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World first cycle detection system launching in City of York to improve road safety for cyclists

24 September 2013

As of the 10th October, the Cycle Alert tags will also be available to students via the Union shop & to York cyclists at getcycling.org.uk. These work in conjunction with the devices fitted to the buses and alert the driver to cyclists that enter their proximity and may be at risk of not being seen because of blind spots.

Cycle Alert, the market-leading, cycle safety innovation is launching in partnership with The University of York, City of York Council and Transdev Unibus. Working in conjunction with City of York Council and Transdev Unibus, The University of York is to become the first to introduce the revolutionary Cycle Alert System on it’s network of Unibuses and with York University Students. York is a city renowned for its progressive approach to city planning and sustainable transportation. They have worked to create better cycling networks over the years having replaced train-tracks with Sustran cycle routes and providing both an extensive network of off-road cycle paths and on-road cycle lanes. The hard work has paid off with York being able to boast some of the best cycling infrastructure in Britain.

One particular demographic has fully embraced cycling as their primary means of transport around the town – The Student, and The University of York has been paramount in encouraging them to do so. So it came as no surprise when Fiona Macey, Travel Plan Coordinator at the University of York was introduced to Cycle Alert she was eager to become one of the first cities to implement the system on their network of Unibuses and encourage students to use the Cycle Alert transmitters on their bikes.
Fiona Macey, Travel Plan co-ordinator, University of York, said: “We are thrilled to be working in partnership with Transdev Unibus and the City of York Council to be the first UK city to pioneer the use of Cycle Alert on our University bus fleet. The University is committed to promoting sustainable modes of travel and Cycle Alert will be a huge benefit to our cyclists and city wide.”

Cycle Alert has been designed to address the issue of increased incidents between cyclists and vehicles on the road. Primarily, the disproportionate amount of accidents and deaths to cyclists whilst traveling through busy junctions and when they come into contact with Heavy Good Vehicles. Cycle Alert encourages drivers and cyclists to take responsibility for making the road a safer place. And unlike other sensor and video systems in circulation, Cycle Alert is a cyclist specific system, tracking only cyclists up to two metres in proximity. Cycle Alert also evades the ‘white noise’ issue of existing systems indicating the presence of any object in the vicinity. The Cycle Alert system does not just alert drivers to a potential risk in areas frequented by cyclists – it facilitates a direct warning from a cyclist straight to the vehicle driver.