Free bike lights given out in hope they save lives

A man with a long, dark-grey beard holds two bicycle lights, one in a red shell, the other black, as he stands under a purple awning at a bicycle safety event. He is wearing glasses, a black jacket and copper-coloured woollen hat. He stands behind a table covered in bicycle repair tools. Behind him, two bikes are held up on stands. To the right, a white van is parked on black asphalt.

Mechanic Oliver Follows says it is crucial to be seen when riding a bike

Leanne Brown
Grimsby

Free lights have been handed out to cyclists to help keep them safe this winter.

Safety checks were also carried out at a number of "Doctor Bike" sessions run by North East Lincolnshire Council and the charity R-evolution, which promotes active travel.

The aim was to get bikes roadworthy and make riders visible as the darker months set in.

Councillor Stewart Swinburn, the portfolio holder for highways and transport, said: "I'm just hoping that it will save lives, and that's what it's all about."

At an event in Grimsby, trained mechanics from R-evolution handed out lights and conducted free safety checks and minor repairs.

A man with short white hair and wearing a smart blue suit smiles as he stands in a car park at a bicycle safety event. Behind him, cyclists gather around a repair stall under a purple awning. A white van with purple livery is parked next to the stall. Houses and trees can be seen in the background.

Councillor Stewart Swinburn supports initiatives to make bicycles safe

Swinburn said the free service was paid for out of the government's Active Travel Fund.

"We believe it's better to let people have free use of this facility to actually make sure their bikes are safe," he added.

"We do see a lot of people out there with no lights on their cycles, which is bad really."

Oliver Follows, the head mechanic at R-evolution, said he had a busy morning.

Repairs including changing brake pads "to make sure they can actually stop accurately" and sorting out gears that "weren't changing". He also gave out lights.

"I see so many people without lights, and it's worrying, especially if people aren't wearing bright colours," Mr Follows said. "The lights are the main thing. You need to be seen."

A woman with short blonde hair wears wide-rimmed glasses and a black coat. She is smiling and standing in front of a wide road, with a red-brick library, of an angular, modernist design, in the background.

Irene Parker says it is difficult to see some cyclists at night

Residents in Waltham voiced their concerns about cyclists without lights.

Irene Parker said: "They are in black clothing, black hoods and my friend nearly knocked someone off their bike recently."

Micheal Angus added: "Nine time out of 10, they don't wear a hi-vis, so seeing them at night is nearly impossible."

Under UK law, cyclists must use lights between sunset and sunrise. Failure to comply can result in a £50 fine.

R-evolution provides weekly repair and community services in North East Lincolnshire.

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