“Jersey-fied” online safety book for cyclists

Monday 23 June 2014

A Jersey police officer has written his own online cycling safety book to help people pedal their way through the Island’s unique Highway Code.

The Force’s Road Safety Officer Philip Blake decided to write his own “Safe Cycling E-book” to make it more relevant to Jersey's roads and include the Island's green lanes and yellow lines - which cyclists elsewhere don't have to think about.

The e-book covers topics such as cycle maintenance, lights, signals and road positions using graphics, texts and photographs.

It’s been launched to coincide with UK national “Bike Week” and the “Jersey Cycle Challenge”.

Philip Blake said: “It is a free resource available to anyone that wants to learn to cycle safely, or someone that is perhaps returning to cycling after a break and wants to brush up their knowledge a little. It may also help visitors wanting to make sure they understand some of our unique bits of Highway Code. It was primarily written for young people going through the Bikeability courses, but I hope anyone of any age will be able to get something from it.’

“We have been able to ‘Jerseyfy’ the book a little, by adding in bits about things like yellow lines and green lanes that are only applicable here on the island. It has also given us the flexibility to add information that becomes relevant and make any necessary changes as Bikeability develops.”

The ‘Safe Cycling E-book’ is available online and can be downloaded free from the Road Safety Website http://jerseysaferoads.com/cycling/ or from the States of Jersey Police website www.jersey.police.uk/be-safe/road- safety/cycle-safety/