rosscbrown
New Member
From the Edinburgh Evening News:
You can read the full news report here.
So this should be an interesting court case to follow should the cyclist decide to start such an action.
Now for some commentary from me:
1) "Saved by her cycle helmet" - always makes a good story that. The evidence here is a dent to her helmet. Well that much be the case then.
2) "...threw her into the middle of traffic" - as I understand it she *was* in the middle of traffic. The taxi driver behind was obviously keeping a save distance (as evidenced by the cyclist not getting run over) and thus their was no immediate danger to her life by the incident.
3) "Doctors cannot even say yet if the Polish woman's arm is broken" - she'll probably need some form of evidence beyond a "not sure" medical report if she wants to successfully sue the company. Then again maybe she could make a psych case out of it.
4) "Cycling groups in the Capital have already urged authorities to put up warning signs after a series of accidents, although tram bosses insist a series of awareness-raising exercises have already been carried out." - Let me get this right, this person has been cycling in Edinburgh for six years yet has been completely sheltered from the progress of our wonderful tram project. Possible arguments to test in court i) "Trams, they need tracks? No one told me that." ii) "I didn't know Edinburgh was getting trams, nor do I believe any reasonable person might hold that opinion" or iii) "With all the reports of this tram project being delayed and close to cancelation I really didn't expect for the tram line to be so advanced in the city centre". I'd really quite like a court to decide which statement is most plausible.
5) The cyclist continues, "I think either signs have to be put up to tell other cyclists, or just for [the city] not to have cycling on Princes Street at all." - The cyclist describes herself as a "careful cyclist" but if she didn't notice the shiny metal strips in the road, what the odds she would miss the signs too. As from banning cyclists from the street, that's a bit mad. Cyclists have managed to share the road with trams since trams were first deployed world-wide. Should cyclists be banned from the entire tram route? Special bridges constructed to allow cycling to cross the tram lines in safety.
6) The cyclists's partner adds, "We are very angry about this. It's clearly dangerous for cyclists, especially if it has been raining." - Really, tram lines are clearly dangerous? No need for signs then.
Okay, I'm done. For the sake of balance, some counterpoints:
1) Unlike a functional tram network, the tram lines here do start part way down the road - see here.
2) Further down the line, at tram stops, the planners have added cobbled sections of road (to mark the tram stops). Is adding another complication for cyclists really a good idea?
3) Painted crossing 'lanes' for cyclists would be nice - I often find it difficult to judge the correct approach to the lines when crossing over the road. Still, this would be little help while overtaking buses, etc.
Right, I really am done now. Honest.
You can read the full news report here.
So this should be an interesting court case to follow should the cyclist decide to start such an action.
Now for some commentary from me:
1) "Saved by her cycle helmet" - always makes a good story that. The evidence here is a dent to her helmet. Well that much be the case then.
2) "...threw her into the middle of traffic" - as I understand it she *was* in the middle of traffic. The taxi driver behind was obviously keeping a save distance (as evidenced by the cyclist not getting run over) and thus their was no immediate danger to her life by the incident.
3) "Doctors cannot even say yet if the Polish woman's arm is broken" - she'll probably need some form of evidence beyond a "not sure" medical report if she wants to successfully sue the company. Then again maybe she could make a psych case out of it.
4) "Cycling groups in the Capital have already urged authorities to put up warning signs after a series of accidents, although tram bosses insist a series of awareness-raising exercises have already been carried out." - Let me get this right, this person has been cycling in Edinburgh for six years yet has been completely sheltered from the progress of our wonderful tram project. Possible arguments to test in court i) "Trams, they need tracks? No one told me that." ii) "I didn't know Edinburgh was getting trams, nor do I believe any reasonable person might hold that opinion" or iii) "With all the reports of this tram project being delayed and close to cancelation I really didn't expect for the tram line to be so advanced in the city centre". I'd really quite like a court to decide which statement is most plausible.
5) The cyclist continues, "I think either signs have to be put up to tell other cyclists, or just for [the city] not to have cycling on Princes Street at all." - The cyclist describes herself as a "careful cyclist" but if she didn't notice the shiny metal strips in the road, what the odds she would miss the signs too. As from banning cyclists from the street, that's a bit mad. Cyclists have managed to share the road with trams since trams were first deployed world-wide. Should cyclists be banned from the entire tram route? Special bridges constructed to allow cycling to cross the tram lines in safety.
6) The cyclists's partner adds, "We are very angry about this. It's clearly dangerous for cyclists, especially if it has been raining." - Really, tram lines are clearly dangerous? No need for signs then.
Okay, I'm done. For the sake of balance, some counterpoints:
1) Unlike a functional tram network, the tram lines here do start part way down the road - see here.
2) Further down the line, at tram stops, the planners have added cobbled sections of road (to mark the tram stops). Is adding another complication for cyclists really a good idea?
3) Painted crossing 'lanes' for cyclists would be nice - I often find it difficult to judge the correct approach to the lines when crossing over the road. Still, this would be little help while overtaking buses, etc.
Right, I really am done now. Honest.
