Incident near Oval Tube this morning

[dellzeqq]

Details here.

desperately sad

 

[scouserinlondon]

Details here.

From the position of her bike it looks like she didn't stand a chance.

Terrible tragedy.

 

[shunter]

I wonder how much of an issue is it that young inexperienced cyclists imitate the actions of perceived 'experienced' cyclists or the the actions wrongly taken by the majority of cyclists without trying to read the roads themselves. In effect take terrible risks by the imitation of other cyclists.

How many winter 'spin' cyclists are now taking the opportunity to enjoy real cycling on the roads in the good weather without any idea that the roadcraft for two wheeled vehicles is much different than for cars, if they drive one?

I would suggest that assertive cycling within the bounds of good roadcraft keeps you a lot safer than an over cautious and hesitant approach. There is no doubt that car drivers with poor driving skills are protected from their own stupidity by the imposing factor of their car - put them on two wheels however then they become an accident waiting to happen.

How do you teach inexperienced cyclists in London the survival skills that long term commute cyclists have - more training, group training through commuter traffic with instructors and radio earpieces much like motorcycle training. If not then you will just have to segregate the traffic completely from the cyclist.

 

[magnatom]

Looks like there is a cycle lane there encouraging the cyclist to cycle close to the barrier. Obviously we don't know the circumstances, but I wouldn't be surprised if the lane was contributory, i.e. encouraged the cyclist to be in the most dangerous place on the road.

I honestly think that councils should be held responsible if poorly designed cycle lanes were found contributory in cases like this. Big payouts might make lane designers take notice.

 

[upsidedown]

Details here.

To my untrained eye that lorry doesn't look to be as long as the big articulated jobs ? Do these come under the same rules as the huge ones for licence purposes ?

 

[karlos_the_jackal]

Looking at the pictures are very disturbing. From the equipment you can see clipless shoes, so would presume (not entirely correctly) she was quite an experienced rider.

Shocking that its the 6th one this year

 

[scouserinlondon]

To my untrained eye that lorry doesn't look to be as long as the big articulated jobs ? Do these come under the same rules as the huge ones for licence purposes ?

Yeah, although it's a tipper you'd need a full HGV1 to operate it thought it's been a while since I worked in the transport industry.

Tippers are really high vehicles with loads of blind spots down the left hand side.

 

[Origamist]

Isn't the location of the accident yesterday on the proposed 'superhighway' route. I think that both the Oval and Stockwell junctions are pretty lairy places.

My approach at Stockwell is to get into right hand lane on the stretch leading up to the tube station and then either safely filter forward or sit in primary for the short burst up to the A3 right fork. At Kennington I tend to just sit tight in the lane of traffic.

The A202/A3 junction at Oval tube is problematic for cyclists. 2 lanes merge into 3 narrow lanes. The inside lane is straight ahead and left turn, the middle lane is straight ahead, and the offside lane is right turn only. There is an ASL reservoir there, but no feeder lane due to the narrowness of the three lanes. The traffic light controlled junction is adjacent to Oval tube (so lots of pedestrians). Oval tube has guard railings on the left with Harleyford St. The junction itself is a box junction.

I go straight on at Oval tube and it's a problem (not so bad if the next set of lights, where the A23 joins are red) but as the road is straight for a good distance, drivers often put their foot down. I usually use the ASL (filtering via the offside lane) at Oval and sit in the reservoir in the centre of the middle lane. I keep this position (the lane markings disappear for a stretch after the A23 joins), and go at a fair lick until the next junction with Kennington Road. This keeps most vehicles from attempting stupid overtakes as it is a couple of feet to the right of the next long feeder lane. The real problem (apart from speed) is vehicles who are unsure whether they should go straight ahead (A3) or left into Kennington Rd (A23) - multi lane mayhem can often ensue.

As this stretch is earmarked for a Super-Highway coat of paint, let's see what they do with this junction to make it more cycle-friendly.

 

[Fab Foodie]

I confess I love cycling in London on my own. I find escorting the Babe taxing and joyful at one and the same time.

Taxing because she is not a strong cyclist, and my perception is that strong cyclists are at less risk than weaker cyclists. I may be wrong in this.

(Joyful because she is the love of my life, and any endeavour we share is a delight.)

Totally agree with this (though I've never knowingly cycled with the one you call 'the Babe').
Albeit 25 years ago I was a Morden to Elephant and Castle regular so am familiar with the landmarks and location of this dreadful incident. I last did the route last year and wrote about it here and it was magical, I love London cycling and have made a pledge to do it as often as my trips to the MIL's allow. It has an excitement all of it's own, maybe it's the danger, maybe a heady mix of sites, smells and sounds, or a landscape that changes every few hundred metres, a road where 2 wheels really can be king. dellzeqq, you're a lucky man (but I think you know that).

On the subject of family and London, my Bro' in law is a very upright and decent fellow, his brother however drives... a tipper truck and is the worst form of knuckle-dragging low-life, gives not one shoot about other road users, and it seems his colleagues are no different. Their attitude is, that with their trucks they can do what they like, they're untouchable, only time matters.

 

[Origamist]

To my untrained eye that lorry doesn't look to be as long as the big articulated jobs ? Do these come under the same rules as the huge ones for licence purposes ?

It was an 8 wheel tipper (Thames Materials Ltd) and it was laden with what looked like earth/debris.

 

[Origamist]

Looks like there is a cycle lane there encouraging the cyclist to cycle close to the barrier. Obviously we don't know the circumstances, but I wouldn't be surprised if the lane was contributory, i.e. encouraged the cyclist to be in the most dangerous place on the road.

There is not a feeder at A202/A3 junction - in the photos that is the feeder to the pedestrian crossing in Harleyford St.

 

[scouserinlondon]

It was an 8 wheel tipper (Thames Materials Ltd) and it was laden with what looked like earth/debris.

Yep, and the double front Axle gives it a tighter turning circle, it would have possible come in on her from quite a tight angle.

 

[magnatom]

There is not a feeder at A202/A3 junction - in the photos that is the feeder to the pedestrian crossing in Harleyford St.

Behind the woman with the Hi viz on, you can just make out a bike symbol. To me that looks like a bike lane, right at the edge next to the barrier. Of course I could be wrong.

 

[Origamist]

Behind the woman with the Hi viz on, you can just make out a bike symbol. To me that looks like a bike lane, right at the edge next to the barrier. Of course I could be wrong.

Yes, it's a feeder lane on Harleyford St. that leads to a ped crossing. The photo shows only where the vehicle came to rest. The A202/A3 junction on the approach from Clapham Rd does not have a feeder lane, only an ASL reservoir.

 

[garrilla]

Its gruesome and disturbing. The bike is pretty far under the vehicle which itself is away from the kerb. It simply leaves me cold thinking about it.