Londoners urged to keep their eyes and ears on the roads: cycle safe advice

CYCLISTS across London are being encouraged to be more vigilant, and to look after their sight and hearing to ensure they remain safe on the Capital’s busy roads.

Whilst there has been a decrease in motor vehicles on the London roads during the pandemic, there has been a 46% rise in bike use and a 40% increase in fatalities among cyclists . Now with new changes to the Highway Code giving cyclists greater priority when travelling ahead at junctions this autumn, it’s important that they remain vigilant to the traffic around them as they come into effect.

This Cycle to Work Day (6 August) Specsavers clinical services director Giles Edmonds, and chief audiologist Gordon Harrison, are offering advice to ensure that our eyes and ears are helping us to stay safe on our commute and in our leisure time.

Wear wraparound sunglasses: ‘Wraparound sunglasses can help protect eyes from the wind and reduce tear evaporation,’ says Mr Edmonds. ‘They can also protect eyes from dust and pollen and other debris, which can cause discomfort and distraction while cycling. Sunglasses not only help to protect your eyes from the sun but they can also help to reduce glare to avoid you squinting while on the road.’

Check your prescription: ‘It’s so important to make sure that you have regular eye checks in case your prescription changes,’ says Mr Edmonds. ‘It is vital that you are wearing up-to-date specs or contact lenses to stay safe and keep vision clear.’

Try contact lenses: ‘Contact lenses are great for those who are active,’ says Mr Edmonds. ‘Your optometrist will be able to help find the most comfortable lens for you. Daily contact lenses are a great option – plus they won’t get in the way of helmet wear.’

Have a backup: Mr Edmonds says: ‘It’s a good idea to have a back-up pair of specs or contact lenses with you while out on the road, in case you lose a lens or your frames are damaged.’

Check your hearing: Mr Harrison says: ‘Just like having good vision on the roads, it is really important that you have good hearing too, so make sure you make an appointment to see an audiologist if you suspect you’re suffering from any degree of hearing loss. Good directional hearing is so important when on the road, especially when on a bike and it is vital that you’re able to hear the traffic all around you to detect any signs of danger before you may be able to see them.’

Don’t listen to music: ‘It is also important that you’re not distracting yourself by listening to music while on the road,’ says Mr Harrison. ‘If you must wear headphones, make sure that they aren’t noise-cancelling so you can still hear the traffic around you as well as notice any changes to the smoothness of the functioning of your bicycle.’

Stay visible: ‘One of the most important pieces of advice for cyclists is ensuring that they are visible to other road users,’ says Mr Edmonds. ‘High-vis items of clothing as well as lights and reflectors on the bike will really help make riders as safe as possible.’