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London cycle fatality
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This is not the first cycle fatality and it certainly won't be the last, but should the authorties now take this opportunity to tighten up on cyclists?
Perhaps they should take on board some of Bradley Wiggins suggestions ie the compulsory wearing of crash helmets, the fitting of lights, and making it illegal to listen to iPods and phones etc while riding?
This is not the first cycle fatality and it certainly won't be the last, but should the authorties now take this opportunity to tighten up on cyclists?
Perhaps they should take on board some of Bradley Wiggins suggestions ie the compulsory wearing of crash helmets, the fitting of lights, and making it illegal to listen to iPods and phones etc while riding?
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Gromit
/// Do you not think your question is rather ridiculous. ///
My question was not as ridiculous as you have suggested, but it is ridiculous the way that you have chosen to interpret it.
This was a general question about cyclist safety highlighted by Bradley Wiggins on the recent fatality in London, and I think Mr Wiggins is much more qualified to comment on cyclist safety than either you, I or any other none professional cyclist.
/// Do you not think your question is rather ridiculous. ///
My question was not as ridiculous as you have suggested, but it is ridiculous the way that you have chosen to interpret it.
This was a general question about cyclist safety highlighted by Bradley Wiggins on the recent fatality in London, and I think Mr Wiggins is much more qualified to comment on cyclist safety than either you, I or any other none professional cyclist.
As a London driver, I feel sympathy for the cyclist but for the 2nd time this year I find myself in agreement with AoG.
Over a number of years there seems to have an "untouchable" attitude by the cycling fratenity/sorority, this has led to what our American cousins call Denial.
Most cyclist think that no matter what they do or how they do it, nothing on a bike is illegal.
I have had many conversations with cyclist about riding through red lights to be told its a "minority", now this seems an all pervading rule of thumb by them and its a patent lie. I sat at a number traffic lights on my way to work and without doubt the vast majority of cyclists went through the lights, some did stop and some of those followed the law breakers example when they went through.
I have seen cyclists come out of side roads without looking, weaving, pavement hoping, overtaking other cyclists in the middle of the road in heavy traffic, riding the wrong way up one way streets and how many go through no entrys, no left/right turns?
The is a cause celebre in London about lorrys killing cyclists, as far as I am aware none of these drivers have ever been charged, why? Because all of the cyclists come up the inside, they cannot be seen, the drivers is looking at the traffic passing the junction in front of him, he turns and the cyclist is hit, if a car could do that, the car would be at fault, no doubt, but everyone wants to blame the lorry driver.
They have a thing called a ghost bike, a bike painted white and left where the cyclist died. Some time ago one appeared in Greenwich Park and the cycling community made a huge furore about cars being allowed to drive in the park, until it was pointed out that the Cyclist died on the oppoisite side of the road to the cycle path.
Oh and Bev there have been fatalities of pedestrians hit by a bike, I take it if you come out of a shop and get hit by a bike and "only" break an arm you'll be happy with that :-)
I am not having a go at cyclists, heaven knows there are enough bad drivers, but until cyclists admit they are not blameless, there won't be a change
Over a number of years there seems to have an "untouchable" attitude by the cycling fratenity/sorority, this has led to what our American cousins call Denial.
Most cyclist think that no matter what they do or how they do it, nothing on a bike is illegal.
I have had many conversations with cyclist about riding through red lights to be told its a "minority", now this seems an all pervading rule of thumb by them and its a patent lie. I sat at a number traffic lights on my way to work and without doubt the vast majority of cyclists went through the lights, some did stop and some of those followed the law breakers example when they went through.
I have seen cyclists come out of side roads without looking, weaving, pavement hoping, overtaking other cyclists in the middle of the road in heavy traffic, riding the wrong way up one way streets and how many go through no entrys, no left/right turns?
The is a cause celebre in London about lorrys killing cyclists, as far as I am aware none of these drivers have ever been charged, why? Because all of the cyclists come up the inside, they cannot be seen, the drivers is looking at the traffic passing the junction in front of him, he turns and the cyclist is hit, if a car could do that, the car would be at fault, no doubt, but everyone wants to blame the lorry driver.
They have a thing called a ghost bike, a bike painted white and left where the cyclist died. Some time ago one appeared in Greenwich Park and the cycling community made a huge furore about cars being allowed to drive in the park, until it was pointed out that the Cyclist died on the oppoisite side of the road to the cycle path.
Oh and Bev there have been fatalities of pedestrians hit by a bike, I take it if you come out of a shop and get hit by a bike and "only" break an arm you'll be happy with that :-)
I am not having a go at cyclists, heaven knows there are enough bad drivers, but until cyclists admit they are not blameless, there won't be a change
Here is a map of every road death during the last decade. Cyclists are in green.
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The map is predominantly blue (pedestrians) and purple (drivers). It is hard to even spot a cycle death on that map. Most of the car and pedestrian deaths are due to head trauma and a helmet might have saved them. Yet you are advocating compulsary wearing of helmets for the group who least die on the roads.
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The map is predominantly blue (pedestrians) and purple (drivers). It is hard to even spot a cycle death on that map. Most of the car and pedestrian deaths are due to head trauma and a helmet might have saved them. Yet you are advocating compulsary wearing of helmets for the group who least die on the roads.
Road Deaths In 2010
Car occupant - 842
Pedestrians - 405
Cyclists - 111
Most car fatalities are due to head/chest trauma. Most Pedestrians fatalities due to head injuries. In each case, the compulsary wearing of helmets would have saved lives. Motor Racing Drivers wear them so they must work. Many cyclists do wear helmets, but it should be a choice and not compulsary as it is for car drivers and pedestrians.
Car occupant - 842
Pedestrians - 405
Cyclists - 111
Most car fatalities are due to head/chest trauma. Most Pedestrians fatalities due to head injuries. In each case, the compulsary wearing of helmets would have saved lives. Motor Racing Drivers wear them so they must work. Many cyclists do wear helmets, but it should be a choice and not compulsary as it is for car drivers and pedestrians.
Cyclists in York (which has a high percentage of cyclists) petrify me. They cycle through red lights, on the pavements, never signal and ignore you if you are signalling to turn. I've been knocked down by a cyclist and it's bloody painful. I've also had one damage my car whilst waiting at traffic lights, and just bugger off. No hope of reporting them as you can't identify them.
There are many poor cyclists, just as there are many poor drivers.
I think the traffic lights thing irritates motorists because they woyld secretly like to get away with it rather than it being unsafe. It is usually the stationary motorists who complain not the ones coming across. Pedestrians cross the road all the time during breaks in traffic so some cyclists just see it as doing the same. Not that I am excusing it, they shouldn't do it.
I think the traffic lights thing irritates motorists because they woyld secretly like to get away with it rather than it being unsafe. It is usually the stationary motorists who complain not the ones coming across. Pedestrians cross the road all the time during breaks in traffic so some cyclists just see it as doing the same. Not that I am excusing it, they shouldn't do it.
I love it - no specific details of this tragic accident have been disclosed, yet every man and his dog on here's pontificating about the ins and outs of a duck's bum of how cyclists should avoid being killed on the roads.
Who knows? The unfortunate guy might just have ridden out in front of the bus? Or the bus driver may have jumped a red light and taken the bloke out?
Let's save all the sage and 'wise words' of advice until we find out how this dreadful incident occurred, huh?
Who knows? The unfortunate guy might just have ridden out in front of the bus? Or the bus driver may have jumped a red light and taken the bloke out?
Let's save all the sage and 'wise words' of advice until we find out how this dreadful incident occurred, huh?
Let's save all the sage and 'wise words' of advice until we find out how this dreadful incident occurred, huh?
Look at AOG's firsts words ....'This is not the first cycle fatality and it certainly won't be the last'
I love it - no specific details of this tragic accident have been disclosed, yet every man and his dog on here's pontificating about the ins and outs of a duck's bum of how cyclists should avoid being killed on the roads.
So once AGAIN read AOG's first words .....
Look at AOG's firsts words ....'This is not the first cycle fatality and it certainly won't be the last'
I love it - no specific details of this tragic accident have been disclosed, yet every man and his dog on here's pontificating about the ins and outs of a duck's bum of how cyclists should avoid being killed on the roads.
So once AGAIN read AOG's first words .....
The OP is not about this specific accident, it's about the general points that Bradley Wiggins made following this specific accident:
Perhaps they should take on board some of Bradley Wiggins suggestions ie the compulsory wearing of crash helmets, the fitting of lights, and making it illegal to listen to iPods and phones etc while riding?
You can imagine what Wiggins was thinking: "All these kids and young people will be taking up cycling, at least partly because of me, and that's great. But some could be killed or injured, because cycling can be dangerous, and that would make me feel bad. I owe it to them, if they're taking up cycling because of me, to point out the dangers and how to be safer and more responsible. And here's a cyclist killed on the very evening I get my Gold medal, and killed by an Olympic bus. What better opportunity for me to speak out?"
Whether or not those were his thought processes, I agree with what he came out and said. He should know what he's talking about.
Perhaps they should take on board some of Bradley Wiggins suggestions ie the compulsory wearing of crash helmets, the fitting of lights, and making it illegal to listen to iPods and phones etc while riding?
You can imagine what Wiggins was thinking: "All these kids and young people will be taking up cycling, at least partly because of me, and that's great. But some could be killed or injured, because cycling can be dangerous, and that would make me feel bad. I owe it to them, if they're taking up cycling because of me, to point out the dangers and how to be safer and more responsible. And here's a cyclist killed on the very evening I get my Gold medal, and killed by an Olympic bus. What better opportunity for me to speak out?"
Whether or not those were his thought processes, I agree with what he came out and said. He should know what he's talking about.
already been mentioned. But first things first, get them all to take a cycling proficiency test, maybe then many will be able to see the difference between green and red traffic lights.
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