General Chat

Oh dear I have seen someone who should be arrested by the Stupid Police this afternoon!

I work on a main road, it is an A road, it has a junction right outside where I work. The traffic can go three ways, left, forward and right.

A young lady on a bike, a really old bone-shaker, decided to go from the left, straight over to the right of the junction, because she wanted to turn right and she was in the wrong lane.

Yep, that's right, she just went, no hand-signals, no looking behind her, NOTHING.

The intake of breath from everyone who saw her was deafening!

What a silly, silly girl. How she did not go under another vehicle was nothing short of a miracle!

This video shows just how cyclists totaly ignore the fact this lorry is indicating left and then they proceed to enter his blind spot, Had that been a "large" HGV then even the cyclist in front of the vehicle would had been invisable to the driver

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leW8Mx1GciE

Roy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzL0Kyk4m-8

Roy

My son lives in Teddington, he lives close to where he works so he sold his car and used his bike to get to work, after a couple of days he realised it is safer to walk, he uses taxies for shopping and now knows how arrogant drivers are towards cyclists.
At one point he was behind a bus and waited til it moved before he moved, 5 other cyclists past on the inside of the bus, one was knocked off because the bus driver simply could not see him/her.

One problem that I see when these accidents occur is that invariably it is at a junction (left turn usually) and the cyclist was on the inside of the vehicle.

Now sad as these deaths are, why on earth are cyclists getting on the inside of these large (or any size vehicles) vehicles when they are turning. Large vehicles, especially, need space to turn, they do not leave that space for cyclists, pedestrians etc.

London's streets can be very safe for cyclists as long as they are aware of their surroundings, do not wear headphones and understand that they are vulnerable. Many behave as though they are invincible.

There are far too many cyclists on the roads now that have never had to take any instructions, read the highway code (Yes there are at least 2 pages dedicated to cyclists). And ALL road users should be insured.

Yep I know. My OH went flying when a black cab decided to turn without any indicators. Then let out a stream of abuse at him, as if it was his fault!

There has been another fatality tonight in Camberwell, and an accident in Camden.

So sad, the fatality said that the man was trying to decide whether or not to use his bike today.

The Camden accident has been taken to hospital, but the injuries are not life-threatening I believe.

Funny how some car drivers seem to think that cyclists have no right of way!

Motown gal, my o.h. had the same attitude as your hubby re the helmets, until he was hit by that car in May and went over the bonnet. He was very lucky to get away with a damaged thumb and bruises. His head was grazed when he hit the road on the other side of the bonnet of the car.

Within two weeks he had a helmet.

When I did the speed awareness course they showed a diagram which illustrated the way a driver looks out before moving on, and it shows that if a cyclist is too close to the nearside, they will be out of sightline for a driver and if he edges out too fast he could well hit the cyclist. In o.h.'s case, the chap just didn't stop, o.h. saw his lights to his left up the side road and kept thinking the car would stop before coming out but it didn't and by then it was too late for o.h. to go anywhere, the car was on him and hit his wheel with some force.
He was exercising caution - he never rides fast or with his head down, and is as in that case aware of what's going on around him, just a shame the car driver wasn't as cautious!


Lizx

As a PS to my previous post, I also think it should be part of the driving test to ride a push bike in towns for a few months.

OH does not wear a helmet either. He does wear a fluorescent jacket however. Lights are a must, with a strong beam at the front.

He thinks that some of the people who wear helmets get the feeling they are infallible in them, and they most certainly are not.

He exercises caution, stays well back, and is very well aware of his surroundings.

Most common thing to irritate him is people not indicating, and suddenly opening doors without looking.

There is a cycle path in Somers Town that seems to be protecting the cyclists from the cars with troughs of flowers. Still mystified about that one!

Careful research e.g. by TRRL (Transport & Road Resarch Labs at Bracknell) show that drivers really do not "see" cyclists and to a large extent motor bikes. That is because the driver is looking for a car/truck profile and his vision system tends to filter out 2 wheelers. That is why bikers are so against all day running lights for everybody.

That there are not a lot more more accidents is mainly because most cyclists are cautious e.g. pushing their bike through busy intersections.

Most of the cycle lanes in the UK are no more than paint jobs, offering no real protection and usually disappearing when they are needed most. The only thng they are good at is to take the cyclist out of the general traffic flow and increase, not decrease, risk to the cyclist.

Wearing helmets does not help much when being run over by a 40 ton truck or a bus.

The only real solution is to create cycle lanes physically seperated from motor traffic. This has been done in central Paris, much to the irritation of car drivers and taxis. Cycle use has risen ( central Paris is fairly flat ) but is still only a tiny part of all traffic which is suffering severe congestion as a result of the pushbike friendly policy. Tourism revenue has crashed.

I don't think the UK is going to turn its transport system upside down at huge cost to suit cyclists. A bicycle as a mode of transport is not available to much of the population in any case for one reason and another.

I go on riding pushbikes in central London mainly because it is faster and cheaqper than anything else. I don't wear a helmet or visijacket etc and have never had a scratch. I don't ride up- the blind side of heavy vehicles, attempt major junctions on 2 wheels or ride at such a speed that I could be upended at > 30mph. I don't regard the pavement as a cycle zone - nor should cars regard it as a parking zone. I allow for car and van drivers to suddenly open a door. I don't ride a £ 2000 bike that is an instant target for hoodies. And so on.

So despite the sad accidents it is really down to the cyclists to use some common sense e.g. loud music on earphones while cycling in heavy traffic is not a good survival strategy.

If the authorities e.g. Boris are not really serious about the pushbike except as PR then they should not promote it as a means of transport but leave it to the wily urban coyotes who have managed for donkey's years without the benefit of cycle super highways.

If they are serious then Andrew Mitchell MP should be made Minister of Transport.

The case for wearing cycle helmets is not clear cut - such things never are.
e.g.:
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/bike-blog/2013/jul/09/bike-blog-cycling-road-safety

I think in Australia the number of people cycling dropped once helmet wearing became compulsory - so other health benefits were lost.

I stop at red traffic lights, and have taken to shouting at cyclists who do not. I disagree that most cyclists do not stop at red lights. I have not see any cyclists texting.

I do think lights should be better, and possibly fitted to bicycles at point of sale.

Very few riders wear helmets in The Netherlands, which has an exceptionally high rate of journeys made by cyclists.

However, I do not often cycle in London, so my experience of their roads is limited.

All good advice but my o.h. was knocked off his bike last May when wearing high vis jacket and lights on his bike etc, the chap continued out of a side junction and didn't stop, said he didn't see o.h. We are still waiting to hear if he has to go to court and also o.h. has to see a specialist this Thursday to see how his thumb has mended, then we hope there will be compensation for our disappontment over our lost holiday, money for repairing bike, and clothing spoiled as well as overtime he lost from work. O.h. didn't wear a helmet but having hit his head as he went over the bonnet of the car, he realised that it was a necessity so bought one that he wears on every bike trip now. That's the only good thing about the accident.

He said the other day that a car came at him as he cycled home from work, it just seemed to expect o.h. to stop mid turn even tho it was his right of way.

He and his bike is now lit up like a Christmas tree - he has spoke reflectors and bands round his arms that light up and blink as well as lights on the bike as usual and of course his high vis jacket or rainwear.

Tragic when someone loses their life and about time cycle helmets were made compulsory with fines when not worn.

Lizx

My Husband was a Motorcycle rider instructor years ago.
The saying for the company he worked for was.
If he can't miss you he won't hit you. Meaning wear reflective clothing so you can be seen and not hit and have lights on while riding.
Pedal cyclists should have instruction and pass a test before going on the road.
And I must say I have been a cyclist, motorcyclist, now I am a car driver.

Helmets are compulsory for cyclists in Australia although you do see people riding without them. Quite often I see children with helmets dangling from the handlebars. Obviously their parents have insisted on them wearing helmets but perhaps it isn't 'cool' to wear them.

I road a motorcycle from Chelmsford to London for 18 years.
The cyclists who stopped at red traffic lights were in a minority.

I can always tell what kind of journey my OH has had coming home, with the amount of swearing he does when he first comes in! He is generally a placid kind of bloke.

He has to navigate a roundabout in North London, with five exits.

Cars deciding to suddenly turn left. Generally Yummy Mummies with their precious cargo in the back of their four by fours!

He has the opinion his life is too precious to take a chance. If in doubt, stay well behind, and look around yourself all the time.

I totally agree with MtG. Round here they all think they are Bradley Wiggins in a road race as well and ride double on narrow country lanes wobbling all over the place and preventing anything from overtaking them. We followed a farm vehicle that was behind one on the old Fosse Way a fortnight ago for over 3 miles at 10mph and with a long queue of traffic behind us. Why not hop off in a gateway for a minute or two and let everything pass? I can't believe the number of bikes without lights I've seen since the clocks changed. They ride round here holding their mobiles to their ears as well.

On a slightly different note, the roads in our local neighbourhood are plastered with 'Think Bike' signs as there are a lot of motorbikes and the Tri*mph factory is only 12 miles away. It makes me seethe when we are doing the max 60mph on a road and they fly past nearly taking the paint off your car and breaking any speed limit. No wonder they have accidents........they should be putting 'Think Car' signs up for the bikers as well! :-|

On the other hand I think the state of some of the roads is plain dangerous with potholes etc.

It seems that many cyclists are colour blind, they don't realise that the top light is red and means STOP!! and that traffic lights apply to them as well as motor vehicles

Bob

Me too Motown. many the time I have had a near miss by cyclists on the pavement and crossing the road, I have also seen a cyclist knocked off his bike when a newspaper van opened the nearside door to chuck out his delivery early one morning to a news-stand by Newgate.

The majority of the accidents that have occurred recently have been when the cyclist has been turning left and very large vehicles doing the same have not seen them.

I am NOT being a hypocrite here. My OH goes to work on his bike.

I am fed up to the back teeth walking along the pavement, and bikes rushing past me, and I can feel the wind as they past.

I always cross on the zebra, or the lights, the cars stop, and the cyclists have a look of sheer determination on their faces not to stop! And they don't.

I live near a main road, and they bomb along at night...........without lights.

Never, ever, get behind a bus, lorry, or large vehicle on the nearside. They cannot see you. Don't try and get past them, overtake, let them go. They are bigger than you!

Kids sitting on handlebars, crossbars, silly seats attached to the back of the saddles. Young blokes adjusting their hats and gloves. Some texting and scrolling throught their messages! Taxi drivers stopping and opening their doors without looking.

I have seen them all, on busy London streets.

You have to keep your wits about you everywhere, and be very aware of other road users.