What's Happenned To Cycling In This Country?

[ToraToraTora]

http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/10575685.UPDATED__Man_released_on_bail_as_girl__9__critically_injured_in_hit_and_run_is_named_as_Leila_Crofts/?ref=mr
Has someone got to die before we start enforcing the law? Riding over crossings, through red lights, on the pavement by default, it seems, is it time to get tough?

[sandyRoe]

You can't legislate for stupidity.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/speeding-cyclist-killed-teenage-girl-317113

[sfby]

There's nothing in this news story to indicate any of the above. Leaving the scene of the accident is pretty reprehensible, but until the investigations are concluded I can't see how you can allocate blame.

[ToraToraTora]

Let's start prosecuting them then, 9/10 cyclists I see are now on the pavement. Let's clamp down. When I was growing I we where taight to ride properly on the road. what ever happenned to that? It's so bad nowe that foriegn students think you must ride on the pavement!

[themorrigan]

Nothings happened to cycling in this country, its just become more popular, so the percentage of idiots versa sensible riders has risen. Living in the country the bane of our life are middle-aged lyca clad cyclists who descend in groups and insist on biking three abreast around lanes that are hardly wide enough for one vehicle. When you pip your horn to pass they give you the V sign, then if they are ever in a collision its always the drivers fault. Its inconceivable however to think a bike could smash into a pedestrian who would not give way. There must surely be a back story to this?

[AB Editor]

A lot of people have picked up riding since the olympics last year - it has caused many problems in the cycling community, even if it is better to have more people in the sport...

For example, the beginning of this year's racing season was apparently a bloodbath with loads of cyclists who don't know how to ride close to one another/ride at speed causing terrible accidents. This has been such a problem that British Cycling have enforced a rule which now only allows club members to enter sportifs. This will probably hurt cycling in 5 years time, but is completely necessary - this is an attempt to legislate for stupidity.

Would something similar at a national level be effective? Maybe - but it's likely that this kind of outlier case would continue.

Sadly the article doesn't describe the collision - I suppose because they don't know. What was the Au Pair up to?

Also, a side note, that is a really tatty bit of writing from the Bournemouth Echo!

[bazwillrun]

"9/10 cyclists I see are now on the pavement"

kids yeah, proper cyclists use the roads

[AB Editor]

Actually, I did see a lot of silly riding at a charity event the other week - people with enough money for a £1000 bike, but not enough sense to not ride on the pavement back from the "race".

If there's only room for one vehicle Morrigan then there's no room for you to pass safely. Sounds like you should wait.

[mikey4444]

We don't know enough of the facts to come to any conclusion as to the guilt or not of the cyclist. Perhaps the little girl ran out into the road without looking ? Not sure why there are people here on AB that want to hang, draw and slaughter road users before any investigation or court case has proceeded.

[ToraToraTora]

sfby, she was on a crossing, he's been charged and released on Bail.

[Octavius]

Cyclists have the same rights on the road as other drivers, I see some terrible cyclists on my commute, and equally see some feckless drivers squeezing past cyclists through the smallest gaps just to get ahead of them, often on blind bends or just swervig on the wrong side of the road.

Not sure that we can comment much on this story with the information available, but presume with equal rights comes equal laws and accountability and like drivers, cyclists will soon need insurance to cover damage/injury to a 3rd party or ......go to jail / lose their house.

[ToraToraTora]

No baz mostly grown ups.

[AB Editor]

One option would be to make British cycling membership a requirement: http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/membership - this offers some insurance.

[baza]

child injured , rider leaves scene, what an ar******, no matter who was at fault, it took him until the next day to man up.

[AB Editor]

Still - it doesn't stop things like this happening.

[Octavius]

"In 2007, cyclist Peter Messen – who killed a pedestrian while riding on a pavement in Cornwall at 25mph – escaped with 300 hours of community service."

"In 2009, cyclist Darren Hall was jailed for seven months after admitting ‘wanton and furious driving causing bodily harm’ when he struck and killed an 84 year old man, after jumping on to a pavement to run a red light."

[ToraToraTora]

leaving aside this paricular incident, the law breaking is just endemic, many's the time I've felt like giving them a Yoko Geri Kekomi as the silly ar5ses pass me on the pavement. Before some pedantic eejit says it I'm talking about grown ups not 3 year olds on steadying wheels!

[themorrigan]

Ab Editor why should I wait? If the cyclists went single file then most vehicles could overtake safely on these particular roads. If you see two motorbikes riding side by side one will drop behind the other if there is traffic behind as will some (not all) horse riders -why should bikes be able to ride three abreast?

[Mammar]

My daughter, a keen London cyclist, used to wear a helmet cam and record bad drivers, cyclists and pedestrians alike.
As she says, 'I value my life too much to sneak down the side of buses and lorries or jump lights on red to gain a few yards.' It doesn't, however, offer her insurance against other mindless/careless road users.

[AB Editor]

I don't know any clubs which ride three abreast - so that is unusual. The reason they ride two-abreast is because it's easier to overtake one shorter car-width shape than one lorry length but motorbike width shape.

You should wait because it might not be safe.

"If the cyclists went single file then most vehicles could overtake safely on these particular roads."

From both directions?

They have no reason to trust that you're a safe enough driver, especially at that proximity. That is why they make you wait. They have as right to the road as much as you do.

[Gromit]

Of course a cycling hit and run is very very rare. I cannot recall another case. Motorists however are responsible for about 150 incidents a year.

So if action is urgently needed, it should be against motorists not cyclists.