Bicycle Lorry deaths

[LondonManc]

Lorry v cyclist

Very simple, lorry crushes cyclist; cyclist should be looking to avoid the crush as much as the lorry driver.

In terms of the point about cyclists not requiring a licence, this is very important. Under 16s should be allowed on the pavement and over 16s should have to pass either a cycling licence of some sort or simply the written half of the driving licence test.

[vetran]

Lorry v cyclist

Very simple, lorry crushes cyclist; cyclist should be looking to avoid the crush as much as the lorry driver.

In terms of the point about cyclists not requiring a licence, this is very important. Under 16s should be allowed on the pavement and over 16s should have to pass either a cycling licence of some sort or simply the written half of the driving licence test.

Lorries crush proportionally more cyclists than cars, construction vehicles more than normal lorries. Why ?because they suffer from poor visibility.

Blaming the cyclist is a foolish interpretation. It doesn't matter who is right, just that someone is dead and that is what we should fix.

We aren't going to license cyclists any time soon. What do you do about tourists?

Most pedestrians won't want 14 year old youths wheely-ing down the pavement.

[ascender]

Edinburgh isn't as bad as London for cycling but every time I do take the bike in to work I see stupid behaviour from cyclists including undertaking buses and lorries when its clearly a risky thing to do.

Problem is whenever something tries to debate stuff like this in a sensible fashion it gets hijacked and descends in to a flame war about red light jumpers, cycling on the pavements, no road tax etc. I genuinely like to think nobody driving a car wants to go out and potentially kill someone, but there's some real angry keyboard warriors out there whenever bikes are mentioned on a mainstream news site.

As someone who drives and bikes, I genuinely believe that unless you've tried cycling in a busy city centre, you'll never know just how many things cyclists are having to think about (although it could be argued maybe more car drivers should be thinking about them too rather than being in their own world). Its also hard to describe just how un-nerving/downright frightening it can be when you're passed very close at speed by a vehicle. Like somebody said at the start, cyclists are really vulnerable and even things like potholes and seams in the road can have people off their bike and under the nearest bus.

I think its a cultural thing that needs to be addressed and on both sides. I see lots of cyclists riding in busy traffic with headphones on for example and I just have no idea how they keep their wits about them doing that.

[NigelJK]

just that someone is dead and that is what we should fix

What do you suggest, resurrection?

[vetran]

What do you suggest, resurrection?

avoidance

[WTFH]

avoidance

Which requires work with both groups.
Only working with lorry drivers because it's "easier" is saying that there is no need to change cyclists behaviour.

[LondonManc]

Lorries crush proportionally more cyclists than cars, construction vehicles more than normal lorries. Why ?because they suffer from poor visibility.

Blaming the cyclist is a foolish interpretation. It doesn't matter who is right, just that someone is dead and that is what we should fix.

We aren't going to license cyclists any time soon. What do you do about tourists?

Most pedestrians won't want 14 year old youths wheely-ing down the pavement.

I'm not blaming the cyclists per se. While cyclists may blather on about lorry drivers not being cyclists and not understanding, let's turn that around; how many cyclists know how to drive a HGV and the inherent difficulties thereof?

[SueEllen]

In terms of the point about cyclists not requiring a licence, this is very important. Under 16s should be allowed on the pavement and over 16s should have to pass either a cycling licence of some sort or simply the written half of the driving licence test.

I personally wouldn't want a 6ft 14/15 year old kid cycling into me on the pavement. I have enough trouble with the fecking 18 year old students who are only around 5ft 8.

[LondonManc]

I personally wouldn't want a 6ft 14/15 year old kid cycling into me on the pavement. I have enough trouble with the fecking 18 year old students who are only around 5ft 8.

I didn't suggest that the should cycle into you; that's just silly.

[SueEllen]

Which requires work with both groups.
Only working with lorry drivers because it's "easier" is saying that there is no need to change cyclists behaviour.

Which is why police forces do things like this - linky