With Thanks to Island Echo
‘THINK BIKE’ AWARENESS CAMPAIGN GATHERS PACE WITH NEW SIGNS ERECTED
An important message to motorists to think about cyclists and motorcyclists when travelling on the Island’s roads is being reinforced, thanks to the installation of new ‘Think Bike’ signs. A total of 10 signs have been erected on key routes in the Newport, Cowes and East Cowes areas thanks to the advocacy group CycleWight. It was around 2 years ago that CycleWight’s Peter Dyer first saw similar signs in Portsmouth and the New Forest, prompting an idea to explore the options for erecting safety signs here on the Island. In recent years there have been a number of serious and fatal collisions involving bicycles and motorcycles, prompting an extra need for an awareness campaign. Working with the Isle of Wight Council’s roads safety officer, Lewis Campbell, CycleWight was able to develop the initiative and gain sponsorship from cross-Solent ferry operator, Red Funnel. After receiving approval from both the Department for Transport and the local authority, the first signs were erected near the GKN roundabout in East Cowes back in May last year. Now, thanks to the continued support of Red Funnel, slightly larger signs have been put in place on the approaches to Whippingham Roundabout, as well as at the cycle crossing on Fairlee Road and on approaches to Somerton Roundabout in Cowes. There is strong support for the rollout of further signs to other areas on the Island, with CycleWight now seeking further sponsorship from local businesses.