Nasty cycle accident on Kentish Town Rd last night

[probably sexist] It does seem to be women

I read a stat somewhere that backs this up, something to do with not jumping reds, riding more timidly and allowing themselves to be bullied into the curb when they should be in the primary position etc. Obviously this isn't all women and a lot of men do it too.

This is the Matt Seaton article on HGVs and dangers to women cyclists - still worth reading

http://lifeandhealth.guardian.co.uk/experts/mattseaton/story/0,,2039864,00.html

Not sexist, sadly true in a lot of cases. I ride fairly aggressively and take primary whenever possible.
This morning whilst riding through the junction at the top of Clapham High St, about 2 ft away from the curb with a car on my right, i move in slightly to the left only to nearly be hit by an Italian woman on a shopper who was trying to undertake me in about a foot of space. When I politely pointed out to her that what she did was extremely dangerous. She started shouting at how I should look where I was going and generally ranting at me, i bit my tongue, shook my head and rode off - but then thought thats exactly the type of person who will get hit by left turning lorries and it made me kinda sad.

shit, that sounds nasty.
Almost saw someone get taken out by a bendy bus this morn on the OKR.
Bus sped up to overtake an old timer riding fairly slowly then swung in sharply to stop at a bus-stop giving the guy no room at all - I looked back to see the guy had mounted the kerb riding through the crowd of people waiting for the bus.
All the bus-driver had to do was wait for maybe 10 seconds whilst the guy passed the stop. Dickhead.

When you see something like this, talk to the other cyclist be his/her witness and both of you report the incident. The driver of bendy buses need to be 1000% aware.

When you see something like this, talk to the other cyclist be his/her witness and both of you report the incident. The driver of bendy buses need to be 1000% aware.

I totally agree.

On the point about awareness, I can understand the left turning blindspot thing, but to overtake and then cut in, they know what they are doing without a doubt. OK maybe they overestimate distances occassionally but when they realise they are too close to the cyclist they should just stop and wait for the cyclist before pulling in, not finish the manouvre. I just don't believe that they don't know what they are doing.

cyclists continue to hug the curb then try to go straight. people should ride on the road not in the gutter, otherwise cars won't give you room.

Couldn't agree more. Ironic though isn't it how cycle lanes often encourage cyclists to hug the kerb.

Couldn't agree more. Ironic though isn't it how cycle lanes often encourage cyclists to hug the kerb.

Cycle lanes will only work when they are observed by all road user correctly. Ditto the Advanced Stop Line. Neither of these is ever enforced.

Little known fact: the Highway Code expressly forbids stopping or parking on a cycle track.
**
**240You MUST NOT stop or park on

[cut for brevity]

• a cycle track
  
  

If cycle tracks and the ASL were actually observed, and the cycle track had it's own traffic signals it might just work.

Sadly, in many cases the cycle track/ASL does nothing more than place cyclists on the nearside of of other vehicles at a junction.This is the case on the K-Town Road and at the Clerkenwell Rd/St John St junction that has claimed at least one cyclist's life.

erm. I thought the Advanced stop sign was for BMWs and Blue Badge of Death holders.
Did I miss something?

no cycle lane on that part of road, bus lane yes, cycle lane no!

erm. I thought the Advanced stop sign was for BMWs and Blue Badge of Death holders.
Did I miss something?

Indeed.

It's for black cabs and white vans too.

Ebony and Ivory,
Side by side....

no cycle lane on that part of road, bus lane yes, cycle lane no!

Is there not an ASL or two on that stretch?

erm. I thought the Advanced stop sign was for BMWs and Blue Badge of Death holders.
Did I miss something?

i was in the city a few weeks back, mini cabs stopped in the ASL on ludgate hill, i pulled in front of them, and a cop on a motor bike threatens me with a ticket, and i point out the cars, he says that the law is up to him. light goes and i cycle away really slowly

Is there not an ASL or two on that stretch?

that bit there isn't with the road works etc. could be wrong

The cycle lane would have to be in the middle of the road there to avoid the left turn issues, which is how it works on the continent in some cases.

think there's generally a clear gender divide amongst cyclists: men desperately over-estimate their skills, women the opposite.

I've had two blokes crash trying to race me on the road and try to overtake by falling under cars ... women tend to be dangerously slow, in the gutter.

I've had two blokes crash trying to race me on the road and try to overtake by falling under cars ... women tend to be dangerously slow, in the gutter.

Ha ha, I had some prick trying to do the same to me today, on Kentish Town Road, just before the bridge into Camden. He undertook me, found slowing traffic in front and then swung out into oncoming traffic that nearly wiped anything, let alone a smile, off his face.

i was in the city a few weeks back, mini cabs stopped in the ASL on ludgate hill, i pulled in front of them, and a cop on a motor bike threatens me with a ticket, and i point out the cars, he says that the law is up to him. light goes and i cycle away really slowly

You should've got his number. What a prick (the cop, not you).

think there's generally a clear gender divide amongst cyclists: men desperately over-estimate their skills, women the opposite.

That is not just when it comes to cycling. (In general obviously)

@BMMF

have it. wrote the IPCC.

All Coppers Are Bastards*

*with the possible exception of stevo-com when he is off duty

Good work.

Does stevo-com have full bastard powers, or can he only threaten to be a bastard whilst looking like one? No offence to stevo-com, obviously.

@BMMF

have it. wrote the IPCC.

All Coppers Are Bastards*

*with the possible exception of stevo-com when he is off duty

**bike coppers are fat bastards

I read a stat somewhere that backs this up, something to do with not jumping reds, riding more timidly and allowing themselves to be bullied into the curb when they should be in the primary position etc. Obviously this isn't all women and a lot of men do it too.

if women cyclists (some) are 'more timid' you'd think that they wouldn't get anywhere near a HGV.
Flip flops (footwear) and long flowing dresses can't help mobility either ...

I read a stat somewhere that backs this up, something to do with not jumping reds, riding more timidly and allowing themselves to be bullied into the curb when they should be in the primary position etc. Obviously this isn't all women and a lot of men do it too.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article1695668.ece
*
Women cyclists are far more likely to be killed by a lorry because, unlike men, they tend to obey red lights and wait at junctions in the driver’s blind spot, according to a study.*

if women cyclists (some) are 'more timid' you'd think that they wouldn't get anywhere near a HGV.
Flip flops (footwear) and long flowing dresses can't help mobility either ...

You don't necessarily have a choice if an HGV drives up behind you, also they move out to the right prior to a left which can be confused as them going right and people move into the gap.

I think the idea is more about hesitation and panic leading to poor choices and general death / mutilated limbs. The same is possible for anyone who rides in that manner.

Flowing dresses are likely to lead to me crashing when they blow up and reveal panty cleavage.

so timid cyclists die because they undertake lorries and get into their blind-zones

and then confident[crazy] cyclists die for doing the opposite and cycling wherever they want...

its just not fair!!!!