Addison Lee and dead cyclists

[sp1814]

The head of Addison Lee, has angered cycle campaigners by describing deaths and serious injuries among inner-city cyclists as inevitable and primarily the fault of untrained riders.

John Griffin has ordered his drivers to use bus lanes (illegally) and will indemnify drivers against any incurred fines.

Cycle campaigners have complained, because *they* use bus lanes (legally) because they are a relatively safe part of the road.

I've always thought that it would be a good idea for cyclists to undergo some formal training before taking to the road, but has Mr Griffin gone a bit too far (full disclosure - I think he's an arrogant <insert swear word>).

http://www.guardian.c...yclists?newsfeed=true

[EvianBaby]

Black cabs are allowed to use bus lanes so it's not as if it's only buses and bikes but cyclists should all have to hold some sort of insurance and registration that requires them to partake in a basic cycle preficiency (sp) course.

[anotheoldgit]

I would have thought this matter was extensively covered under this recent thread?

/// Should cyclists be insured? ///

[chelle7272]

http://www.theanswerb.../Question1126645.html

[sp1814]

Ahhh

I bowed out of that one early...

[New Judge]

The way that some cyclists ride in the cities I’m afraid Mr Griffin is quite right. Many of them ride with scant regard for other road users. They weave in and out of traffic in a manner which, if done by a car driver of motor cyclist, would see them prosecuted for Careless or even Dangerous Driving. A friend of mine was hit by a cyclist whilst crossing Fleet Street in London. The cyclist undertook a car which had stopped at a pedestrian crossing to let her cross. She was struck full on by the bicycle, was hospitalised for ten days and took six months to fully recover. She was awarded a paltry sum by the County Court (after a long struggle) which she received at £5 per week as the cyclist, allegedly, had no means.

Whilst it is quite true that some cyclists are victims of poor driving by motorists (and of course they are particularly vulnerable in any accident situation) many cyclists escape being injured or killed because of the allowances made for them by motorists.

As to the other matter of Mr Griffin encouraging his drivers to drive in bus lanes, TfL ought to consider whether his company is a fit and proper organisation to hold a Private Hire operators’ licence.

[Zeuhl]

^^^

Yes, yes and yes

[woofgang]

what newjudge said

[emmie]

Whilst it seems tactless, he is right, though i must say in our borough it's primarily women who are getting killed, and there are any number of black spots which are very dangerous for cyclists and pedestrians. If only the d**kheads who cycle on pavements and over red lights, see how that turns people off their cause, so to speak. The council has installed at great cost endless cycle lanes, but many go unused, why? because they prefer to whizz along, in and out of traffic, ignoring all that come in their path, as to those who cycle up against high sided vehicles like buses, juggernauts, they have a death wish i am sure.

[sp1814]

I cannot stand certain *types* of cyclists (red light jumpers for instance) but what Mr Griffin was say implying is "I want my drivers to be able to use the taxi/bus/cycle lanes and if cyclists don't like it - tough").

I can't agree with that.

[emmie]

not sure i do either, The Addison Lee cabs i see are a pain in the arse..

[emmie]

they have often parked outside our property, with engines running, waiting for the victims of fashion week to emerge from their parading, enough already....

[ichkeria]

Griffin's views were comprehensively and amusingly rubbished by David Mitchell in The Observer yesterday. He's since largely backtracked, although probably only as he cab see a commercial and PR disaster brewing.

[AB Editor]

A few things, as a cyclist:

* London is a very safe place to cycle, motorists are often more aware than elsewhere because of the sheer number of bikes on the road.
* No one likes red-light jumpers or those who cycle of the pavements.
* The most dangerous cyclists are those who don't ride very often (see above point)
* The Government's (this and previous) complete failure to provide any useful and usable cycle infrastructure in this country is pathetic and encourages this kind of bad tempered argument.
* "Formal training" happens when kids are still in primary school. There's not much else to teach!

[Davethedog]

The thing about this whole situation is that it is extremely emotive, because of the fatalities, it is hard to be seen as objective if you’re commenting on someone’s death.

There is always the fact that it is seen rightly as them and us. So we have two disparate groups who both see them selves as right. As a Driver, who drives everyday in London, I must concur with New Judge.

Cyclist in the main, are their own worst enemies. There is a disregard for the rules of the road, even those that pedestrians are expected to observe. The majority of reports that I have read about cycling fatalities are that they were killed by lorries turning left, this means that the cyclist has undertaken at a junction. I have had arguments with cyclists about this, there argument is the driver should look in his mirrors, my argument is he is looking at the junction looking to his right at on coming traffic, the last place he would look is down his left had side and the cyclist should be aware of both this and that they shouldn’t undertake.

As a point, when you accuse a cyclist of breaking the rules of the road, it is never them. Never them that cycle across junctions against red, never them that weave through slow moving traffic, never them that cycle on the pavements, never them that ride at night without lights.

Final point, there is a group called Ghost Bike, who put a white painted bike at the site of cyclist fatalities. One of these bikes appeared in Greenwich Park a couple of years ago and a campaign was started by a cycling group to ban cars from the park. This persisted for a little while until someone must have pointed out, that the accident happened on the left hand side of the road and on the right hand side there was a cycle path.

[emmie]

i typed a long reply to Ab Editor, then the damn thing disappeared.
Upshot is that it isn't easy to cycle in London, i know full well, live here and cycled most of it over the years.

Second they are their worse own enemies, as has been said before, cycling up one way streets, on pavements, and over red lights.
The local traffic police were amazed at how many they caught out riding over lights, i wasn't.
There are blackspots in London for cyclists, though there are safer routes, many don't choose to use them, why i don't know, perhaps it's because they want to get to their destination quickly, but seems pointless councils spending millions on cycle routes if they are unused.

[AB Editor]

I've never seen a cycle path which can be used at any decent speed. The majority are too narrow, badly maintained and stupidly and sporadically implemented.

Actual commitment to producing quality cycle-paths and larger network routes would make everyone a little happier.

[emmie]

they might, but quite frankly i would banish many of these cyclists, our borough is now full of boris bike scheme wallies who do not have a clue how to safely ride a bike. And the cycle lanes are adequate for the roads we have, not good but this isn't Amsterdam, and never will be.