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Bike Guru

Bike Gurus giving out free high-visibility tabards and fitting bikes with lights.

The Bike Guru project was a partnership between the Department for Transport, Bristol City Council and Life Cycle UK. Its unique mission was to reduce injury and death to cyclists on roads by improving their visibility and awareness of safe riding techniques. In particular we wanted to encourage people who rode at night without bike lights to change their behaviour.

Life Cycle's tream of specially trained Bike Guru's engaged local cyclists and entered into a brief discussion - cyclist-to-cyclist - on safety, their attitudes towards cycling, and present behaviour. A short survey immediately qualified them to receive a free set of bike lights and a free high-visibility tabard. They then also received a "prescription" after a free bike safety check. Six to eight weeks later they are asked to respond to a second questionnaire to find out whether their cycling style had changed.

The people who we stopped and spoke to (nearly 1,000 of them over the 6-month life span of the project) responded very positively:

• "I was very glad to be stopped by Bike Guru and I found the service Life Cycle provided to be excellent. I am more confident now when riding at night."
• “It made me a better representative of cyclists. I don't jump the lights any more.”
• "I feel much safer on my bike now and have more confidence when riding in the dark, which is most days. Many thanks”
• “We felt the scheme was very good and have all used our lights and clothing and been converted of the need for hi-vis jackets which we now wear all the time and not just in the dark.”

The Bike Guru concept is an effective way to get important road safety messages across to cyclists. It can be replicated simply and easily to cyclists in a range of settings at a low cost. If you want to know more, or if you would like us to run a similar initiative in your area please e-mail us.