Truck hazard

[Frood42]

Thanks for coming on here and at least expressing your worries.
Air horns are available for bikes but not likely to become popular.
My view is that more education for both cyclists and drivers of all vehicles is needed.

Why anyone on a bike would squeeze up the side of a hgv or any larger than normal vehicle is completely beyond my understanding.

Out on the open road I cant remember the last time a lorry caused me any concern. Cars cause me concern on a daily basis.

Banning HGVs from cities during peak times will result in more deliveries done in smaller vans. Whats worse, 1 Lorry or twenty vans?

HGV's and vans not running during rush hour... although for me the concern is more the tipper trucks running around during rush hour.
The HGV's I see that deliver to Tesco (and other brands) are not doing so during rush hour traffic.

Why pay drivers to sit there in rush hour traffic or to drive in large amounts of traffic increasing the risk of an accident..?

 

[Euro]

Thanks for the advice, let me know how the horn would have prevented this
Jarmai, I think that a very loud hoot would be very likely to draw the cyclists presence to the attention of the HGV driver in the un-nerving videos which you posted. In a car or a wagon I am always jolted by the sound of a horn and my immediate assumption is that I have done something wrong.

I appreciate your comrades reluctance to include yet another piece of equipment but, I don't believe that:

Boris will ban HGVs from London
Wagon manufacturers will take steps to safeguard cyclists
Yet more mirrors can help (our all round vision is already obstructed by 2ft2 of mirrors)
Reducing the drivers working day limit of 15hours will help
Reducing the drivers continuous driving limit of 4.5 hours will help


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_fgrPas-0E


or this


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w90hPZcJU38


or this


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gku1dyYTn0


Let me make it clear, if a cyclist has to use a horn then the truck driver is doing something wrong.

 

[PK99]

HGV's and vans not running during rush hour....?

The flaw there is that a number of the recent incidents did not occur in rush hour

 

[Frood42]

The flaw there is that a number of the recent incidents did not occur in rush hour

It would be a start though, with the higher numbers of people about during rush hour then banning large vehicles, especially construction vehicles like tipper trucks, would be a start.

Then a move towards more urban friendly vehicles could be another step.

The biggest problem for me is that we are trying to patch or fix what for an urban area is an already flawed vehicle design.
Techonology can help with existing vehicles, but again it is a sticking plaster, and we don't want drivers relying on those technological aids too much...

The other option is segregation of cyclists on some of the major roads and junctions.
.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

The other option is segregation of cyclists on some of the major roads and junctions.
.

Actually, I think that may be part of the problem, especially at the Bow Roundabout where a lot of incidents seem to happen. I'd far rather see cyclists trained to take up their road space like any other vehicle. Once you segregate cyclists at busy junctions, it's the start of the slippery slope to us being banned from the roads altogether.

 

[buggi]

I keep seeing this phrase "victim blaming" when people dare to suggest cyclist don't ride up the inside. To suggest training a cyclist in this way is not victim blaming, its teaching them how to survive.
TfL and the haulage companies between them have pretty much created this whole mess. The billions TfL have spent on these blue lanes could have paid for the most up to date equipment on lorries, driver training and free cycle training to everyone in London. And what have they just announced... They want to spend another billion. Well they need to stop painting blue lines and invest the money in equipment and training for all concerned.
also banning lorries at peak hours will only increase them at other times of the day or night so that won't work. Get rid of cycle lanes and superhighways, use the money for equipment and training for all, and FFS make the training meaningful. A cyclist buying a trucker breakfast IS NOT going to make the driver see him when he's back on his bike.

 

[buggi]

[QUOTE 2773235, member: 9609"]
View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jn0BVeKD5Xw[/quote]
while everyone is concentrating on the "bad" cyclist, did anyone notice the two cyclists on the left who also nearly get taken out by the car and truck on the corner? They are not doing anything illegal but cycle training would teach them to be in primary position, so neither the car nor the truck could attempt to overtake them on the corner

 

[RedRider]

Have you not read what one of their Directors had to say about cycling and cyclists?
http://road.cc/content/news/49463-i...sts-article-cyclists-road-haulage-association

Quite depressing to read but not surprising. thanks for posting. Some here say don't take part in events like critical Mass because it might upset the odd motorist.

 

[discominer]

tipper truck tailgated me (on my bike) dowm Crow Road today, trying to bully me out of primary. He was so close that when I looked round I couldn't see the cab windscreen. Nuts.

 

[Frood42]

Actually, I think that may be part of the problem, especially at the Bow Roundabout where a lot of incidents seem to happen. I'd far rather see cyclists trained to take up their road space like any other vehicle. Once you segregate cyclists at busy junctions, it's the start of the slippery slope to us being banned from the roads altogether.

Yes, segregation is not my favoured option, but I can think of nothing else for those new to cycling or afraid of traffic.

 

[theclaud]

Yes, segregation is not my favoured option, but I can think of nothing else for those new to cycling or afraid of traffic.

How about removing or controlling the source of the danger?

 

[theclaud]

[QUOTE 2778559, member: 30090"]What? Why get rid of the cyclists?[/quote]
Behave.

 

[Frood42]

How about removing or controlling the source of the danger?

Not sure if you saw the rest of the conversation...
My suggestion would be more urban friendly vehicles
And also perhaps controlled or better planned routes for those vehicles avoiding major cycle routes...

Frood42, Today at 17:30

It would be a start though, with the higher numbers of people about during rush hour then banning large vehicles, especially construction vehicles like tipper trucks, would be a start.

Then a move towards more urban friendly vehicles could be another step.

The biggest problem for me is that we are trying to patch or fix what for an urban area is an already flawed vehicle design.
Techonology can help with existing vehicles, but again it is a sticking plaster, and we don't want drivers relying on those technological aids too much...

The other option is segregation of cyclists on some of the major roads and junctions.
.

 

[theclaud]

Not sure if you saw the rest of the conversation...
My suggestion would be more urban friendly vehicles
And also perhaps controlled or better planned routes for those vehicles avoiding major cycle routes...

Yes - sorry - I was using your "I can think of nothing else" as a general prompt, rather than taking it at face value. Take the persistent issue about poor visibility down the left-hand side of the truck. How about a second person in the cab who was responsible for ensuring that the turn is clear?

 

[Boynkins]

The big artics tend to be fine with me, I very rarely have any problems with them and try to pull in and wave them past as it must be frustrating being stuck behind a bike on a steep uphill. I have had my shoulder brushed by the wheel arch of a tipper when he passed me at a traffic island instead of slowing down for 10 seconds, which was terrifying.
I think that ALL urban roads should be one way, with segregated cycle lanes on both sides, plenty of room for cyclists to go both ways and plenty of room for drivers to go on their journeys. Safer and would encourage more people to cycle, making it safer still.
Other countries do LOADS more than we do.
http://www.cycling-embassy.org.uk/wiki/dutch-cycle-infrastructure