Traffic and travel

This section offers some general tips on how to keep yourself safe and secure when you're making a journey - either catching a bus or taxi, or when you're in the car. Use the links below to fast-track to a specific travel section.

• Public transport
• Driving
• Taxis
• Public terminals
• Cycling

Public transport

• As with everything, you are safest where there are other people, and where it is well lit
• Plan your route
• Try to wait in busy or well-lit areas
• Sit near other people, the driver if you are on a bus, or near the conductor if you are on a train
• Move if someone makes you feel uncomfortable.

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Driving

• Keep your car in good condition and try not to run out of petrol
• Keep doors locked when driving and keep bags, phones and other valuables out of sight, preferably in the boot
• Try to park in well lit or busy areas, and if you park during the day, think about what the area will feel like after dark
• Some car parks have 'Secured car park' accreditation. Find out which ones do locally and try to use them - look out for the 'Secured car park' sign or visit www.securedcarparks.com
• If you break down on the motorway, follow the arrows to the nearest phone. Do not cross the carriageway. Wait outside your car (as far away as possible from the carriageway) unless you feel threatened, in which case you should sit in the passenger seat
• Do not give lifts to or accept lifts with people you do not know, or do not know well
• Do not drive if you have been drinking or taking drugs, and do not take a lift from someone who has
• You may feel more comfortable carrying a mobile phone with you. Try to keep it out of sight, and do not use it while driving.

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Using taxis at night

City of London Police and the Met's Sapphire Team Issue Safety Advice to Members of the Public Using Taxis at Night.

• Always get a black cab or pre-book a car through a licensed minicab operator
• Carry the phone number of a minicab company you've used before and trust
• Check that the minicab you ordered is the one you get into
• Check that the driver has been given your name and destination by his operator
• Always sit in the back and carry a mobile phone
• If you have a problem with the driver of a black cab, make a note of the number on the white plate inside the cab and report it to police or the Public Carriage office
• If you have a problem with a minicab driver remember the car's make and number and report it to police.

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Marshalled taxi rank at Liverpool Street station

Get home safely after a night out in the City by using the marshalled taxi rank based at Liverpool Street station.
Funded by the City of London Safer City Partnership and supported by Transport for London and City of London Police.

It aims to help workers and visitors in the City get home safely. Many people were finding it difficult to get a taxi home due to a trend among taxi drivers to only take passengers whose destination was on the driver's way home. It meant that passengers were being turned away - particularly those trying to go elsewhere within central London.

The Safer City Partnership employs two marshals - both of whom are licensed taxi drivers - to manage the taxi rank near Liverpool Street Station (at Great Eastern Hotel). They manage the taxi rank from 10pm until 2am on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights, supported by officers from City of London Police. Any black cab can then join the queue for fares, but only if they agree to take the passenger wherever they want to go.

It has proven very successful with thousands of people taking advantage of the scheme. Taxi drivers have also benefited, previously they said they had avoided Liverpool Street as it was difficult to get parked. With the introduction of the marshals that has now changed and there's the added benefit of the marshals being on hand to assist with drunk- would-be passengers as well.

Assistant Commissioner Frank Armstrong, City of London Police, said:
' The City of London Police is constantly working to make sure that members of the public are able to travel safely to and from the City.
' The taxi marshalling scheme helps ensure that people are taking licensed cabs, from a safe area outside Liverpool Street station.
'Overall I am very keen that wherever you travel in London you are safe.'

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Safe and Confident Cycling

The City of London promotes safe, confident cycling and recognises that cyclists have the same rights as motorists on our streets. Equally, cyclists share the responsibility of all road users to adhere to traffic laws and to show consideration to others.

There is more to safe cycling than helmets and hi-visibility jackets. Good positioning, awareness and communication are essential for safe cycling. The City promotes Cycle Training to help cyclists to develop these skills.

Positioning:

• Ride away from the kerb, not in the gutter and keep well away from parked cars. Drivers tend to leave you the same room on your right as you leave for yourself on your left
• Ride in the stream of traffic when you can match its speed, or when you need to avoid car doors or are passing side roads
• At junctions position yourself in the middle of the traffic lane, whichever direction you are taking
• When approaching a side road on the left make sure that you are not positioned on the inside of a vehicle that may turn across your path.

Awareness:

• Think ahead and anticipate the movements of other traffic, especially at junctions and side roads
• Be alert to where other road users may come from-in particular look out for pedestrians who may step into the road
• Make sure you are aware of what is happening all around, including behind you-always look back before changing position on the road, even for small manoeuvres.

Communication:

• Use road positioning, hand signals and eye contact to communicate your intentions to other road users
• Looking behind you makes drivers see that you are aware of them and also indicates to them that you might be about to change position
• Look behind before signalling.

Equipment:

• Make sure your bike is well maintained with regular servicing
• Check your brakes regularly and keep your tyres inflated to the correct pressure
• You must have front and rear lights for cycling at dusk and at night and at any time or location where visibility is poor
• If you wear a helmet, make sure that it is fitted correctly. A helmet should fit snugly around the head, be horizontal and cover the forehead. The straps should be done up tightly around the chin.

Adult Cycle Training

The City of London provides subsidised adult cycle training to all those who live, work or study in the Square Mile. One-to-one training is offered for all levels, including those who have never ridden a bike before, and can be arranged to take place near the workplace, home, along the route from home to work or at any convenient location.

For more information or to book a lesson call Cycle Training UK on 020 7231 6005 quoting your City postcode, or visit www.cycletraining.co.uk/.

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