Airbag "helmet" for cyclists

An interesting idea

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencete...rash-hats.html

Two Swedish students have designed a revolutionary airbag for cyclists that
remains completely hidden away when it is not needed - but springs into
action in the event of an accident.

The inflatable device is stored inside a durable collar that is worn by the
cyclist at all times. Abnormal motion triggers the mechanism which inflates
a hood-shaped helmet in a split second (0.1 second, to be precise) thrusting
it up out of the collar and over the wearer's head.

By the time the cyclist hits the floor, their head is entirely protected,
surrounded by the asphalt-proof nylon hood.

Read mo
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencete...#ixzz1thRBCyGB

33% of cyclists/drivers say that high fuel costs have made them use
their cars less, so Osbourne's tax rises are having the desired effect
so it seems.

QUOTE:

One in three cyclists in Southampton says that they have increased
their levels of cycling during the past three years due to increased
petrol prices, according to a major survey conducted by the University
of Southampton on behalf of Southampton City Council.

Although it was not revealed how many of those cyclists had started
riding a bike to reduce their use of a car, two thirds of respondents
said that they are cycling more, with health and enjoyment also cited
as reasons for doing so.

The survey, to which 1,300 cyclists responded after 3,700 packs were
handed out to cyclists at 61 key locations throughout the city, is
described as one of the largest of its type ever undertaken in the UK
and will help Southampton City Council formulate its future cycling
policy.

It also found that 41 per cent of cyclists said that they had been
involved in “an accident” while riding in Southampton, although only
15 per cent of those incidents were reported to the police.

Dr Julia Branson of the University of Southampton’s GeoData Institute,
which conducted the research, said: “The survey data not only shows us
the routes people are using in Southampton and at what volume, but
also people’s habits and opinions in relation to cycling. This will
help the city council to develop its cycle strategy for the future.

“The most frequently used routes in the city are between the
University of Southampton Highfield campus and Southampton General
Hospital, and between the city centre and the Common, along the route
of the Avenue.”

Other key findings included that 73 per cent of respondents were
travelling to work and 16 per cent to the university itself, with half
of those who completed the survey stating that they used their bikes
between 8am and 9am.

Average journey time was most likely to be less than half an hour,
cited by 80 per cent of participants, and a little more than half of
journeys were no more than three miles. More than three quarters of
respondents said they use their bike four or more days each week.

While 56 per cent of the cyclists questioned said that they only ever
use a bike on their journey, 20 per cent said that they sometimes used
a car.

The principal safety concern among the cyclists who took part in the
research was “drivers not paying attention,” while one in three
believes that off-road cycle lanes would improve conditions for
cyclists, ahead of on-road ones and better maintained roads. Secure
cycle storage, especially in the city centre, was also a feature
called for by respondents.

Frank Baxter, Southampton City Council’s Travel and Transport Manager,
Frank Baxter, commented: “Cycle use is increasing in the city and we
want to encourage it. This research has provided us with a really
useful insight into what cyclists want and need. We are now using it
to plan new high quality cycle routes and other facilities.

“The survey has let us know where cyclists feel most vulnerable on the
road and we will also be looking at how we can make these locations
safer”.

A summary of the findings from the survey, together with maps based on
the data collected, can be found on the Southampton City Council
website.

http://road.cc/content/news/57424-ri...on-says-survey

--
Simon Mason

On 02/05/2012 10:06, Simon Mason wrote:
33% of cyclists/drivers say that high fuel costs have made them use
their cars less, so Osbourne's tax rises are having the desired effect
so it seems.

QUOTE:

One in three cyclists in Southampton says that they have increased
their levels of cycling during the past three years due to increased
petrol prices, according to a major survey conducted by the University
of Southampton on behalf of Southampton City Council.

Although it was not revealed how many of those cyclists had started
riding a bike to reduce their use of a car, two thirds of respondents
said that they are cycling more, with health and enjoyment also cited
as reasons for doing so.

The survey, to which 1,300 cyclists responded after 3,700 packs were
handed out to cyclists at 61 key locations throughout the city, is
described as one of the largest of its type ever undertaken in the UK
and will help Southampton City Council formulate its future cycling
policy.

It also found that 41 per cent of cyclists said that they had been
involved in “an accident” while riding in Southampton, although only
15 per cent of those incidents were reported to the police.

Dr Julia Branson of the University of Southampton’s GeoData Institute,
which conducted the research, said: “The survey data not only shows us
the routes people are using in Southampton and at what volume, but
also people’s habits and opinions in relation to cycling. This will
help the city council to develop its cycle strategy for the future.

“The most frequently used routes in the city are between the
University of Southampton Highfield campus and Southampton General
Hospital, and between the city centre and the Common, along the route
of the Avenue.”

Other key findings included that 73 per cent of respondents were
travelling to work and 16 per cent to the university itself, with half
of those who completed the survey stating that they used their bikes
between 8am and 9am.

Average journey time was most likely to be less than half an hour,
cited by 80 per cent of participants, and a little more than half of
journeys were no more than three miles. More than three quarters of
respondents said they use their bike four or more days each week.

While 56 per cent of the cyclists questioned said that they only ever
use a bike on their journey, 20 per cent said that they sometimes used
a car.

The principal safety concern among the cyclists who took part in the
research was “drivers not paying attention,” while one in three
believes that off-road cycle lanes would improve conditions for
cyclists, ahead of on-road ones and better maintained roads. Secure
cycle storage, especially in the city centre, was also a feature
called for by respondents.

Frank Baxter, Southampton City Council’s Travel and Transport Manager,
Frank Baxter, commented: “Cycle use is increasing in the city and we
want to encourage it. This research has provided us with a really
useful insight into what cyclists want and need. We are now using it
to plan new high quality cycle routes and other facilities.

“The survey has let us know where cyclists feel most vulnerable on the
road and we will also be looking at how we can make these locations
safer”.

A summary of the findings from the survey, together with maps based on
the data collected, can be found on the Southampton City Council
website.

http://road.cc/content/news/57424-ri...on-says-survey

--
Simon Mason


--
Dave - Cyclists VOR. "Many people barely recognise the bicycle as a
legitimate mode of transport; it is either a toy for children or a
vehicle fit only for the poor and/or strange," Dave Horton - Lancaster
University

On Wed, 2 May 2012 02:06:51 -0700 (PDT), Simon Mason
wrote:

The survey, to which 1,300 cyclists responded after 3,700 packs were
handed out to cyclists at 61 key locations throughout the city, is
described as one of the largest of its type ever undertaken in the UK

So they carried out a survey of pushbike riders and a third of them
responded and said they rode pushbikes a bit more than they used to.
That is really exciting.

Nearly a half of the third who responded also said they had been
involved in an accident while cycling which rather contradicts the oft
made claim that cycling is incredibly safe.

one in three believes that off-road cycle lanes would improve conditions for cyclists,

A pity that this goes against the perceived wisdom of the governing
Lycristas to whom separated lanes are an affront to the maintenance of
momentum. The mandatory use of segregated lanes would make life
better for cyclists, pedestrians and motorists but is an anathema to
the likes of the CTC who want cyclists to have priority over everyone
else in all places always.

On 02/05/2012 23:10, Peter Parry wrote:
The mandatory use of segregated lanes would make life
better for cyclists, pedestrians and motorists but is an anathema to
the likes of the CTC who want cyclists to have priority over everyone
else in all places always.


Strange that they don't want priority when it comes to paying for these
privileges though.



--
Dave - Cyclists VOR. "Many people barely recognise the bicycle as a
legitimate mode of transport; it is either a toy for children or a
vehicle fit only for the poor and/or strange," Dave Horton - Lancaster
University

On May 2, 11:10*pm, Peter Parry wrote:
On Wed, 2 May 2012 02:06:51 -0700 (PDT), Simon Mason

wrote:
The survey, to which 1,300 cyclists responded after 3,700 packs were
handed out to cyclists at 61 key locations throughout the city, is
described as one of the largest of its type ever undertaken in the UK

So they carried out a survey of pushbike riders and a third of them
responded and said they rode pushbikes a bit more than they used to.
That is really exciting.

Nearly a half of the third who responded also said they had been
involved in an accident while cycling which rather contradicts the oft
made claim that cycling is incredibly safe.

one in three believes that off-road cycle lanes would improve conditions for cyclists,

A pity that this goes against the perceived wisdom of the governing
Lycristas to whom separated lanes are an affront to the maintenance of
momentum. *The mandatory use of segregated lanes would make life
better for cyclists, pedestrians and motorists but is an anathema to
the likes of the CTC who want cyclists to have priority over everyone
else in all places always.

I am not one of those cyclists, Peter.
I use off road cycle paths and cycle lanes all the time, in fact, it
was a shock when I was in London the other day to see Euston Road
having a cycle lane.

It was the double yellow lines :-/

--
Simon Mason