london - Six cyclist dead in two weeks
24 November 2013, 06:58 PM
#182
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Fair enough but in my immediate area, cycle paths are constructed using red tarmac with white bikes painted on them at regular intervals, likewise the black tarmac has pedestrians painted on. Quite a few walkers can't seem to get the message and stick to their designated area.
Nik
Nik
Footpaths cycleways where walkers share the space with cyclists it is the other way round where cyclists have to take greater care. When I cycle round Rutland water I share the paths with walkers, dogs, sheep. I ring my bell to make walkers aware of my presence, if they make way I go through and thank them. If they don't hear me I slow down until I can get round. Once a person gets in a steel box their mentality changes. I must confess I have had times where I have behaved poorly to other road users.
Having started riding a motorcycle a few years back and cycling regularly in the last year I have become very tolerant and considerate to other road users, especially those who don't drive cars.
It would really give everybody a new or lost empathy for cyclists if they had to ride a bike for a few days around where they live.
Having started riding a motorcycle a few years back and cycling regularly in the last year I have become very tolerant and considerate to other road users, especially those who don't drive cars.
It would really give everybody a new or lost empathy for cyclists if they had to ride a bike for a few days around where they live.
24 November 2013, 08:41 PM
#183
i dont have a problem with overtaking cyclists , its the old dears that are too scared to overtake anything than usually sit behind , holding up everyone else at a bicycle pace on a ROAD. I bet any cyclist , that if they were in a car being held up by anything , they would be pissed off. If it was me , using ANY vehicle and holding people up , i would move over a few times . I definitely wouldnt have the attitude that "i have every right to be here" no mater what vehicle i was using.
25 November 2013, 08:27 AM
#185
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25 November 2013, 09:51 AM
#186
I cycle regularly though not in London it is a busy rush hour. I also drive the same route regularly depending my work activities.
I do try to obey the rules of the road using both methods. When cycling I am kitted out, hat, lights, bell, bright clothing (though no lycra :-) ). I see other cyclists where I am, also acting properly/kitted out.
I've not caused any problem holding people up (though I do occasionally have to go past slower cyclists, so 2 abreast!), but for this I will have looked over my shoulder and made sure there was a gap. And do not RLJ and or ride in an antisocial manner. I try to use eye contact, to make sure they know I am around and signal etc.
As far as I know I've not put myself into any dodgy situation, yet I still get to work in a good time (many days cycling is faster than car over the last few miles). So I'm not doddering.
However I have been pulled out on several times and had to swerve. There was nothing I could have done to predict this or avoid it. I don't quite understand why. 99% of the time people trying right out of a T junction will stop and wait for me. But the other 1% I know see me, but still pull out. So I remain wary of every T junction now.
So my view is that if you stick to the rules of the road (whatever mode of transport) then you'll be OK. If you don't then the cyclist will come off worst. So it's up to the cyclist to be aware of that and adjust as we're not going to get some people to change their driving "skills".
I do try to obey the rules of the road using both methods. When cycling I am kitted out, hat, lights, bell, bright clothing (though no lycra :-) ). I see other cyclists where I am, also acting properly/kitted out.
I've not caused any problem holding people up (though I do occasionally have to go past slower cyclists, so 2 abreast!), but for this I will have looked over my shoulder and made sure there was a gap. And do not RLJ and or ride in an antisocial manner. I try to use eye contact, to make sure they know I am around and signal etc.
As far as I know I've not put myself into any dodgy situation, yet I still get to work in a good time (many days cycling is faster than car over the last few miles). So I'm not doddering.
However I have been pulled out on several times and had to swerve. There was nothing I could have done to predict this or avoid it. I don't quite understand why. 99% of the time people trying right out of a T junction will stop and wait for me. But the other 1% I know see me, but still pull out. So I remain wary of every T junction now.
So my view is that if you stick to the rules of the road (whatever mode of transport) then you'll be OK. If you don't then the cyclist will come off worst. So it's up to the cyclist to be aware of that and adjust as we're not going to get some people to change their driving "skills".
25 November 2013, 10:18 AM
#187
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I cycle regularly though not in London it is a busy rush hour. I also drive the same route regularly depending my work activities.
I do try to obey the rules of the road using both methods. When cycling I am kitted out, hat, lights, bell, bright clothing (though no lycra :-) ). I see other cyclists where I am, also acting properly/kitted out.
I've not caused any problem holding people up (though I do occasionally have to go past slower cyclists, so 2 abreast!), but for this I will have looked over my shoulder and made sure there was a gap. And do not RLJ and or ride in an antisocial manner. I try to use eye contact, to make sure they know I am around and signal etc.
As far as I know I've not put myself into any dodgy situation, yet I still get to work in a good time (many days cycling is faster than car over the last few miles). So I'm not doddering.
However I have been pulled out on several times and had to swerve. There was nothing I could have done to predict this or avoid it. I don't quite understand why. 99% of the time people trying right out of a T junction will stop and wait for me. But the other 1% I know see me, but still pull out. So I remain wary of every T junction now.
So my view is that if you stick to the rules of the road (whatever mode of transport) then you'll be OK. If you don't then the cyclist will come off worst. So it's up to the cyclist to be aware of that and adjust as we're not going to get some people to change their driving "skills".
I do try to obey the rules of the road using both methods. When cycling I am kitted out, hat, lights, bell, bright clothing (though no lycra :-) ). I see other cyclists where I am, also acting properly/kitted out.
I've not caused any problem holding people up (though I do occasionally have to go past slower cyclists, so 2 abreast!), but for this I will have looked over my shoulder and made sure there was a gap. And do not RLJ and or ride in an antisocial manner. I try to use eye contact, to make sure they know I am around and signal etc.
As far as I know I've not put myself into any dodgy situation, yet I still get to work in a good time (many days cycling is faster than car over the last few miles). So I'm not doddering.
However I have been pulled out on several times and had to swerve. There was nothing I could have done to predict this or avoid it. I don't quite understand why. 99% of the time people trying right out of a T junction will stop and wait for me. But the other 1% I know see me, but still pull out. So I remain wary of every T junction now.
So my view is that if you stick to the rules of the road (whatever mode of transport) then you'll be OK. If you don't then the cyclist will come off worst. So it's up to the cyclist to be aware of that and adjust as we're not going to get some people to change their driving "skills".
25 November 2013, 10:32 AM
#188
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I saw 3 cyclists on my way home on Friday . 2 riding on the pavement and 1 with a bag full of shopping in his left hand in no control of his push iron what so ever
25 November 2013, 12:39 PM
#190
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However I have been pulled out on several times and had to swerve. There was nothing I could have done to predict this or avoid it. I don't quite understand why. 99% of the time people trying right out of a T junction will stop and wait for me. But the other 1% I know see me, but still pull out. So I remain wary of every T junction now.
25 November 2013, 02:28 PM
#191
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. Forgot to mention all 3 had hi viz clothing but no helmets , speaking of helmets they were all male . In case you want to put any statistics together
25 November 2013, 02:57 PM
#193
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25 November 2013, 03:07 PM
#194
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Or perhaps it’s me missing the point and this is an attempt at humour...sorry I don’t find six people suffering a horrible death whilst cycling to work in the least bit amusing.
25 November 2013, 04:18 PM
#195
However I have been pulled out on several times and had to swerve. There was nothing I could have done to predict this or avoid it. I don't quite understand why. 99% of the time people trying right out of a T junction will stop and wait for me. But the other 1% I know see me, but still pull out. So I remain wary of every T junction now.
I think its because they are shocked or think I'm some sort of nut-job...I commute about 25 miles a day in London all told but will never go up the inside of a lorry unless it is totally stationary in traffic & even then warily. I also tend to go the outside, not the inside, of slow moving traffic, much the same as if I were riding a bike. I find it much safer.
There are nobber drivers/riders/cyclists/pedestrians everywhere, you just have to be aware for them and look after yourself. I do it assertively and if someone toots because they can't undertake the car in the outside lane doing the same speed as me because I refuse to ride in the gutter on a 2-lane road, then I DGAF
I do despair at RLJ'ers though as they are asking for trouble. Had some numptie on a Boris bike this morning severely jump the lights going across 3 lanes of traffic that had just started pulling away - he missed me by a foot
Invariably the RLJ'ers are slow and get overtaken further up the road as well, so what is the point of risking your life in that manner?May have been said before but less cyclists been killed in London this year than pedestrians, by far
25 November 2013, 05:47 PM
#196
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So riding on the pavement and cycling with a shopping bag(s), are fatal mistakes, are you being deliberately obtuse or are you really that dumb...?
Or perhaps it’s me missing the point and this is an attempt at humour...sorry I don’t find six people suffering a horrible death whilst cycling to work in the least bit amusing.
Or perhaps it’s me missing the point and this is an attempt at humour...sorry I don’t find six people suffering a horrible death whilst cycling to work in the least bit amusing.
Last edited by Puff The Magic Wagon!; 25 November 2013 at 06:24 PM.
25 November 2013, 09:29 PM
#198
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26 November 2013, 11:46 AM
#199
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http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloa...ondon-2012.pdf
26 November 2013, 12:19 PM
#200
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People dying is not a good thing, no matter what form of transportation they happen to be using, but the cycling safety thing is used as an excuse for people like you to have a moan because you don't like them...as Puff says there have been more pedestrian deaths in the City than cyclists, take a look at last year’s stats.
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloa...ondon-2012.pdf
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloa...ondon-2012.pdf
26 November 2013, 12:25 PM
#201
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That is my point...despite how bad any loss of life is given the number of successfull jounrneies completed by bike this is not a significant issue. It's just a chance for those who don't ride\understand to have a bitch...
26 November 2013, 12:29 PM
#202
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Yeah it's mostly an excuse for entrenched sides to have a go at each other.
26 November 2013, 12:45 PM
#204
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People dying is not a good thing, no matter what form of transportation they happen to be using, but the cycling safety thing is used as an excuse for people like you to have a moan because you don't like them...as Puff says there have been more pedestrian deaths in the City than cyclists, take a look at last year’s stats.
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloa...ondon-2012.pdf
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloa...ondon-2012.pdf
Quite interesting reading that, It would be interesting to see how many of those incidents had one or more smart phones involved
26 November 2013, 01:30 PM
#205
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wish people would quit wittering on about helemts for push bikes...hi-viz, reflectors and lights yes, but helmets no.
http://www.ctc.org.uk/campaign/cycle-helmets-evidence
http://www.ctc.org.uk/campaign/cycle-helmets-evidence
It's been the law for cyclists to wear helmets in Oz for a while now. I cannot understand why you wouldn't, same as putting seat belt on whilst driving.
I don't think i have heard of anyone being put off driving due to increased risk perception after wearing a seat belt became mandatory.
26 November 2013, 03:34 PM
#206
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It's been the law for cyclists to wear helmets in Oz for a while now. I cannot understand why you wouldn't, same as putting seat belt on whilst driving.
I don't think i have heard of anyone being put off driving due to increased risk perception after wearing a seat belt became mandatory.
I don't think i have heard of anyone being put off driving due to increased risk perception after wearing a seat belt became mandatory.
26 November 2013, 04:10 PM
#207
It gives a disproportionate illusion of safety versus the protection it gives.
26 November 2013, 07:36 PM
#209
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James Cracknell might disagree.
From what I've read the city fatalities have involved lorries and as such a helmet won't be of much use when the rest of the body is being crushed.
Nik.
From what I've read the city fatalities have involved lorries and as such a helmet won't be of much use when the rest of the body is being crushed.
Nik.
27 November 2013, 02:36 AM
#210
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I'm not for or against it, I just don't have a choice!
Don't get me wrong, i'm under no illusions. A helmet is only going to help if you happen to sustain a blow to the head in an accident.
As has been mentioned, it won't do a bloody thing when you're crushed under a truck!
I am coming from a road cycling perspective, I don't commute by bike nor ever really ride in the city. I guess cycling out in the country over here is a fair bit quieter than the roads in England