedics arrived at the scene. Being alone I would have found this type of ID invaluable for the medics who attended me as I had no ID on me at the time of the accident. It would also have prevented my next of kin becoming unduly distressed when I failed to return from my ‘short’ cycle ride but d was being unbeknowingly transported to A&E by the ambulance crew. Needless to say, I now endeavour to carry some form of ID with me but if the cards were made available to both cyclists and motorcyclists alike, the first responders/paramedics would know exactly where to locate the information they required for ID/medical condition alerts etc and possibly save vital minutes by not having to search through saddlebags etc trying to locate it.