There is potentially good news for cyclists in York as it becomes the first city in the world to fit their buses with Cycle Alert, a cycle specific detection system. As of October 10, cyclists will be able to use the Cycle Alert tags – available to students via the Union shop and to York cyclists at getcycling.org.uk – to alert bus drivers to cyclists that enter their proximity .

What is Cycle Alert?

This innovative system addresses the issue of increased incidents between cyclists and vehicles on the road. Cycle Alert is a cyclist specific system, unlike some others on the market. The way it works is this:

Cycle Alert has three elements:

• A tag that is fitted to the bicycle (or worn by a cyclist on their person or helmet)
• Sensors that are fitted to the HGV or other vehicle and a cab-mounted device to alert the driver.
• The three units work in sync to form a communication network between all parties, alerting the driver – with maximum advance notice – of a cyclist in proximity.

Cycle Alert also claims to evade the “white noise” issue of other systems indicating the presence of any object in the vicinity. The Cycle Alert system does not just alert drivers to a potential risk in areas frequented by cyclists – it facilitates a direct warning from a cyclist straight to the vehicle driver.

How the Cycle Alert came about

Cycle Alert’s co-founder and the system’s innovator, Peter Le Masurier, came up with the idea after learning about the considerable impact of truck-cycle road accidents.

He said: “Cycle Alert empowers cyclists to make themselves more obvious to HGV drivers. I was inspired to develop this technology when I listened to an interview with a truck driver who have been involved with an accident with a cyclist – I recognised then that not one, but two families are left devastated by such incidents.”

Cycle Alert understands that drivers and cyclists will need to engage with the product to have a real impact on road safety. The system has also received approval from two of the leading names in the haulage industry. Eddie Stobart and Keltbray are both early supporters of the scheme and the Met Police have demonstrated Cycle Alert in all its recent “exchanging places events” as part of its cyclist road safety programme.

Although designed initially with HGVs in mind, Cycle Alert can be used by all vehicle users, with a view to making the roads a safer place.

Cycle Alert in York

Cycle Alert has been launched in York in partnership with The University of York, City of York Council and Transdev Unibus. This is the first city to introduce cyclist alerts to its inner city buses.

Fiona Macey, Travel Plan co-ordinator at the University of York, said: “We are thrilled to be working in partnership with Transdev Unibus and the City of York Council to be the first UK city to pioneer the use of Cycle Alert on our University bus fleet. The University is committed to promoting sustainable modes of travel and Cycle Alert will be a huge benefit to our cyclists and city wide.”

For more information see  www.cyclealert.com.