自行车道路安全

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　　Neil: Hello. In this programme, we look at a story in the news and teach you some new vocabulary and expressions along the way.

　　Jennifer: In this episode², we’re going to be talking about cycling and how to keep safe on the road. Do you cycle, Neil?

　　Neil: Yes I do. I use my bike to commute³, or travel to work. It’s quite a long journey, but it’s much cheaper than taking the Tube or the train. What about you, Jen?

　　Jennifer: Well I’ve just bought a folding bike - that’s a bike that you can take apart, fold up and carry if you don’t want to ride it. For me, it’s a good way to get fit.

　　Neil: A folding bike is very handy⁴. But they are very expensive.

　　Jennifer: You can hire bicycles for short journeys in London. It leads me on to today’s question.

　　Neil: OK, what is it?

　　Jennifer: A record number of bikes were hired on one day during the London Olympic Games in 2012. But how many times were bikes borrowed on this day? Was it:

　　a) 15,000

　　b) 31,000

　　c) 47,000

　　Neil: Well, those are all very high numbers, but I'm going to guess c) 47,000.

　　Jennifer: We’ll find out if you’re right at the end of the programme. So, let’s go back to our story about cycling. We’ve said that the advantages are that it is a good way to get fit and a cheap way to travel. But, are there any disadvantages?

　　Neil: I suppose that it can be a dangerous way to travel if you're cycling in a city centre, especially in heavy traffic. Heavy traffic means lots of cars or other vehicles on the road.

　　Jennifer: Many cyclists now wear helmet cameras - a device⁵ attached to their cycling helmet - so that they can film people who drive dangerously.

　　Neil: Listen to this clip⁶ of London cyclist Ben Porter⁷. Why did he start using a helmet camera?

　　Ben Porter, cyclist

　　I first got the camera because I’d had trouble convincing friends and family of what actually happened on the roads, and I’d thought that having a camera and footage would be a good way of explaining what it’s like to be a cyclist on the road. I always saw it as some form of insurance and it did feel like, as a cyclist, I didn’t have as much behind me as, say, a car driver with an insurance company.

　　Jennifer: So, that was cyclist Ben Porter. He said he thought that having a camera and footage would be a good way to explain what it’s like to be a cyclist on the road.

　　Neil: Footage is what a video camera records. When the camera is attached to your head, the footage shows the journey from your point of view.

　　Jennifer: Ben Porter gave another reason why he started to use the camera. Did you hear what it was?

　　Neil: He said it was a form of insurance. That means it gives the cyclist a form of protection.

　　Jennifer: Let’s hear that clip of Ben again. Listen this time for the words ‘footage’ and ‘insurance’.

　　Ben Porter, cyclist

　　I first got the camera because I’d had trouble convincing friends and family of what actually happened on the roads, and I’d thought that having a camera and footage would be a good way of explaining what it’s like to be a cyclist on the road. I always saw it as some form of insurance and it did feel like, as a cyclist, I didn’t have as much behind me as, say, a car driver with an insurance company.

　　Neil: So, Ben got the camera so that he could show what it’s like to be a cyclist on the road, and also to protect himself from blame if there was an accident.

　　Jennifer: Having a camera can give you peace of mind - it can make you feel safer in terms of the law - but it can’t stop you from being hit by a car. How do you think cyclists could be safer, Neil?

　　Neil: I think that both cyclists and drivers need to pay attention to The Highway Code⁸. The Highway Code is a list of rules that drivers and cyclists must obey - or do. How do you think cyclists could be safer?

　　Jennifer: I think it’s important to be visible⁹ - for other road users¹⁰ to know you’re there. Many people wear fluorescent¹¹ clothing which is very bright and reflective…

　　Neil: And don’t forget - a helmet could save your life!

　　Jennifer: Time now to get the answer to the quiz. I asked how many bicycles were borrowed on one day in London during the 2012 Olympics. Was it:

　　a) 15,000

　　b) 31,000

　　c) 47,000

　　Neil: And I guessed c) 47,000.

　　Jennifer: And you were right!

　　Neil: Aha!

　　Jennifer: On that day alone, bikes were hired 47,105 times.

　　Neil: Well, that is a lot of cycling. There must have been lots of tired people in London that day.

　　Jennifer: I’m sure! Do join us again for another edition of 6 Minute English from BBC Learning¹ English. Bye!

　　Neil: Bye!

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