R4 Woman's hour - Women cyclists killed by HGVs

[Crankarm]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00lfdlr

BBC R4 today 08/07/09 featuring women cyclists and HGVs. 6 out 7 fatalities this year have been women caused by left turning lorries.

Cynthia Barlow Roadpeace spokeswoman is guesting.

Also a DC Inspector Jo Oakley from the MPS collision Investigation Unit Met Police suggested cyclists are at fault for being nervous, inexperienced or wobbling!

Mentioned lack of visibility of a cyclist from lorry perspective - blind spots, mirrors, audible warning sensors "THIS VEHICLE IS TURNING LEFT", extra indicators. Cynthia Barlow of Roadpeace working closely with haulage industry and VOSA to bring in more warning devices and mirrors. She's also working with individual haulage companies whose lorries have been involved in collisions with cyclists and their families. Her own daughter was killed by an HGV.

Met Police Lorry Video on Youtube mentioned.

London Mayor BJ is apparently investing £111m in the next year for cycle safety.

Apparently the same lorry that killed one woman seriously injured another lady.

Warning - DO NOT WEAR HEADPHONES.

Helmets figure again . Likely to be of little protection against an HGV IMHO.

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

Helmets figure again . Likely to be of little protection against an HGV IMHO.

Well, quite. I wear a helmet but I'm not expecting it to save me if I'm involved in conflict against an HGV. A Main Battle Tank might be useful in that circumstance but little else ..

 

[Wheeledweenie]

I haven't been able to access the podcast for this :@( A s a lady commuter I find it worrying how many cyclists (not just ladies) feel the constant need to creep up the sides of lorries. They can't see you, hang back, delay yourself by a couple of minutes and live.

 

[Haitch]

I thought the overall tone of the piece was, "They really shouldn't be on the road cycling but since we can't stop them..."

Questions were along the lines of, "What can cyclists do to understand the lorry driver's position?"

 

[Haitch]

... as though some silly girls had done something slightly embarrassing at the gymkhana but we'll overlook it because they're wearing gingham frocks.

 

[Tynan]

As long as the lorry signals early, I have little sympathy for someone finding themselves inside a left turning lorry at a junction,granted lorries coming from behind to then crush them is another matter

The cyclist has to take responsibility too, the roads in London at least can be dangerous if you don't pay attention

headphones ... see it all the time, people bowling along in a world of their own, an awful lot of riders survive unscathed because other road users make allowances for them

 

[CotterPin]

As long as the lorry signals early, I have little sympathy for someone finding themselves inside a left turning lorry at a junction,granted lorries coming from behind to then crush them is another matter

The cyclist has to take responsibility too, the roads in London at least can be dangerous if you don't pay attention

headphones ... see it all the time, people bowling along in a world of their own, an awful lot of riders survive unscathed because other road users make allowances for them

I don't come up the inside of a lorry even when it ain't signalling unless I can clearly see my exit at the other end - much to the annoyance of cyclists behind me who are determined to head off, usually in an ungainly fashion, into the gap of death.

Definitely with you on cyclists and, to be fair, other road users, who rely upon the skills of others to get by - one day it will all go horribly wrong.

 

[J4CKO]

headphones ... see it all the time, people bowling along in a world of their own, an awful lot of riders survive unscathed because other road users make allowances for them

That is spot on, the onus needs to be put on each and every road user to be responsible for their own and others safety, I prefer not to rely on anyone elses judgement to protect me but I accept that sometimes I may a mistake and will then hope others are being vigilant, people need to acept that some individuals arent as able and to be patient and cyclists need to stop going up the sides of massive lorries !!!!!

 

[mknash]

I would just like to add that I do not take ANYTHING mooted by RoadPeace seriously.

They are a victims organisation and only pay lip service to keeping people alive.

Without the finding from people buying Road Peace plaques her interest would dwindle for sure. Furthermore, those nice distracting memorials that frequently fall over into roads or leave nice mushy flower heads in cycle paths are condoned by this organisation.

Though I have much sympathy for anyone losing a loved one, setting up an organisation is usually narrowly focussed on their own grievances and not the big picture

 

[Origamist]

I would just like to add that I do not take ANYTHING mooted by mknash seriously.

 

[mknash]

When she stops believing that the whole street should become a memorial for road casualties I will believe her sincerity. The streets belong to everyone and as such nobody should have primacy when it comes to littering and grafitti (sorry, tributes and messages)

Yes though, the above actions are very positive. Wonder why she never tried to get shares in the truck builders so ALL trucks could be improved an not just the ones that killed her daughter.

 

[mknash]

I totally agree, that she is not all bad - but I do have issues that she gets to sit in consultation with manchester council over the detritus left in the street I live on.

Because her daughter died, I have to cycle past 4 trees that are dmaaged by nails and writing, plus deflated baloons and old pictures of people loved ones.

I have spoken to both council and police who say they can do nothing. A quick check of council policy shows a 30 day limit on all memorials. But Road Peac advised the council that this should be ignored.

So, is she a trauma councillor? a road expert? a sanitation professional? Answer, none of the above. 20 years ago the work used would have been "busy body"

So for those who like safety dictated by inexperienced untrained reactionaries this is the way to go.

I for one will continue to object.

 

[jimboalee]

I don't come up the inside of a lorry even when it ain't signalling unless I can clearly see my exit at the other end - much to the annoyance of cyclists behind me who are determined to head off, usually in an ungainly fashion, into the gap of death.

Definitely with you on cyclists and, to be fair, other road users, who rely upon the skills of others to get by - one day it will all go horribly wrong.

Brilliant !

 

[Tynan]

I'll go up the inside of a long vehicle if the gap is wide enough and the road straight and there's no railings etc etc etc

Not if it's articulated, nearing a junction, vaguely close to the curb or one of thse insane rear steering ones, I got one hell of a fright from one of those 20 years ago that taught me

 

[ChrisKH]

I think it depends upon what you mean when you say " making allowances". The law requires other road users to make allowances for cyclists, for example, who may swerve to avoid pot holes and drain covers. In that respect they should be vigilant and take additional care. Cyclists pulling out without looking, failing to indicate, going down the LHS of a lorry, dangerous filtering, RLJ, etc. then I'm with you.