Have just spotted this on the BBC News website.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Cycling News
"Cyclist dies after lorry collision near Errol"
(14 posts)-
Posted 12 years ago #
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That will be the accident that we passed on Sunday evening. It was very impressively flagged and coned off. The fact that it was a fatality will explain that.
Condolences to the family and friends of the cyclist.Posted 12 years ago # -
Sad as ever, but this is truly odd -
"
They are especially keen to speak to any other lorry drivers who may seen the cyclist and perhaps taken evasive action to avoid a collision.
"
Don't know if the actually wording came from the police or is a BBC interpretation.
Of course 'we' don't like speculation in such circumstances, but the average reader might think cyclist shouldn't have been there or was doing something 'wrong'.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Speculation about the actual incident is a bit crass - but rather on that wording I suspect the driver has said he saw the cyclist at the last minute and tried to avoid him. But agreed, strange wording.
What was the weather like at that time there? Light for visibility wouldn't have been a problem. I'd definitely not ride on that road, but given people can (and presumably do), the rule for watching out for slower and more vulnerable vehicle son the road is no different than for any other road.
Above everything, thoguhts are with the guy's family.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Yep, it's the police -
http://m.facebook.com/TaysidePolice/posts/522625034456566
and widely repeated by mainstream media.
They either 'know' something or there's an attitude.
Either way it's surprising when 'the police' are more usually 'neutral' when 'facts' are uncertain and they are looking for more info.
Posted 12 years ago # -
As it's a Facebook page there are comments.
This one is perhaps the most worthwhile -
"
Bruce Greig
As a cyclist and truck driver my thoughts go out to the deceased man's family. The driver will be absolutely devastated and hopefully he will be able to deal with what's happened.
There is NO reason why a cyclist can't cycle on an A class road, there is a solid white line about two feet wide where you should be relatively safe.
The earlier comment about cycling in the rain, the Highway Code recommends lights are used in poor visibility, and the sensible thing to do is wear something high visibility. Cyclists ARE allowed out in rain Kenny"
Posted 12 years ago # -
There is NO reason why a cyclist can't cycle on an A class road, there is a solid white line about two feet wide where you should be relatively safe.
Hmm, not quite sure I'm fully happy with this one - the solid white line marks the edge of the carriageway, so the suggestion is that the cyclist should be off the road in the verge (which may be surfaced).
I can't say I've got much experience in cycling on 70 mph dual carriageways, but on the urban ones, I much prefer to take a full lane to myself, so that drivers have to consciously overtake rather than sail past at full speed. Of course, if someone is asleep at the wheel, I'm in trouble, but that same sleeping driver could equally leave the carriageway and cause the same collision.
Neither is a good option, nor one I'd like to use with the kids - any chance of a segregated cycle road parallel to the A90? Nope, thought not...
Robert
Posted 12 years ago # -
Actually just spotted that it might not be a dual carriageway, so substitute 60 mph for the same argument. I don't wish to be 2 feet away from that much unconstrained energy or slipstream.
Robert
Posted 12 years ago # -
"Neither is a good option, nor one I'd like to use with the kids - any chance of a segregated cycle road parallel to the A90? Nope, thought not..."
I'm trying to think of the spot where this might be - there are actually quite a lot of sections of the A90 with paths alongside (whether they're 'official' cycle paths or not I don't know - sure I've seen some shared use paths). Comes with the usual 'beside a main road' caveats - covered in detritus, weaves amongst slip roads and signs and so on etc etc etc
Posted 12 years ago # -
"Actually just spotted that it might not be a dual carriageway, so substitute 60 mph for the same argument"
Report says A90, which is dualled all the way from Perth to Aberdeen.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Dual carriageway. I can't comment on cycle path or similar as it was dark when we went past (and raining heavily). It had obviously been some time since the accident as they had loads of cones and signs out.
Posted 12 years ago # -
Outrageous wording from the police.
Posted 12 years ago # -
This is very sad. Here's the Courier story, which is more neutral and sensitive:
Yes, there is a cycle lane alongside the A90 (it's a Sustrans route), but it only goes as far as Invergowrie, then you're onto minor roads until Glencarse, where there's a very hilly climb. I understand the accident happened near Errol, that's a very straight, fast bit of road where drivers are often speeding along.
Back in the 1980s when I was a student, my then girlfriend was crossing the A90 from the Horn milk bar where she had a part-time job. It was dark, she was hit by a car which had no headlights on. She was thrown over the car and landed on the road. When I went to visit her in hospital, miraculously nothing broken but a chunk of flesh houged out of her leg needed a skin graft.
Driver was prosecuted, but it was his word (and his three passengers) against hers, no witnesses. The more serious charges were dropped. I daresay he got a couple of points on his license and that was it...
Posted 12 years ago # -
They are especially keen to speak to any other lorry drivers who may seen the cyclist and perhaps taken evasive action to avoid a collision.
What strange wording.
Every single cyclist I pass in the car does I suppose require evasive action (brake, change gear, pull out, pull back in, along with all corresponding mirroring and signalling) but to me "evasive action" has connotations of not being routine, which passing a cyclist certainly is.
Posted 12 years ago # -
didnt want to post on this, i saw the aftermath.I was stopped by plod at the start of tyhe diversion,he didnt know IF there were any bridges, low or not on the div route,and he reckoned it wss ok because they had sent a bus down it. He didnt know if it was a double decker or single . I was pulling a double deck, 16feet 3 inches high trailer and was taking no chances, i waited in lane 2 until cleared. Except it wasnt cleared, hgv tapped of and a cover on the road behind it. A bicycle on the grass.As far as i can remenber, the incident was justat/after a bus stop layby.I had spotted a cyclist, on the up journey, blue bike, i think, towing a yellow covered trailer. The weather was good, clear and with good visibility,vehicle was, i think a reputable company and fairly new.
Absolutely horrendous end to my day , but nothing to those concerned. I drive lorries and i cycle all places.
Condolenses to all concerned, and please , evryone try and stay safe.
ScottPosted 12 years ago #
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