The compassionate campaign for “safe” active travel across Greater Manchester

Walk Ride Greater Manchester is a group campaigning for active travel to be the natural first choice for journeys across the city region.

According to the road accident database, 34 people died in road accidents in Greater Manchester last year.

On the 24th May this year, the BBC reported a 19-year-old student was killed by a heavy goods vehicle while riding his bike along Great Bridgwater Street. How did this happen? Why are our roads designed and managed in a way that risks violent injury to normal people going about their day?

On the same day, the BBC reported another cyclist was left seriously hurt in hospital with life-threatening injuries, again from a collision with HGV, on Fairfield Street near Piccadilly Station. Each year about 350 pedestrians and cyclists are killed or seriously injured across Greater Manchester, nearly one every day. Nationally, over 1700 people a year lose their lives in crashes; 90 of those are children.

“These incidents are neither acceptable nor inevitable,” says spokesperson Will York, who’s part of the steering group for Walk Ride GM.

“At Walk Ride Greater Manchester we believe that no-one should die using our roads, whether they’re walking or wheeling, riding or driving.

“We are pleased that earlier this month Dame Sarah Storey announced that Greater Manchester Combined Authority have begun developing a Vision Zero strategy, but recent incidents show that progress on the ground is still painfully slow. We need national, regional and local authorities to get behind Vision Zero and make Greater Manchester’s roads safe for everyone.”

The campaign supports measures that have been proven to work in other cities around the world, including 20mph speed limits in residential areas, town and city centres; permit systems allowing HGVs into the city only if they meet modern vision and safety standards (London already has this); binding targets and timelines on road injuries and deaths to hold leaders accountable; and prioritising equity and community engagement.

While the Bee Network strives to transform how people get around the city region, Walk Ride Greater Manchester campaign to make walking, cycling and other active travel modes the natural choice for journeys across Greater Manchester.

Get involved

They will be holding a ‘remembrance ride’ protest tomorrow (Tuesday 20th June) – starting 6pm at Manchester Central Library and finishing sometime before 7pm with a silence honouring victims at the junction of Great Bridgwater Street and Watson Street, including the 19-year-old lost his life in May.

You can find out how else you can get involved and donate on their website