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Yet More Cyclists Die On The Streets Of Londons.
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Is it now time that people were discouraged, rather than encouraged from cycling in the capital?
They could make a start by closing down the 'Boris Bike' scheme.
Is it now time that people were discouraged, rather than encouraged from cycling in the capital?
They could make a start by closing down the 'Boris Bike' scheme.
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I have recently restarted driving in London and the difference to 10 years ago is staggering. People just ignore the Highway Code. Red light jumping, undertaking, wrong lanes etc etc. The worst offenders are definitely those in Chelsea tractors and increasingly BMWs, Audis, and Mercs. I would never cycle in London, it is a deathtrap.
I'm a cyclist myself but I reckon most of these are prevenatble by the cyclists obeying traffic rules. Riding though red lights, riding on the pavement, weaving through traffic, often on the wrong side of the road, no signaling etc etc. I don't know the stats but I bet a lot of these are caused by the cyclists themselves. In recent times cyclists have been anarchic in their approach.
Far from discouraging cycling they should get them back to riding properly and legally.
Far from discouraging cycling they should get them back to riding properly and legally.
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Boris has overseen the building of protected cycling routes, to keep cyclists separated from other traffic on the same roads. Ironically, this may have led to two recent deaths at the same roundabout in Bow. The protected road ends and the cyclist has to go across the roundabout before it resumes. There are special traffic lights for the cyclists, but it rather looks as though they are confused by these, or the traffic is, or they ride across regardless, in the confidence that they are somehow protected.
1. The Boris Bikes have lead to an increase in cycling in the capital. If you have more bikes, you have more bike accidents.
2. Highway engineers tend not to be cyclist and as a consequence they design roads and roundabouts that are not safe for cycling. Cycling blackspots like the bow roundabout are usually the result of poor design.
3. There were 118 cycling deaths last year. And 453 pedestrian deaths. Cycling is therefore less dangerous than walking.
4. 900 motorists died last year. Much higher than cyclist deaths. If you are going to ban any mode of transport to save lives, then a ban on the car would be the place to start.
2. Highway engineers tend not to be cyclist and as a consequence they design roads and roundabouts that are not safe for cycling. Cycling blackspots like the bow roundabout are usually the result of poor design.
3. There were 118 cycling deaths last year. And 453 pedestrian deaths. Cycling is therefore less dangerous than walking.
4. 900 motorists died last year. Much higher than cyclist deaths. If you are going to ban any mode of transport to save lives, then a ban on the car would be the place to start.
I'm afraid the attitude of many cyclists, particulalry in our Capital leaves much to be desired.
Red lights - what aer they? pedestrian crossings, never heard of them. I have even known of People riding bikes into London with fixed cogs and no brakes. But of course when it goes wrong then they are never at fault.
Having said that motorists (especially the bus drivers) are not much better.
Red lights - what aer they? pedestrian crossings, never heard of them. I have even known of People riding bikes into London with fixed cogs and no brakes. But of course when it goes wrong then they are never at fault.
Having said that motorists (especially the bus drivers) are not much better.
Highway engineers tend not to be cyclist and as a consequence they design roads and roundabouts that are not safe for cycling.
Bit difficult to do anything on roads originally meant for horses. Damn those Elizabethan road engineers for not foreseeing cars and bicycles.
3. There were 118 cycling deaths last year. And 453 pedestrian deaths. Cycling is therefore less dangerous than walking.
You have twisted figures to get here. There are far more pedestrians so as a percentage your statement is not true.
4. 900 motorists died last year. Much higher than cyclist deaths. If you are going to ban any mode of transport to save lives, then a ban on the car would be the place to start.
Again, a monstrous abuse of figures to prove your point which simply is not valid.
Bit difficult to do anything on roads originally meant for horses. Damn those Elizabethan road engineers for not foreseeing cars and bicycles.
3. There were 118 cycling deaths last year. And 453 pedestrian deaths. Cycling is therefore less dangerous than walking.
You have twisted figures to get here. There are far more pedestrians so as a percentage your statement is not true.
4. 900 motorists died last year. Much higher than cyclist deaths. If you are going to ban any mode of transport to save lives, then a ban on the car would be the place to start.
Again, a monstrous abuse of figures to prove your point which simply is not valid.
>>>3. There were 118 cycling deaths last year. And 453 pedestrian deaths. Cycling is therefore less dangerous than walking.
Logic does not work I am afraid.
There are about 60 million pedestrians, and say 1 million cyclists (number off the top of my head), and I guess far more miles are walked by pedestrians than cycled by cyclists each year.
So as a percentage cycling is far more dangerous than walking.
It is like saying only 3 people died last year climbing Everest (number made up), but 118 cyclists died in the UK, therefore riding a bike is more dangerous than climbing Everest.
Logic does not work I am afraid.
There are about 60 million pedestrians, and say 1 million cyclists (number off the top of my head), and I guess far more miles are walked by pedestrians than cycled by cyclists each year.
So as a percentage cycling is far more dangerous than walking.
It is like saying only 3 people died last year climbing Everest (number made up), but 118 cyclists died in the UK, therefore riding a bike is more dangerous than climbing Everest.
Step 1: Defensive riding.
i) Behave as if ALL drivers haven't seen you and will pull out of the T junction without looking.
ii) Assume that the ones which DO look at you think "bike=slow=I'll pull out anyway" instead of "Bike, could approaching at 2.5mph, or could be approaching at 30mph, better watch for a couple of seconds to gauge the speed".
iii) London taxis are specifically designed to be able to U turn within the width of a side street. They can and will do this in the middle of a main road no matter how close you are to overtaking them as they slow down.
iv) All drivers of trucks have a copy of "Hell Drivers" in their vid/DVD collection and think that's what their driving style should aspire to.
v) All drivers of trucks will not watch "The Wages of Fear" if you send them a copy for Christmas partly they don't appreciate the attempt at humour but mainly because it is in French with subtitles.
vi) Avoid Volvos and all heavily armoured vehicles, such as the Chelsea tractors. They see themselves as impregnable and drive accordingly.
vii) It's not just an act; Mercededs drivers actually DO own the road. They also own most of the properties on either side and are friends to more than one lawyer. Make sure parts of your cycle do not fly off and break a window.
viii) Truck side impact bars are to prevent cars from going under the rear wheels. Observe the cavernous gap between the lowest bar and the road surface. Observe the height of a bike, laid on its side.
ix) Campaign hard for cycle routes which separate bikes from motorised traffic as far as is practically possible.
x) Campaign even harder to stop the planners trying to 'multi-purpose' any new infrastructure of this kind and make sure they keep pedestrians from using your nice new tarmac. You want a speedy run to work not a slalom-come-swearathon. :-D
i) Behave as if ALL drivers haven't seen you and will pull out of the T junction without looking.
ii) Assume that the ones which DO look at you think "bike=slow=I'll pull out anyway" instead of "Bike, could approaching at 2.5mph, or could be approaching at 30mph, better watch for a couple of seconds to gauge the speed".
iii) London taxis are specifically designed to be able to U turn within the width of a side street. They can and will do this in the middle of a main road no matter how close you are to overtaking them as they slow down.
iv) All drivers of trucks have a copy of "Hell Drivers" in their vid/DVD collection and think that's what their driving style should aspire to.
v) All drivers of trucks will not watch "The Wages of Fear" if you send them a copy for Christmas partly they don't appreciate the attempt at humour but mainly because it is in French with subtitles.
vi) Avoid Volvos and all heavily armoured vehicles, such as the Chelsea tractors. They see themselves as impregnable and drive accordingly.
vii) It's not just an act; Mercededs drivers actually DO own the road. They also own most of the properties on either side and are friends to more than one lawyer. Make sure parts of your cycle do not fly off and break a window.
viii) Truck side impact bars are to prevent cars from going under the rear wheels. Observe the cavernous gap between the lowest bar and the road surface. Observe the height of a bike, laid on its side.
ix) Campaign hard for cycle routes which separate bikes from motorised traffic as far as is practically possible.
x) Campaign even harder to stop the planners trying to 'multi-purpose' any new infrastructure of this kind and make sure they keep pedestrians from using your nice new tarmac. You want a speedy run to work not a slalom-come-swearathon. :-D
// In general cycling in Britain is a safe practice – per hour spent cycling risks are low; there are roughly 300 years cycled for each cycle death. By comparison the equivalent is one death per 20 years motorcycled – 15 times more risky.
Cycling safety has also substantially improved in recent years, although at a slower rate than for most other modes. Cycling was 37% safer in 2010 than it was in 2002 (per mile travelled). //
Cycling safety has also substantially improved in recent years, although at a slower rate than for most other modes. Cycling was 37% safer in 2010 than it was in 2002 (per mile travelled). //
Cyclists should be discouraged from performing this dangerous practice, full stop. On the roads they are both vulnerable when in a collision and difficult to spot, and most seem to think they are immune or something so need to take no care anyway. No lights most of the time either. On the pavements they are a danger to pedestrians. When cycle lanes are supplied they are usually achieved by stealing width from road or pavement, which makes things awkward, and ensure pedestrians have to watch where they stroll on what seems to be pavement. It's just a practice that can't fit well with other forms of locomotion.
Step 2.
Stop riding through red lights.
I always stopped at every red. I'd get my breath back, I'd watch the same person overtake me through the red but it was rarely that I'd have to overtake them more than two or three times between junctions because they'd plod along at 5-10mph and I'd be keeping pace with the cars.
Step 3.
More speed!
If you can ride at 30mph all day, then you don't need to hug the kerb. Get in the middle of the lane, like a motorcycle. Nothing can overtake you without breaking the speed limit. You no longer need to worry about a constant stream of things coming up on you from behind or what they are about to do, immediately after they've overtaken.
The Truck left turn scenario generally involves the truck either not seeing the cyclist (too high up) or seeing them but thinking they can still "beat them to the junction" and make the turn before the cyclist catches up.
Stop riding through red lights.
I always stopped at every red. I'd get my breath back, I'd watch the same person overtake me through the red but it was rarely that I'd have to overtake them more than two or three times between junctions because they'd plod along at 5-10mph and I'd be keeping pace with the cars.
Step 3.
More speed!
If you can ride at 30mph all day, then you don't need to hug the kerb. Get in the middle of the lane, like a motorcycle. Nothing can overtake you without breaking the speed limit. You no longer need to worry about a constant stream of things coming up on you from behind or what they are about to do, immediately after they've overtaken.
The Truck left turn scenario generally involves the truck either not seeing the cyclist (too high up) or seeing them but thinking they can still "beat them to the junction" and make the turn before the cyclist catches up.
Step 4.
Normalise your stats.
"Per passenger mile" is the normal assessment. Lots of pedestrians, yes but do they walk that far, in this day and age?
Step 5.
Ignore nationwide statistics when talking about London traffic. It's a "special case". (Any large city, for that matter). Look at London stats, and compare them to Birmingham stats and Manchester stats and so on, until you spot a noticeable difference in accident trends.
Normalise your stats.
"Per passenger mile" is the normal assessment. Lots of pedestrians, yes but do they walk that far, in this day and age?
Step 5.
Ignore nationwide statistics when talking about London traffic. It's a "special case". (Any large city, for that matter). Look at London stats, and compare them to Birmingham stats and Manchester stats and so on, until you spot a noticeable difference in accident trends.
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