We all have the right to use the roads safely, and confidently, whether we are motorists, motorcyclists, cyclists or horse riders. Over the last few months, on both rural and urban roads, we have seen an increase in the amount of cyclists using the roads as a means of exercise and of travel.

Cycling has many benefits, both health wise and environmentally and as we have seen over the months of lockdown it has also provided an enjoyable escape for people during their daily exercise.

Cyclists are classed as vulnerable road users and as such are at a higher risk of serious injury in the case of a collision or accident. This risk to the cyclists’ safety increases when a vehicle doesn’t give enough space when overtaking, and can be a very intimidating and dangerous experience for cyclists.

Over the last few years, GoSafe has been working with our partners in all four Welsh Police Forces and our colleagues in the Fire & Rescue Service on Operation Close Pass. This operation aims to educate motorists who commit close passes on our roads, and inform them of the dangers of not leaving a minimum of 1.5m between their vehicle and the cyclist.

GoSafe would like to see people of all ages able to cycle safely and confidently on the roads of Wales and are working closely with our colleagues in Local Authorities and with Cycling UK Wales on developing a new and exciting cycling safety campaign.

Teresa Ciano, GoSafe Partnership Manager said:

“Cyclists and motorists share the lanes on our roads, we’re in it together. By promoting a safe distance between vehicles and cyclists as they overtake, we hope that cyclists will feel safer and more confident on the roads and motorists will be playing their part in keeping our roads safe for everyone.”

Gwenda Owen from Cycling UK said:

“Close passes are intimidating when you’re on a bike and evidence suggests that they are dangerous too, with ‘passing too close to the cyclist’ being attributed as a contributory factor in 25% of serious collisions between cyclists and large vehicles.  If we want safer roads for cyclists as well as more people cycling, putting an end to close passing is absolutely key and why we started our award winning Too Close for Comfort Campaign. By working with GoSafe to further the campaign around safe distancing in Wales we hope that more people will be made aware of the problems that close passing cause and that more people will feel able to cycle.”

Over the next few months, keep an eye out for new safety signs on both rural and urban cycle routes and roads and keep up to date as the campaign develops on our website and social media channels.

We all have a part to play in keeping our roads safe, we’re all in it together!