Hello. I am posting this here as well as in the 'help' section. It will soon be the fifth anniversary of the death of Zhi Min Soh after her accident on Princes Street on 31st May 2017. I would like to mark this in some way and am looking for other interested people. Jodi Gordon from Cycle Law Scotland (who supported the family with their law suit against Rabbie's Tour company) has been in touch with the family and they are more than happy for something like this to go ahead. I am open to ideas. Maybe a minute's silence and flowers, maybe something on a larger scale? What do you think?
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Events, rides etc.
May: 5th Anniversary event for Zhi Min Soh - help required
(23 posts)-
Posted 2 years ago #
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I’m assuming it will be hard to attract as many people as 5 years ago.
If that is the expectation it might not be worth planning to block the intersection as was done before (agreed/facilitated by the Police).
UNLESS it’s thought that the investigation, prosecution, remediation processes (or lack of) need highlighting 5 years on.
I hope someone has some understanding of ‘where things are’ and what has/hasn’t happened and can put the info here.
There have been various threads on here mentioning ‘progress’ or suggesting improvements to the road layout (etc.), would be good to have the latest info and see if any questions still need to be asked or fingers pointed about the circumstances of the DEATH of someone riding a bike, or Edinburgh infrastructure generally.
I’m not suggesting a ‘5 year anniversary remembrance’ isn’t enough, but there may be an opportunity to highlight/raise awareness of specific or general issues.
On a related note, have “ghost bikes” gone out of ‘fashion’?
Posted 2 years ago # -
The fatal crash was identical in causal factors to that of Roger de Klerk in Croydon in November 2013, turning across tram tracks with a bus driver so close behind that she failed to stop and ran over him, just as the Rabbies driver did with Zhi Min Soh. I suspect that the CCTV from the Lothian Buses vehicle travelling behind and impounded at the crash scene provided significant detail here, with lessons
With minimal damage to the mini-coach it was clear that Zhi Min Soh was on the ground when she & her bike went under the wheels
Work by Chris Oliver in Edinburgh, and others in Toronto, has clearly shown that at least 50% of falls crossing tram tracks have the 'presence' (ie threat) of the driver of a motor vehicle distracting the cyclist's focus or modifying their course/speed to create the loss of control - I know this from personal experience at Haymarket when a bus driver cut me off and the front tyre dropped into the groove as I crossed the rails too slowly, and let the front wheel turn. 70% of falls are when the front tyre 'drops' into the groove like this
One really interesting detail was the rapid roll-out of signs and instruction to bus drivers not to drive close to cyclists crossing tram tracks, showing an evidence based response to eliminate what has been identified as a major cause of cyclist falls. This is an interesting and welcome sign that the hazards had been identified and action taken to remove or reduce them, action in this case that is rarely delivered so quickly and well focussed.
There remains the detail that the large gap under the front of many trucks and several types of bus with nothing to deflect a victim clear of going under the wheels (with axle loads of up to 9 Tons likely to cause very serious if not fatal injuries)
Lessons learned and acted on, or have we made minimal progress?
I suspect that a fatal crash at a level crossing near Doncaster had similar factors causing the cyclist to lose control and be hit by a car driver (arrested & charged)
Posted 2 years ago # -
Thanks for those comments, chdot. Yes, initially I was thinking of something with a more protest angle because I am angry that it's still very dangerous at that junction. (I do not know of any plans, but it has been 5 years!) Initially I was thinking of drastic things like people laying on the road just with red stripes on them as if red stripes make much difference to the situation, but when people reminded me about the family I felt that might not be appropriate as a memorial. Maybe there should be two separate events or parts to an event - a respectful memorial and an angry protest. Yes, please, if anyone knows more about the council plans please tell us.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Posted 2 years ago #
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Thanks Frenchy.
Please all come to show your respect but also to tell the council that this junction is still dangerous.
Posted 2 years ago # -
6pm, 31st May, at her ghost bike on Rutland Place (Shandwick Place/Prince's Street/Lothian Road junction).
Posted 2 years ago # -
“at her ghost bike“
Must admit, didn’t realise it was still there.
Is it in good/clean condition?
Posted 2 years ago # -
I sprayed it again the other week, but this was while it was still chained to the railings, so it wasn't great coverage. It's a bit whiter than it had become, but certainly not like when it was first put there. Not a complete answer, sorry.
Posted 2 years ago # -
That’s as complete as is necessary!
Posted 2 years ago # -
In Scotland we have Fatal Accident Inquiries, called by PFS rather than inquests overseen by Coroners. Usually Inquests roll through in 1-3 years, often delayed by criminal proceedings taking place before the Inquest
Even in normal times an FAI can take 5 years to be heard - we've heard nothing per Zhi Min Soh
Edinburgh clearly has done an investigation (required per Section 39.3.1 RTA 1988) and taken action to prevent a repeat of the tragedy (Section 39.3.2) But nowhere has this been shared or have other cities with trams delivered similar measures
Surely as a recognition that her death has shown the changes that are required to stop this happening a third time, and this message should be in the public domain, not in an unpublished report?
Posted 2 years ago # -
“should be in the public domain, not in an unpublished report?“
Most definitely.
Otherwise seems like a ‘cover-up’ (not just this case).
In addition process (and how far it’s got) should be ‘transparent’.
What’s the problem??
Posted 2 years ago # -
FoI requests to the appropriate bodies? Not something I have any experience of doing, unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately.)
Posted 2 years ago # -
Interesting that it wasn't investigated by the RAIB whereas trams hitting people has been. The difference is obviously that it was an interaction with the infrastructure of a rail system that was involved, not the vehicles themselves.
I wonder if they would investigate a death on a level crossing in similar circumstances (like what could have happened in Garve) or, say, a rail worker coming to significant harm by their foot getting trapped in some points? I'm sure I've seen investigations about people getting electric shocks from overhead lines, which seems to be in a similar category.
Posted 2 years ago # -
RAIB likewise didn't investigate the Croydon tram crash in 2008 as it was deemed to be a road traffic collision, when a bus driver misread traffic signals altered one day earlier (but not properly risk assessed) and ran into a tram, derailing it and sending it down a hill to crash into a shop. However their general report remains the only publicly available summary, with no detail of any investigation by Croydon Council (the Roads Authority) or TfL the client and head of the chain of command for bus and tram operations
The bus also crashed into a shop and passenger on the top deck was ejected through a side window and fatally injured. The RAIB note highlighted the hazard of using toughened glass in the side windows of buses and trams, a detail that has cost lives, both in the Sandilands tram crash 8 years later, and several coach roll-overs where passengers have been thrown out through side windows that have disintegrated, including the Natex 592 coach on the Heathrow-Glasgow service
RAIB also declined to investigate the 2013 death of Roger de Klerk, identical in many respects to that of Zhi Min Soh, plus a train-cyclist collision on a level crossing near Wem a few years ago
Its also VERY curious that no references were made to the tram-cyclist collision near the Edinburgh Park Central Tram Stop, and a close call on the section near Sighthill/Saughton in the RAIB report on the fatal crash near Saughton tram stop (where a signal controlled crossing of the busway with a 10mph speed restriction was converted to an open crossing of the tram track with trams running at full line speed.
RAIB also declined to investigate the fatal crash at Botany Bay LX near Newark between a car driver & cyclist on the level crossing, which has all the indications that it 'matched' the same details at Roger de Klerk and Zhi Min Soh's crashes, with the car driver arrested (CDDD)
This leaves us with the detail that Section 39 is a law not fit for purpose as it effectively lets a Roads Authority mark their own homework when it comes to RTC and taking action to prevent further identical crashes. The prospect of a Highways AIB keeps getting kicked down the road, although with restored powers on transport our MSP's could deliver for Scotland where the laws can enable this. Likewise a point to press on Council election candidates - we want transparency in your Section 39 delivery, and with properly qualified investigators delivering the reports
Posted 2 years ago # -
Might I suggest that discussions about cause, investigations and corrective action be put in a specific thread? Perhaps even the original one? This thread was meant to be about the anniversary event itself.
Posted 2 years ago # -
“Might I suggest … “
That’s reasonable, but (I think) part of the reason for this event is concern about the lack of (apparent) progress on ‘what happened’ PLUS a concern to minimise chances of similar happening in future.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I'm siding with chdot on this one - 5 years & not a hint of an FAI, and no published detail on the causal factors which clearly prompted the appearance of the 'Edinburgh' special tram signs, and I believe briefings for bus drivers
Add to this Chris Oliver's research and this is detail which needs to be applied to the other tram systems in the UK
Zhi Min Soh was the second cyclist to die with this sequence of events, in the space of just 4 years. We need to make sure a further serious or fatal crash does not happen because those lessons have not been addressed
Posted 2 years ago # -
FB event now up: fb.me/e/2xGAPmGVB
if you're on FB please 'invite' people who may be interested, sign up to attend if you can, etc
Posted 2 years ago # -
I've just signed a letter supporting the CEC funding bid to improve the junction where Zhi Min Soh died (and the wider Lothian Road corridor). I am frustrated it has taken this long (5 years, 2 months, 23 days), but this is a big & very welcome step forward.
https://twitter.com/cllrscottarthur/status/1562035652404953093
Five years on and funding now being applied for.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Who is it the Councillor is frustrated with? Why did it take this nameless organisation five years to apply for funding? What did the Councillor do to speed things up?
Posted 2 years ago # -
He's been a member of the TEC since mid-2017, so he can hardly pretend to have been uninvolved.
Presumably <1% of the cost to CEC of creating a new cyclist blender at Picardy Place would have made significant improvements for cyclists at W End and elsewhere. Priorities?
Posted 2 years ago #
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