Cycling
12 April 2007
Cycling is an activity which, both as a leisure pursuit and as a means of transport, can have many benefits, not only for those who cycle, but for everyone. The board of science of the British Medical Association (BMA) has recognised this by publishing a major report on cycling:
British Medical Association. Cycling: towards health and safety. Oxford Univ P, 1992.
BMA location: BMA 649
The BMA annual representatives meeting in 1992 welcomed the report and wished to encourage safe participation in cycling by:
- urging Government to support cycling as a means of transport
- requesting Government to enforce an improved standard of lighting on bicycles
- asking Council to press British Rail to widen its provision for bicycles to be carried on passenger trains
- urging the urgent development of a network of cycle tracks
Print resources
There are three relevant BMA reports:
British Medical Association. Cycling: towards health and safety. Oxford Univ P, 1992
BMA location: BMA 649
British Medical Association. Road transport and health. BMA, 1997.
BMA location: BMA 820
British Medical Association. Cycle helmets. BMA, 1999
BMA location: BMA 1452
Other studies in medical journals focus on the health and safety aspects of cycling. These include the health benefits of cycling, the types of injuries associated with cycling accidents, especially head injuries, along with safety issues such as the use of helmets and traffic conditions.
There are many articles on the BMJ on cycling helmets, for example:
Rivara FP et al. Bicycle helmets: it's time to use them.
BMJ 2000;321:1035-1036
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/321/7268/1035
Database resources
The library's MEDLINE Plus service can be used to access Medline to search for articles relating to cycling. You need to use both bicycling and bicycle in order to retrieve all results.
Web resources
Department for Transport
Some government documents can be found at the local transport sections of the web site:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/
National Cycling Strategy
| Aims to establish a culture favourable to the increased use of bicycles for all age groups; to develop sound policies and good practice; and seek out effective and innovative means |
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control
This US site has factsheets on bicycle related deaths:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/bike/
European Cyclists Federation
Organises the Velo City conferences
http://www.ecf.com
Other organisations and libraries
British Cycling
National Cycling Centre
Stuart Street
Manchester
M11 4DQ
tel: 0870 871 2000
fax: 0870 871 2001
http://www.bcf.uk.com/
This is the UK's "internationally recognised governing body of cycle sport in BMX, Cycle Speedway, Cyclo-Cross, Mountain Bike, Road and Track." It is the governing body of cycling.
Cyclists' Touring Club (CTC)
Parklands
Railton Rd
Guildford
Surrey
GU2 9JX
tel: 0870 873 0060
fax : 0870 873 0064
email: cycling@ctc.org.uk.
http://www.ctc.org.uk/
The largest and oldest single cycling organisation in the UK with approximately 60 000 members, which represents mainly leisure and touring cyclists but also campaigns for off-road cycling access.
London Cycling Campaign
London Cycling Campaign
2 Newhams Row
London
SE1 3UZ
tel: 020 7234 9310
fax: 020 7234 9319
http://www.lcc.org.uk/
Sustrans
35 King Street
Bristol
BS1 4DZ
tel: 0117 926 8893
fax: 0117 929 4173
http://www.sustrans.org.uk/
Primarily concerned with implementing the National Cycle Network of routes as safe routes for school and leisure use.