Fenchurch Street prang

[Tynan]

Ouch, hit a ped plumb at 20mph on Fenchurch tonight, lurched out into the road right in front of me, giving me enough tme to start shouting, she was looking completely the wrong way, my proof being that as I tried to swerve past my dropped left shoulder hit her perfectly squarely between the shoulder blades and knocked her down very hard face first into the road, stopped me and the bike dead (both lying down seperately in the road)

loads of witnesses, almost all of whom saw it my way, got two solid witnesses details (I'm starting to get good at this) and more City coppers than I've seen in a year turned up, the ped was unconcious for five to ten minutes plus and bleeding from the head, whisked away in an ambulance, I was told two head x-rays and 'too intoxicated to be interviewed' was the news from the hospital

coppers all good as gold and pleasant, scrapes and bumps to left ankle/knee and elbow with a rather impresive puffy fluid type elbow the size of a gold ball, the presumably trumatised shoulder doesn't hurt at all

coppers have taken the bike into custody , heaven knows what they expect to find, thankfully as the copper that did my statement pointed, no crossing or traffic lights in the vicinity, breath tested with my consent

best news of all is the bike is fine, not sure it even touched her, thankfully she was rather well padded for my shoulder so all good, took ages but the cops insisted on driving me home which was nice

ah well, it's nice for once to be the one that walks away leaving someone else to lie in the road

sadly no cam footage

 

[J4CKO]

Whoa, bad luck mate, having spent some time in London I can see how it happens, surprised it doesnt happen more to be honest.

Hope you are both ok, even though she is a dozy pissed up arse who doesnt look where she is going.

 

[gouldina]

I don't want to be rude but as much as it sounds like her fault, you sound more worried about your bike than how she might be. She is a human and we all make mistakes. That is right isn't it?

Edit: Also - nice to leave someone lying in the road???

 

[Tynan]

yeah yeah gouldina, read it again with some humour this time, and quote the whole line in context

jeez

as for the ped, of course I hope she's ok but I don't have too much sympathy for people staggering drunk into the road looking the wrong way, the last two accidents I've add, I was the one going to hospital hurt while the guilty party went home to tea and toast

 

[gouldina]

yeah yeah gouldina, read it again with some humour this time, and quote the whole line in context

jeez

OK.

ah well, it's nice for once to be the one that walks away leaving someone else to lie in the road

That's better is it?
Sorry, I don't see much humour in this I'm afraid. Maybe if you knew she was OK but even then...
Also, there are drunk people on Fenchurch Street at night. There always are pretty much I would say and it's not that long a street really. Could you just not slow down a bit for a minute or so to take that into account? Maybe then you and/or other people wouldn't be picking themselves up off the tarmac so often.

 

[Crankarm]

Ouch! Hope you and she will be ok.

Do you have 3rd party insurance Tynan as you might need it? Even if you are not at fault there is every possibility the lady pedestrian may claim against you for her injuries. You would need a solicitor to defend you on this one I feel hence the 3rd party insurance. Sounds like her injuries were pretty bad. I guess you will make a claim against her for your injuries?
How drunk was she? Were you really riding at 20mph? Sounds a tad fast especially if peds in close proximity. Hope you didn't tell the plods this was your speed. 13-15mph or less would have been more advisable IMHO.

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

20mph? Sounds a tad fast especially if peds in close proximity.

Not for cars it doesn't.

According to signs in most urban areas, 20mph is quite acceptable even when children are playing, judging from the children's designs they put under the round (20) sign

That said, I get your point since anything over 10mph is usually invariably seen as "riding like a bat out of hell"

 

[gaz]

owweeeeeeeeeeeeee... glad your came off okish.

and lets hope she recovers enough and gives you an apology for being a light weight!

 

[Crankarm]

Not for cars it doesn't.

According to signs in most urban areas, 20mph is quite acceptable even when children are playing, judging from the children's designs they put under the round (20) sign

That said, I get your point since anything over 10mph is usually invariably seen as "riding like a bat out of hell"

Cars ? No car was involved the way I read the OP. Unless you are privileged to have more information.....

 

[gaz]

Cars ? No car was involved the way I read the OP. Unless you are privileged to have more information.....

I think the point he is making is that cars can go 30mph in that area. so why can't cyclists?

 

[Sheffield_Tiger]

Cars ? No car was involved the way I read the OP. Unless you are privileged to have more information.....

I was (quite clearly I thought) referring to the suggestion of 20mph being classed as "too fast", using the example of speed limit signs (which apply to cars, cars being somewhat heavier and generally more lethal than bikes)

Essentially arguing "if it's not "too fast" for a car, why is it "too fast" for a bike?

 

[gaz]

minimum stopping distance for a cyclist at 30mph on concrete with an adhesion coefficient of 0.85 and a Rolling coefficient of 0.014 is only about 34ft.. which is less than double the typical stopping distance of a car at the same speed (i didn't account for reaction time with bicycle stopping distance)

Although you have to take into account various other things such as road conditions and brake efficiency of the bicycle in question.

 

[mr_cellophane]

Fenchurch Street is a nightmare. I crossed it from the station for more years than I care to admit as a pedestrian and 6 months on a bike. Peds don't use the crossings - in 1/3 mile there are only two pelican crossings, neither of which is near the station. Taxis and lorrys park along the road. If the traffic is stationary, peds will just step out without looking and if the lights are right for them to cross they will keep herding across even after they have changed. There are a couple of points where there are traffic islands, but in rush hour cyclists and motorbikers pass on the wrong side as there isn't room to the left.
I used to hate going along there in the morning, but from Aldgate to London Bridge there isn't really any other route.
Still glad you are OK, what time was this if she was already drunk ?

 

[ttcycle]

This sounds nasty Tynan.
Seems also that the ped has come off quite badly - despite their stupidity - hopefully they'll recover and if they remember the incident be more careful in crossing.

 

[hackbike 666]

No way would I be going fast around Fenchurch Street/Cannon Street or wherever with high ped content it just isn't worth it.

I don't particulary like hitting peds and I know what they are like so there is no excuse for me.Also have the horn and am watching like a hawk when passing places like this.

Anyway not having a go...hope you and the ped are ok.