Doug wrote:
That's what it says in this Times article;

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/com...cle6828120.ece

And it also says:

"...According to their research, cyclists are at significantly more
risk of being hit by cars on roads that include cycle lanes.

I don't think that is a new idea, various other research shows the same.

On
average, an overtaking car will pass 18cm closer to a bike in a cycle
lane than it would to a bike with which it was merely sharing a road.
That is roughly the distance that your pedals stick out from your cog.
Do bear in mind that you also have elbows...

This is not well written. He is writing one thing, but implying another.
18cm closer than (e.g.) 118cm is 100cm, not 18 cm.


....And yet, throughout our cities, provision for cyclists remains
perfunctory at best, and lunatic at worst..."

What is lunatic is after reading research that shows "cyclists are at
significantly more risk of being hit by cars on roads that include cycle
lanes." He then goes on to suggest that we need more lanes and facilities.

Martin.