http://m.scotsman.com/edinburgh-evening-news/transport/video-edinburgh-cyclist-hit-by-van-1-2956910
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Cycling News
"Video: Edinburgh cyclist hit by van"
(10 posts)-
Posted 12 years ago #
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as previously discussed here http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=10284
Posted 12 years ago # -
"Ian Maxwell of cycling campaign group Spokes said the video was evidence that the speed limit in urban areas of the city should be reduced.
He said: “Making 20mph the normal maximum speed in built-up areas and enforcing that limit would mean that collisions like this would be less likely and the consequences less severe.”"
Argh! Did he watch the video??? The van was stopped, waiting to turn into the junction, and pulled across in a clear SMIDSY - this was one case where being able to travel at 30mph had precisely nothing to do with the incident!
Yes, urban streets should be 20mph, but I think it harms the argument if something completely unrelated to the speed limit is held up as somehow 'proving' that the speed limit is too high.
Posted 12 years ago # -
From the end of that article:
"BROWN SAYS ‘NO’
Transport Minister Keith Brown has told MSPs he will not back proposals for a law designed to protect cyclists. "
Posted 12 years ago # -
My word, the comments... Yep, you guessed it, the collision was the cyclists fault because he didn't take avoiding action. Oh. My. Word.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Bl*** H*** is the scotsman coming over all pro-cyclist? 0.0
Posted 12 years ago # -
“Making 20mph the normal maximum speed in built-up areas and enforcing that limit would mean that collisions like this would be less likely and the consequences less severe.”"
yeah, I guess this is doesn't make so much sense. Although it's maybe an example of how a low-speed collision isn't as bad :) And I'm really really for 20mph blanket across cities (with walking-speed on quieter residential roads).I think it could have helped (at least if it had been me) - but maybe not in the way expected: I find when I cycle on roads I feel the urge to go a bit quicker - makes passing parked cars easier, filtering, generally being part of the 'traffic-flow'. If the speed limit was less I'd need to go at less of a clip which would make any future collision less likely and less bad. [and unrelated to the video: slower speed limits will mean people will have less urge to over-take the cyclist - if it's already a slow road already]
Posted 12 years ago # -
What I can't understand is why the commenters think he didn't brake?
Looks like he was going about 20mph, and the wide angle lens makes the van appear further away then he is (he's on it in no time after you first see it). There's just no way he didn't brake - but seriously, seriously, how on earth can this be the cyclist's fault?
Reasons give:
The cyclist didn't brake
The cyclist looked over his shoulder so clearly wasn't paying attention (erm, maybe he had someone just behind and was making sure they weren't going to overtake given there was a van in the middle of the road ahead)
The sun was low so will have been blinding the driver (oh come on, really, so if you can't see you just trust to blind luck and go?)Also mentioned that this wasn't a deliberate action (i.e. he didn't try to hit the cyclist) which is likely true; but this actually suggests that the commenters think, therefore, that negligent driving (not looking properly and simply going when not sure if the road is clear) is okay.
To misquote HG Wells - "Every time I see an adult knocked off a bike I despair for the future of the human race"
Posted 12 years ago # -
It's also 'normal' for vehicles to start turning across you even before you've passed because you are on a 'narrow' bicycle.
Therefore seeing a vehicle starting to pull across your path parhaps doesn't always ring as many alarm bells as it should.
Posted 12 years ago # -
It was a horrible impact and I was just happy to see that the cyclist wasn't badly hurt, although very shaken. If you were being hyper critical you could site his shoulder check that close to the junction as not being helpful but we don't know what was behind him and also he was going to overtake the bike in front of him in about 5 seconds so needed to make preparations for that but clearly the van driver just didn't see him or for whatever reason thought he could cut in front. I have absolutely no clue what he or any other cyclist is supposed to do however when a van just drives into you, do we just cycle slower and brake at every junction?
Posted 12 years ago #
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