Safety fears go up a gear for cyclists

Ferry Road, the scene of a hit-and-run earlier this year, tops the list as the street where cyclists are most likely to be injured.

There were 11 accidents involving cyclists there in the past year, two of which resulted in serious injury. The figures include a hit-and-run in February, which left 38-year-old nanny Seria Ullah needing plastic surgery for serious facial injuries.

In total, there have been 259 accidents across the Capital in the 12 months to April, with Lothian Road, Leith Street and Leith Walk among the worst blackspots. Of those, 201 resulted in some form of injury – a 15 per cent rise on the figure for the previous year.

There were two fatal accidents, including that of scientist Dr Iain Wilson, 35, who was killed in April last year when his bike collided with a lorry at the junction of Nicolson Street and West Richmond Street.

But while the number of roadworks on the city's streets might be seen as a possible hazard for cyclists, in fact they can actually make roads safer by slowing traffic.

Inverleith councillor Tim McKay, whose ward includes Ferry Road, said speeding motorists posed the greatest danger. He said: "I am a cyclist myself, so I know there are inconsiderate motorists out there. That said, there are also inconsiderate cyclists, who can be quite dangerous.

"On Ferry Road there's quite a big stretch from Inverleith right along to Crewe Toll where it's open road and people tend to go too fast. It can also be quite difficult for pedestrians to cross and I have supported attempts to get a traffic island installed there."

The city's transport convener, Councillor Phil Wheeler, said the council was working hard to reduce the number of accidents.

He said: "More and more people are choosing to cycle in Edinburgh and long may it continue. Proportionately, cyclists are less likely to be involved in an accident than they were ten years ago but every accident is one too many.

"Last year, the council invested 380,000 on several cycle projects. This year, we will continue to invest in high quality cycleways, with a further 130,000 being made available."

Areas associated with the tram works or where traffic diversions have been brought in, including Haymarket and Charlotte Square, also feature on the list.

But a spokesman for Edinburgh-based cycling lobby group Spokes said evidence from elsewhere had shown a fall in the number of accidents as more people took up cycling. He said: "The numbers are still small and the information we get from elsewhere is that the proportion of accidents decreases dramatically as the number of cyclists goes up, because other road users learn how to treat cyclists properly."

A police spokeswoman said: "By always wearing a helmet and high-visibility clothing, you are doing all you can to make other road users aware of your presence."

DESPERATE TO GET BACK IN SADDLE DESPITE HORRIFIC HIT-AND-RUN

SERIA ULLAH underwent plastic surgery and an operation to have two permanent titanium plates fitted to her face after being knocked off her bike by a hit-and-run driver in Ferry Road.

The 38-year-old nanny, who also had temporary splints fitted into her mouth after losing a number of teeth, is still recovering from her ordeal, but is keen to get back on her bike.

"I would be back on my bike today," she says, "but my teeth still hurt and it's sore when they are exposed to the wind. My friends think I'm mad, but I love cycling and I won't let somebody else put me off doing something I love."

Seria, who has little memory of February's accident, faces yet more surgery to mend the damage caused to her teeth.

"I got two plates in my face – one went just below my hairline and the other in my cheek. The second operation was much worse than the first. Afterwards, I felt like someone had sat on my face and wouldn't get off. The swelling is going down now, but I still have swollen lips.

"I don't want anyone to be put off cycling. It's just that some other road users are not as careful as they should be. Since my accident, a lot of friends have told me that they have become more aware of cyclists and try to keep their distance. Not all cyclists are angels, we are like any other road users. But I wish the government would do more to protect us."