Saturday, February 07, 2009

Just a thought, but maybe you should consider NOT BIKING in snowstorms and icy conditions?

UK - Government urged to show some grit
He wants to see extra help for cities like Cambridge, where dozens of cyclists and pedestrians have been hurt in accidents since snowstorms and icy conditions gripped the area.
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"Cambridgeshire has already spent more than £1 million on gritting this year. Due to the national shortage of rock salt, Cambridgeshire could not now grit all cycle paths across the county without a knock-on effect, meaning fewer roads would be gritted - a lose-lose situation.
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"We desperately want to grit more, including cycle paths, especially as we are now a cycle demonstration town authority."

A major row about gritting has erupted in Cambridge since the cold snap began.

City councillor Margaret Wright has claimed that many cyclists had suffered broken bones and other injuries after slipping on black ice on Riverside and in other locations.
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Cllr Sian Reid, who is the city council's executive member for climate change and growth, said: "Officials look at the five-day forecast during wintry weather to look at whether surface temperatures are unlikely to rise above freezing point for the period, at whether ice is forecast and conditions continue until after midday on any individual day - and whether there is enough salt to grit roadways.

"Only once these boxes have been ticked can the gritting of cycleways and footpaths be considered.
"This is absolute madness. We are putting people's safety at risk."

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