I have recently posted up some thoughts on cycling safety, any comments?
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!
A few thoughts on cycling safety
(22 posts)-
Posted 14 years ago #
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very sensible
Posted 14 years ago # -
I may have a bias, (two people I know, both competent cyclists, have been involved in very serious accidents), and I agree with your statement that cycling is a safe mode of transport, but I would include a section about dealing with HGVs.
I now tend to adopt an ultra-cautious approach at or approaching junctions with these vehicles, as in this factsheet (pdf). I think with lorries, the usual rule of 'fostering a mutual respect between cyclist and driver' breaks down, as the lorry driver may always claim that they didn't see you in the first place. I think part of the problem is with mirror regulations and HGV driver training and these should be given more attention, but in the meantime I think lorry-specific advice should be flagged up.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Is there an equivalent sheet for 'Lorries and cyclists'? This one appears to be written simply for cyclists. Lots of good points, and I am sure that driving a vehicle like this is difficult, but surely there is no excuse for vehicles not signalling? These are professional drivers after all.
Posted 14 years ago # -
OK, I have added to the things cyclists should not do: "attempt to filter up the left hand side of long vehicle waiting at road junctions, even if the driver is not signalling left."
Posted 14 years ago # -
I like it, the filtering up the left comment is very worthwhile as almost everyone who dies, seems to be killed this way. Ditto not riding close to the side of the road or weaving in and out of parked cars.
Good work!
Posted 14 years ago # -
Contrary to press reports, I am not convinced that all, or even most, of those hit by HGVs were filtering up the left. Certainly the one person I know how it has happened to was not, he was gutter hugging. Which is why I advocate cycling at least 80-100cm out from the side of the road.
Posted 14 years ago # -
You're correct, sorry, I should have said, 'was killed on the left of an HGV' but not made it sound like they were doing something wrong. Sloppy word choice on my behalf.
Posted 14 years ago # -
There was one particular case in London where a young woman had been killed by an HGV while she was on the left of it. The MET used her name, and an image of her magled bike, as part of a campaign aimed at stopping cyclists going up the left of HGVs (which is laudable, and correct advice).
Except the CCTV footage showed that the HGV had overtaken her and then left hooked her. Nothing she could do. The family, naturally, were rather upset by the MET's use of her name.
Posted 14 years ago # -
This is one of the problems, there is now an urban myth that male cyclist are less likely to hit at traffic light controlled junctions because they jump the red lights. What is really happening is the female cyclist as less likely to get into the primary position at junctions and so are more vulnerable.
Overall, male cyclist (particularly young males) are more likely to be involved in collision because they are more likely to take risks, no surprise there.
Posted 14 years ago # -
Think bike!!
Posted 14 years ago # -
The sad thing is that 70 people a year are killed by drivers driving on the pavement.
Posted 14 years ago # -
I'm sure I read about another example in London where the police used a mangled bike as a caution against red light jumping, where the rider had been killed by a left hook.
Perhaps I'll have to transfer ownership of all my bikes to my other half, so that if I 'buy the farm' she can reclaim her property and avoid this disgrace. :-)
Posted 14 years ago # -
About 20 years ago I saw something similar done with cars. At Charnock Richard on the M6 there was a wrecked car at either side of the motorway services. Beside each one there were photos of the crash which they had been involved in.
I don't know if it made anyone slow down at all.
Posted 14 years ago # -
[/quote]The sad thing is that 70 people a year are killed by drivers driving on the pavement.[quote]
That is sad.
But around 20 people a year are killed by falling out of bed and 13 people a year are killed by vending machines falling on them.......is that funny ? I don't know but death can be a very serious matter. There was an ice cream van that crashed and the driver was pronounced dead at the scene. There was a terrible mess, apart from the blood he was covered in chocolate sauce and hundreds and thousands.The police reckoned he tried to top himself!Posted 14 years ago # -
recombodna, that material is running the risk of me telling you about the terribly fight at the chippy in Balerno...........
Posted 14 years ago # -
Yeah sorry about that............I'll get my hi viz coat!
Posted 14 years ago # -
yeah but the fight in the chip shop resulted in two fish getting battered and a poke of chips being a-salted
Posted 14 years ago # -
I thought Kims post was fantastic - so we posted it to the Greener Leith blog too! However, since then I have just stumbled over this blog post:
http://hembrow.blogspot.com/2010/02/is-cycling-getting-safer-in-britain.html
A different slant on the stats...
"... I think it's interesting to compare the high profile that Britain has achieved internationally based on claims to have achieved changes in school travel ("The UK is a world-leader in terms of School Travel Plan (STP) development and implementation") with the reality of how walking to school has declined in the country. The comparison with the Dutch situation is stark. Words from government aren't enough. What is needed is the infrastructure which makes people feel safe when walking or cycling, which makes it an attractive and convenient thing to do."
Posted 14 years ago # -
I like this bit from Kim's blog...
finally a few other things which drivers should know:
- • Cyclist do have the right to use the roads and they do pay for them as well, we all pay for the roads.
• Cyclists can feel threatened by inconsiderate driving. They have a right to space on the road and need extra room at junctions and roundabouts where cars change speed, position and direction.
• Cyclists ride away from the kerb, not to annoy motorists but:
to avoid drains, potholes and debris
to be seen as they come to junctions with side roads
to discourage drivers from squeezing past when it’s too narrow
• Cyclists turning right are exposed – and need extra consideration from motorists, especially on multi-lane roads with fast-moving traffic.
• Cyclists can be forced into faster traffic – by vehicles parked in cycle lanes, at junctions or on double yellow lines, so be considerate when you park.
Dave Horton wrote a chapter called 'Fear of Cycling' - in the book Cycling and Society (Ashgate).
Lot's of analysis as to where this fear came from...
Posted 14 years ago # -
Yeah sensible stuff. Shame you'll always get some idiot who thinks their right to be on the road is greater than your right not to be crushed under the wheels of a horseless carriage eh?
Posted 14 years ago #
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