Operation Atrium - cycle/HGV campaign
Operation Atrium is an on-going safe cycling campaign which is
led jointly by the City of London and the City of London Police.
Its objective is to reduce casualties in the City of London and has
been run jointly by the Road Safety Team and Temporary Sergeant
Antony Wolfson. The campaign (which is ongoing) proved to be a huge
success and won first prize at the 2009 London Transport
Awards.
Operation Atrium is delivered in a number of ways so both
cyclists and heavy goods drivers are targeted. The primary concern
for these two road user groups is that of a cyclist getting 'lost'
in the blind spot of the heavy goods vehicle, especially when the
cyclist rides up the nearside of the HGV when the vehicle is
turning left. A cyclists risk being dragged under the rear wheels
of the vehicle as the space between them reduces as the HGV turns
the corner. To help prevent this kind of accident the Road Safety
Team have carried out a number of campaigns including:
Road side campaigns - stopping cyclists and handing out safety
information and resources
- Enforcement - stopping cyclists jumping red lights and handing
out fixed penalty notices (past campaigns have also given the
cyclists the opportuntiy to have their fine rescinded if they
attend a training course).
- Presentations - visiting City businesses with a short
presentation and handing out safety information and resources.
- Changing Places - inviting cyclists to sit in an HGV
cab.
Bikeability
This is a graded training course for all cyclists from
youngsters to adults. It encourages and promotes safe
confident riding on our City roads.
The Road Safety Team offers Stage 1 Bikeability free to all the
City schools for year 5 pupils. This consists of intensive
off-road practical sessions which teaches cycle control, safe
starting and stopping, correct positioning and signalling,
awareness of other road users and safe riding through
junctions when turning left or right.
In addition to the practical element the team also teaches the
Highway Code - road signs and markings, traffic lights and
roundabouts, wearing the best gear for riding and being seen, and
the importance of the lifesaver look.
The team provides all the equipment needed, including the cycles
& safety helmets. At the end of the course all the
children receive a free ‘goody bag’ full of cycle resources to help
them ride safely, including the Arrive Alive highway code for
children book, road safety activity booklet and high visibility
leg/arm bands.
The City of London Police Cycle Team offers Stage 2 Bikeability
for the year 6 pupils. The aim is to teach the children, who
took part in Stage 1, on-road cycling skills one year
later.
The Police Cycle Team prefers the children to use their own
cycles so they are riding the correct size cycle for their own
safety; they are also given helmets and high visibility jackets to
wear. All the children’s cycles are safety-checked by the
police officers before going on-road. The pupils are taken
out in small groups with accredited trainers and extra officers are
used throughout the route at busy junctions to help with
traffic.
For further information about Operation Atrium contact PC
Stuart Ford, City of London Police
Telephone: 020 7601 2222
For further information in general about road safety
training contact:
The Road Safety Team
Department of Planning and Transportation
PO Box 270
Guildhall
London EC2P 2EJ
Telephone: 020 7332 1710
Email
plans@cityoflondon.gov.uk