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| The scheme will see fire crews patrolling areas of north-east and west London next spring and summer to identify fire hazards |
Cycle Experience, part of the TTC Group road safety organisation, has provided training for London firefighters as part of a pilot scheme to expand the London Fire Brigade's use of bikes.
The scheme will see fire crews patrolling areas of north-east and west London next spring and summer to identify fire hazards such as abandoned cars and fly tipping, which will be removed to cut down the number of opportunist fires. They will also ride to business and residential properties to check fire equipment and carry out normal fire prevention duties.
Firefighters have been trained in safer cycle skills from Cycle Experience's regional co-ordinators Jon Pook and Ian Ramsay with their teams of instructors holding a series of cycle training sessions at Barking and Feltham fire stations over the past two months. All crews received Bikeability Level 3 safer cycling awards.
"We hope to reduce opportunist fires by removing rubbish and other potential fire hazards and cycling was felt to be one of the most efficient uses of transport," said a spokesperson from London Fire Brigade.
"Bikes provide a level of freedom and agility, which will enable us to keep our area safe as we will be on the lookout for fire hazards. Our firefighters' safety is of utmost importance to us, hence the decision to get professional training in line with national standards."
Cycle Experience's London regional co-ordinator Ian Ramsay said a number of UK fire and rescue services had implemented the cycle training initiative.
"Delegates from our training sessions found the Bikeability course very informative and the level of knowledge provided by our instructors on cycling safely on the road, extremely useful."
