2008-07-14 - Rider Down/Fatality, Grays Inn Road

If you don't undertake trucks you're not likely to 'be next'. Trucks aren't going out of their way to mow us down. People have to realise drivers can't always see bikes and act accordingly, ie. not scooting up the fsckign side of a lorry/truck/hgv/van etc.

I'm a Lorry driver and a fixed rider! I suppose I should spontaneously combust or something? I am incredibly aware of both sides of the story and I'm always looking out for fellow cyclists almost to the point of paranoia. Although there is lots of really really careless cycling going on out there and we all need to take responsibility for not being hurt, I can tell you from experience that there are a lot of Lorry drivers out there who seem to have a seriously homicidal streak when it comes to cyclists and pedestrians!

When you sit in a lorry your so high up that it almost removes you from the reality of everything going on around you. It's almost like a video game. It's really easy to kill things in a video game. Unfortunately I think this is what happens to a lot of lorry drivers and the reality of really hurting someone just dosent feel real until it's to late.

I have had more arguments and near fights about this than I care to talk about. It always drives me to maddness. Until more laws are created and we get a more cycling friendly city, we have to assume that every car, pedestrian and lorry are out to get us and act accordingly.