Ms Tao, originally from China but living with her husband in Clerkenwell, had been unable to get in front of the lorry while they waited for the lights to change because the cycle box was full of other cyclists and two motorcyclists.We obviously have too many cyclists on the road! Ban 'em! If it saves one life, etc...
After all, isn't that the prevailing opinion in every tragedy now? So isn't it about time their tactics were used against them?
Another witness, David-Alexandre Dahan whose eye had been drawn to Ms Tao because she was wearing a face mask, white helmet and bandana, said she "struggled to get momentum" when trying to move off.
Solicitor Karen Florencio said: "I noticed that the cyclist was wobbling quite dramatically, though I hadn't seen what had caused that.
"Shortly after that, I thought immediately if that carries on, she is going to come off or go under.
"Then it just appeared she almost seemed to get sucked under the middle set of wheels of the lorry. Within seconds she just seemed to disappear underneath."Mandatory training for cyclists! Physical fitness standard or no license! If it saves one life, etc....
I could get used to this!
9 comments:
I think there should be road signs that state:-
Roads which have primarily been built for the use of motor vehicles in the event a cycle lane is not provided has no facility to protect cyclists from harm. Motor vehicles are large, heavy and fast and bicycles are slow, light, unstable and afford little protection in the event of a collision. Roads are therefore harmful for cyclists to use and they do so at their own risk. PS. And cyclists who believes other road users who pay taxes for using the roads which they dont are lesser mortals than they, which most do, can p***s off.
Interesting. No thought of, “Oooh, big, scary lorry next to me. I think I’ll wait until it gets out of the way before setting off,” then? At least they waited for the lights to change, so there are signs of progress.
What was she doing on the inside of the lorry in such a position that she couldn't see the driver and he couldn't see her?
"And cyclists who believes other road users who pay taxes for using the roads which they dont are lesser mortals than they, which most do, can p***s off."
Oh dear, how many times must we put that old canard to bed before ignoramuses stop digging it up? Vehicle excise duty has nothing whatsoever to do with paying to use the roads. It is part of general taxation and,as such, goes into the central government pot, along with income tax, VAT, and all the other taxes that, surprisingly, cyclists have to pay too. In any case, most cyclists own a car and pay vehicle excise duty on it while using it far less than a non cycling car owner does.
It does make sense to me that all road users, including cyclists, should be able to demonstrate a certain level of competence before being allowed out on the road.
Stonyground
Fed up with all this pandering to the cycle Nazis. I lost count yesterday of how many twats ignored the basic rules of the road like light red lights mean stop and pedestrian crossings are not a means to avoid "no right turn" signs unless you dismount.
"Oh dear, how many times must we put that old canard to bed"
Only biased cyclists have done that. We the less intellectually challenged have not. The point about cyclists not paying towards roads through fuel taxes and vehicle excise duty is a valid one. Regardless of it all going into the same pot(the principle is what matters, cyclists are not contributing to the pot in the same way because they do not need fuel and they do not pay excise duty) or not cyclists are in that sense are using the roads for free other road users are not. What makes it worse is that cyclists are using roads for free and at the same time think they own them.
Reality. Returning the roads to vehicle use one cyclist at a time.
"..bicycles are slow, light, unstable and afford little protection in the event of a collision."
Maybe a government health warning on all bikes: 'Your choice of mobility may cause risk of premature death. Cycle responsibly'. After all, it's good enough for booze & ciggies...
"At least they waited for the lights to change, so there are signs of progress."
Quite!
"What was she doing on the inside of the lorry in such a position that she couldn't see the driver and he couldn't see her?"
Well, she won't do it again...
"It does make sense to me that all road users, including cyclists, should be able to demonstrate a certain level of competence before being allowed out on the road."
I cannot understand why a test and license isn't the go-to fix that government sees it to be in so many other pastimes...
"I lost count yesterday of how many twats ignored the basic rules of the road like light red lights mean stop and pedestrian crossings are not a means to avoid "no right turn" signs unless you dismount. "
Can't remember the last time I saw a car do this..
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