‘No blame’ campaign aimed at London’s cyclists and CGV drivers

Transport for London Street Management (TfL SM), in partnership with the London Cycling Campaign and the Freight Transport Association, has launched a campaign aimed at both cyclists and drivers of commercial goods vehicles (CGVs).

Each day there are some 330,000 cycle journeys across London and some 421,000 commercial goods vehicle movements in and out of the London Boroughs - and a further 261,000 in central London alone. Cycling is a quick, safe and convenient way to get round the city and the lorries and commercial vehicles deliver vital goods and services.

This campaign encourages cyclists and drivers to be more aware of the way each other uses the available road space, particularly at turns and junctions. The need for more mutual awareness is highlighted with the slogan ‘there are two sides to every story’.

"We chose to launch this campaign on European Cycling Day to show our commitment to increasing both cycling and the safety of cyclists on our roads," said London’s mayor, Ken Livingstone. "We want everyone to feel safe travelling in London and this is one initiative to improve road safety in the capital.

"We need cyclists and commercial drivers to be more aware of each other and of the consequences of a collision. We want to encourage a greater awareness by both groups of the way each needs to use the road space. That way we can avoid the kind of collisions which resulted in six cyclists losing their lives last year."

The campaign will involve the distribution of cycle seat covers and tacho disc covers carrying the campaign logo, with a leaflet to encourage each side to think of the others’ perspective.

The launch was also timed to coincide with the return of many students to colleges and universities. Students are one of the largest single groups of cyclists in London.

For further information about the campaign please contact Emily Silverton at TfL SM on 020 7941 4406 or visit www.tfl.gov.uk/streets/cyclelorry_index.shtml