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We don’t have jaywalking laws
Not only that, but the absence of such laws means the concept doesn't actually exist in Britain. :) This is a very good thing, a much-underrated freedom.
But, this never marries up with the reality of British infrastructure and behaviour. London is a clusterfuck, and if you would yield for every pedestrian that stepped out, you would never make your destination.
I don't agree. The vast majority of the time, it isn't even the slightest problem--if you know what you're doing. This present case is a vanishingly rare edge case. If there's some conflict, as a cyclist you can always initiate a police standoff--a friendly 'after you' will usually cause the other party to give up their resistance to your politeness. :)
I’d question why did the guy have an airhorn if he wasn’t frequently confronted by lack of awareness by pedestrians when crossing.
There is no reason for having an airhorn on a bike whatsoever. Not justifiable. You shouldn't even need a bell. If you need to say something to someone, use your voice. There are only very few people with an impairment that prevents them from doing so.
Probably the takeaway should not be, insure and lawyer up, but improve infrastructure and educate.
The order is wrong. It should be: (1) insure (a basic sensible move, just become a member of a cycling organisation--the problem is that it's really aimed at middle-class people and many people on tight incomes can't afford it); (2) educate (consider cycle training, etc.); (3) improve infrastructure (although that really has no bearing on the present case). Obviously, 'lawyer up' is only in the event of a crash, so doesn't belong in this list.
Oliver Schick-
If you need to say something to someone, use your voice.
I'm not sure say anything in an emergency situation is a good idea at all from a cycling perspective. The CA case followed by this cases very much suggest that a cyclists will have it held against them in a way that a motorist using the horn wouldn't.
Much better to keep your mouth shut and if the worst happens rely on the cast iron get out of jail free card of "I didn't see" or "the sun was in my eyes" seams to work fine for motorists.
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Northern Ireland has jaywalking laws.
I've never seen them enforced however. The local police in Belfast has been doing Light Checks (unlit cyclists), overtaking checks (1.5 meter and no less). They take any cyclist complaints serious as well.
Pedestrians here are as inattentive in the city centre as can be though, it is not so busy that it becomes impossible to drive/cycle but they do happily step out in front of you. All you can do is slow down.
The local government is doing campaigns (respect everyone's journey) to ask people to light up, wear hi-vis when running, give lots of room overtaking, not speed...
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educate (consider cycle training, etc.
Does cycle training include pedestrian awareness - for example in a situation like this ?
HousecatHST
JWestland
not4sale
Something else quite frustrating is that the law, the application of the law, and the reality are all very far apart. We don’t have jaywalking laws, and we don’t often observe the laws that are in place anyway. When we do observe them we don’t consistently observe them.
So, regardless, if a pedestrian is already in the road the vehicle should yield, but a pedestrian should not step into the road when a vehicle is coming. The solicitors argue speed and distance to determine who had the right to be on the road and who should have stopped and decided they were equally to blame.
However, the equally to blame is determined on the basis that the guy saw her in the road so could and should have yielded. That is based on their own analysis of what would be acceptable distance and speed.
But, this never marries up with the reality of British infrastructure and behaviour. London is a clusterfuck, and if you would yield for every pedestrian that stepped out, you would never make your destination.
In a situation like this, when you see a pedestrian walking along you probably saw them from 20m away, but their decision to cross in front of you was made after the gap had already closed to maybe 5 or less.
I’d question why did the guy have an airhorn if he wasn’t frequently confronted by lack of awareness by pedestrians when crossing.
Probably the takeaway should not be, insure and lawyer up, but improve infrastructure and educate.