BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news

Check out the BikeBiz.com calendar for 2005. From the Single Speed World Championships to the Tour of Britain. From the World Cyclo Cross Championships to the full range of NPS races in 2005. From Paris-Roubaix to the SPEZI show in Germany. From VeloCity in Dublin to the London to Brighton Cycle Ride. From the 92nd Tour de France to the CycleFeast tour in Northumberland. And from EICMA Milano to IFMA, Köln. Trade dates to race dates, they are all here...

A new report from the UK's Transport Research Laboratory claims that previous European statistics relating to the death and injury of 'Vulnerable Road Users' have been seriously underestimated due to under-reporting. The report shows that 12 400 cyclists and pedestrians are killed by cars each year in the European Union. Cycle helmet compulsionists will latch on to these figures as 'proof' cyclists need to be forced to wear helmets when, in fact, this is 'victim blaming' and what would save many more lives would be campaigning to make car makers produce 'softer' cars and local authorities create safer streets...

...to the turkey-quaffing American readers of BikeBiz.com>>>>>

...getting hit by: The Audi A6, any in the BMW 5-Series, the Citroën C5, the VW Touareg, the Ford Focus, the Fiat Panda, and many more. By 2005, European Standards will formalise 'Vulnerable Road User' safety features on cars. However, results from the latest Euro NCAP tests, revealed at a press conference in Madrid today, show that no car currently meets the 4-star rating for protecting pedestrians and cyclists.

Unless there's a late surge for electricity or a sharp rise in votes for vaccination, the bicycle is streets ahead in the online poll being conducted by The Times. The poll closes today, with the result published in Saturday's newspaper.