Suicidal Cyclists

[doodab]

I'd be suicidal if I had to ride round that roundabout on a regular basis. It was clearly designed by someone who hates cyclists.

[DaveB]

I'd be suicidal if I had to ride round that roundabout on a regular basis. It was clearly designed by someone who hates cyclists.

Transport for London have been challenged about it numerous times, and were advised by both their civil engineering consultants and the London Cycle Campaign that the design was dangerous before it was built. They deny it is a problem.

They've gone out of their way to find fault with the cyclists who have been killed there, making no attempt to look into the behaviour of car and lorry drivers. Its a Corporate Manslaughter charge waiting to happen.

Five cyclists dead in two weeks: is there a way to make London's roads safer? | UK news | The Observer

Val Shawcross, who chairs the London Assembly transport committee, said that serious injuries and deaths among London cyclists rose 18% between 2011 and 2012. "It is terrible to hear that another young cyclist has been killed on cycle superhighway 2, which a coroner's report recently said could pose a risk to life unless action was taken. While the mayor and TfL are taking steps to cut these serious incidents, it is vital they act swiftly to implement and review measures that will help to make cycling safer for all.

[SueEllen]

Transport for London have been challenged about it numerous times, and were advised by both their civil engineering consultants and the London Cycle Campaign that the design was dangerous before it was built. They deny it is a problem.

They've gone out of their way to find fault with the cyclists who have been killed there, making no attempt to look into the behaviour of car and lorry drivers. Its a Corporate Manslaughter charge waiting to happen.

Five cyclists dead in two weeks: is there a way to make London's roads safer? | UK news | The Observer

You can't blame anyone using the roundabout as if you stand at any largish roundabout and watch those using it regards of transport mode you will see loads of confusion.

The reason accidents are minimised is due to the design of the roundabout.

TFL do need to be sued. Some of the local councils where I live they only put in roundabouts, redesign them and put in crossings if there is likely to be a law suit.

[DaveB]

You can't blame anyone using the roundabout as if you stand at any largish roundabout and watch those using it regards of transport mode you will see loads of confusion.

The reason accidents are minimised is due to the design of the roundabout.

TFL do need to be sued. Some of the local councils where I live they only put in roundabouts, redesign them and put in crossings if there is likely to be a law suit.

They do if the design actually makes it more dangerous and more confusing, which it does, and which they were told before they built the cycle lane system.

[Halo Jones]

A lot of drivers in London also seem to have given up on the idea of indicating, which doesn't help (and might account for some of those cyclist deaths).

Agree

[Paddy]

A lot of drivers in London also seem to have given up on the idea of indicating, which doesn't help (and might account for some of those cyclist deaths).

I think it’s worse than that. I suspect that many London drivers have never taken a test or they have used a proxy to take it for them. They seem to be absolutely ignorant of the basic rules of the road. One my common gripes are not giving away to pedestrians crossing at road junctions. As for the worst offenders including jumping red lights, that prize goes to Addison Lee mini cabs.

[TheCyclingProgrammer]

I've cycled once across the Bow interchange. Didn't fancy the roundabout; I took the flyover, which wasn't as scary as it sounds. Not that steep either, heading East, just got to watch out for traffic I'm the slip lane at the bottom.

Generally though I avoid it. From Hoxton, where my current client is based, I head up through Hackney, round Victoria park and get across the A12 there on the pedestrian bridge, and take the greenway to Stratford. Much safer, despite the ball ache of having to get off and walk a bit due to the Crossrail construction.

[SueEllen]

Another one has just died.

Man in 60s with a HGV in Camberwell

[SueEllen]

I think it’s worse than that. I suspect that many London drivers have never taken a test or they have used a proxy to take it for them. They seem to be absolutely ignorant of the basic rules of the road. One my common gripes are not giving away to pedestrians crossing at road junctions. As for the worst offenders including jumping red lights, that prize goes to Addison Lee mini cabs.

I followed an Addison Lee cab down the M4 once - ok saw him from where I live to Slough and caught up with him somewhere after Reading - he only slowed down because of the police were out.

He wasn't paying attention regardless of what roads he was on.

[Spacecadet]

I think it’s worse than that. I suspect that many London drivers have never taken a test or they have used a proxy to take it for them. They seem to be absolutely ignorant of the basic rules of the road. One my common gripes are not giving away to pedestrians crossing at road junctions. As for the worst offenders including jumping red lights, that prize goes to Addison Lee mini cabs.

I think that less than 1% of drivers are aware of highway rule 170

watch out for pedestrians crossing a road into which you are turning. If they have started to cross they have priority, so give way