CYCLE SAFETY
Too close
for comfort
The Metropolitan Police
is continuing to run a
cycling safety operation
to highlight the dangers
faced by cyclists as a
result of motorists driving
too closely to them,
reports Philip Brent.
O
peration ‘Close Pass’
has been taking place in
the borough since last
summer and involves plain
clothes police officers out on patrol on
bicycles to spot dangerous driving.
The officers on bikes will
target random locations at
any time to identify drivers
who do not allow enough
tor y at
the full s
d
a
e
R
room when overtaking
o.uk /
wsextra.c
cyclists, or follow too
ealingne
ass
/close-p
issued with a Traffic
closely behind, or carry
features
Offence Report.
out unsafe turning by
Councillor Bassam
overtaking and then turning
Mahfouz, cabinet
left or right across a cyclist’s
member for transport,
path. The recommended safe
environment and leisure, said: “As a
clearance is one-and-a-half metres.
cyclist myself, I know how important
If the officers spot an offence they
it is to feel safe when on the roads
report it to uniformed officers on
and I hope it will be reassuring for all
motorbikes. These will then find the
driver and give them the opportunity to cyclists and road users that police are
have an on-the-spot awareness session. actively looking for drivers who drive
dangerously and recklessly. The council
If they turn this down, they will be
is to undertake a cycle safety review of
the borough and is pushing for more
operations like this across the borough
to tackle dangerous driving.”
The council wants to help more
residents to take up cycling because it
is great exercise and reduces pollution
and congestion. For information
about the support available, including
free lessons and free Dr Bike cycle
maintenance sessions, visit
www.ealing.gov.uk/cycling
around ealing February 2018
23