Press Releases
Former British Olympic Cycling Champion warns that safety must come first as children get on their bikes back to school
4th September 2008 – A new 'back to school' cycling safety campaign is being launching by World Champion cyclist, Tony Doyle, MBE and Pedalite, a provider of 360 degree visibility, battery-free pedal lights for bikes. The campaign aims to get parents to add side lighting and other lighting products to bikes to reduce the risk of accidents as the dark winter mornings and nights draw in. Currently three out of four accidents involving cars and bikes happen at road junctions where motorists cannot see bikes from the side (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) and the campaign aims to ‘light up’ the bikes of children riding to and from school in order to help reduce accident risk.
A new guide entitled, 'Safe Cycling for Parents and Children' has been produced which is available to download free of charge from at www.pedalite.com. It contains essential tips for parents to ensure their kids are safe on the road – from choosing the right bike to ensuring they have the correct accessories to following cycling safety codes.
Tony Doyle says, "Cycling has never been so popular and the achievements of our Olympic cyclists' who brought home seven gold medals has captured the imagination of people of all ages in the UK. We can expect to see record numbers of children wanting to cycle to school as the new term starts – who knows, some of them may well turn out to be contenders in London 2012!"
But he warns that safety has to come first, if the cycling boom is not to be marred by a rise in deaths and injuries on Britain’s roads. “The increased popularity of cyclists in recent years has also seen a 30% rise in deaths of cyclists on the road since 2002 and with 75% of accidents happening at road junctions, side lighting is as important as wearing a helmet in terms of keeping children safe on the roads,” he adds.
Tony’s tips for parents to ensure their children’s cycling safety include:
1. Your children need to be as visible as possible on the road and should wear reflective clothing at all times
2. Never let them cycle without a helmet, even on the shortest of distances
3. Give their bikes a regular service to ensure its on road safety
4. Pump up their tyres and make sure carry additional batteries for their front and rear lights even during the summer
5. Add reliable side lighting, such as battery-free 360 visibility Pedalites, which provide always-on lighting to ensure they can be seen clearly by motorists
Editors Notes
About Pedalite International Ltd
Pedalite International Ltd offers unique 360 degree visibility battery-free pedal lights that improve cycling safety. Pedalite pedal lights are powered by cycling energy which is harvested and stored enabling the lights to stay on for up to five minutes after the pedalling stops, such as when the cyclist is freewheeling or waiting at a junction. Motorists can see bikes fitted with Pedalite pedal lights from up to 1km away and from any angle, including the side
Now used by thousands of cyclists in over 33 countries, Pedalite 360 degree pedal lights help to protect the cyclist with always-on essential side lighting, protect the environment by eliminating highly caustic battery waste and save money by using the kinetic energy generated by turning the pedals rather than requiring batteries to be purchased over and over again.
Pedalite products all adhere to three principles; they address issues of safety, health and the environment (SHE). To read more about Pedalite International’s SHE campaign please go to: http://www.pedalite.com/she.aspx.
Tony Doyle MBE is one of the UK’s most successful cyclists; Twice World Professional Pursuit Champion, 4 times World Silver medallist, 4 times European Track Champion and the UK’s most successful 6 day rider ever. He has won 24 six-day races in his amazing career. In 1989 he was awarded an M.B.E. for his services to cycling. Tony Doyle is an ambassador and spokesperson for Pedalite International Ltd and plays a key role in helping explain, through the media, the importance to cyclists of using Pedalite Pedal lights.