Awareness Raising Spoke Cards Campaign Project?

I don't know if this has been said? It would be great if the final design is approved by either a survivor or a relative of someone who has been lost. This would give it a bit more weight if the media took hold of it.

I can tell for sure that Cynthia Barlow, whose daughter was killed by left-turning lorry, will ABSOLUTELY DEFINITELY not approve of any design that implies that a cyclist killed by a left-turning lorry was in the wrong place, and I doubt that the family of Emma Foa will either.

"The place you definitely don’t want to be is alongside, or slightly in front of, their front wheels at any time but especially at junctions. This is because lorry drivers who have killed cyclists by left-turns (making up more than a quarter of all cyclists killed in London in the last 6 years), even if they signal, often failed to look in their left-hand mirrors to check for cyclists."

This is what the problem is in a nutshell. And as I said before, we can't be sure that the Soton Row collision wasn't the result of the lorry over-taking and then turning left immediately. The lorry driver that killed Cynthia's daughter did exactly that. (Acquitted of careless driving).

Hi,

I don't post very ofetn but I just wanted to say that I too am happy to help with this and donate some cash.

I spend my days working as a press officer and I think we could get some good coverage around this particulary if we can have everything organised together - cards ready, images, press release (with quotes from realtives if possible), spokespeople and a ring of bikes so that we had some good broadcast pics too.

A few other people have offered to help in this area so maybe we could all meet and form a media plan? Just let me know and I'll be there.

You lost me wools. No lobbying is not something I've done. Is this^ some kind of refence to the parliament lobbyist shizzle, all that backsheesh and vested interests business? I meant lobby in the lay meaning, as in letter writing and protesting and whatnot.

Vacher's Quarterly contains the latest contact details of all individuals and institutions within the political arena in the UK and Europe. If/when the time comes that people want to send letters of a political nature, it could help better target correspondence. Although I'm sure most of it could be found online. It's here if it's needed anyway.

I had an idea for an interesting image to convey blind-spots: Get a lorry somewhere really dark, put a bright light where the driver's head would be, then take a photo from above.

Most of the light would shine out of the front of the cab, but a bit would be reflected by the mirrors and show what areas they reveal.The blind spots would all be shadows, and places that look really tiny in the driver's mirrors would only get a tiny amount of light.

I think basic image with just the light and shadows coming out of the lorry would be really striking, but if anyone wanted more, they could also arrange cyclists and people around the lorry to show who is lit up and who isn't. Could also simulate where the driver is looking by using a spot light.

The truck diagrams need to be simplified colour wise from the ones on MT as they rely on the description.
Just a quick knock up of the diagrams. Maybe the line is a little rhymey but it sort of works at a glance.
Could be the reverse maybe.

I like the idea of using these diagrams in some way, but I think initially unless you know what they are about its hard to identify what is actually going on in these pictures, it could be just be a bit of Mondrian if I didnt know better ;-) Maybe its the colouring...

I find that diagram confusing. Need Simple effective design, like the ones previously posted.

And up for a cycling round town hall in black protest. Good idea.

Not a protest. If it is a protest then it will get broken up. It sounds to hostile. It is to raise awarness rather than protest againest anything.

I like the idea of using these diagrams in some way, but I think initially unless you know what they are about its hard to identify what is actually going on in these pictures, it could be just be a bit of Mondrian if I didnt know better ;-) Maybe its the colouring...

Agreed.

You have to imagine that you're totally new to cycling and then see if what you've designed clearly communicates your message. Unfortunately unless you already have very good road-sense or are an experienced cyclist (who arguably already knows to stay away from lorries) then the turning diagram just looks like modern art.

Not trying to take anything away from your commendable efforts JOL, just saying what I see.

. . . just looks like modern art

Agreed, they are very unclear.

They need to show the HGV from the perspective of the cyclist (not from the perspective of the HGV driver - with the cab being kept straight) - They also need to be put in some kind of context with an indication of some kind of road layout.

I haven't got time to do a proper one right now, but I could knock it up later on this evening. Here is a very rough hatchet job.

me too, oh and pipwish I LOVE your design. great impact

:D

I had an idea for an interesting image to convey blind-spots: Get a lorry somewhere really dark, put a bright light where the driver's head would be, then take a photo from above.

Most of the light would shine out of the front of the cab, but a bit would be reflected by the mirrors and show what areas they reveal.The blind spots would all be shadows, and places that look really tiny in the driver's mirrors would only get a tiny amount of light.

I think basic image with just the light and shadows coming out of the lorry would be really striking, but if anyone wanted more, they could also arrange cyclists and people around the lorry to show who is lit up and who isn't. Could also simulate where the driver is looking by using a spot light.

Love that idea Moth, it would make for a great photo and clear message. i'll PM you

I think Bill's right. We need to get lobbying not laminating.

Its like herding cats in here!

tbh, i think it should be a mix of both, raising awareness amongst cycling that hgvs arnt the safest things to cycle near through the spoke cards and also lobbying the authorities to sort out the parts of this problem that we cant, such as creating hgv free zones. but i think we will be in a better possition to lobby if at first we create some momentum amounst cyclists so we can effectivly lobby, linking in with the lcc, ctc and other cycling groups if people want to do so.

Love that idea Moth, it would make for a great photo and clear message. i'll PM you

Don't forget to fog up the whole area a little (smoke machine or similar) - you cannot see light traveling through air unless it has something to interact with.

Nice idea Moth !

Awesome idea Moth (and Tynan).

If nobody has already stepped up to the plate, I'll be more than happy to work on the website, building up a wordpress template and what not.

I'm a web developer by trade, so why not!

How about stenciling those corners that are particulalry prone to this kind of thing ?

Ignore my non-design, I am sure someone here can knock up something better.

OK, somebody needs to do this. If we're all in agreement then let's propose a team of people who can coordinate this project offline. These people will have different roles but their overall objective will be to raise awareness of the dangers of passing a lorry on the left when riding a bicycle. The team will work alongside LFGSS as a resource and mouthpiece for the project. Definite roles needed to be filled are:

1. Spokesperson (should have prior experience, I'm naturally veering towards BB without wanting to speak for him)

2. Designer/s (max of 2 - preferably not the precious type)

3. Project Manager (ideally again has some prior experience)

4. Photographer/Illustrator (if required)

I'm not sure what other roles are needed, your thoughts are welcome but let's keep it pretty streamlined.

@ moth, excellent idea - I'd buy that on a t-shirt.

OK, somebody needs to do this. If we're all in agreement then let's propose a team of people who can coordinate this project offline. These people will have different roles but their overall objective will be to raise awareness of the dangers of passing a lorry on the left when riding a bicycle. The team will work alongside LFGSS as a resource and mouthpiece for the project. Definite roles needed to be filled are:

1. Spokesperson (should have prior experience, I'm naturally veering towards BB without wanting to speak for him)

2. Designer/s (max of 2 - preferably not the precious type)

3. Project Manager (ideally again has some prior experience)

4. Photographer/Illustrator (if required)

I'm not sure what other roles are needed, your thoughts are welcome but let's keep it pretty streamlined.

Sorry, count me out. Unless there is a component which explicit states that lorry drivers and their operators bear as much if not more responsibility to prevent more of these collisions.

That sounds great, we will also need a component which explicitly states that lorry drivers and their operators bear as much, if not more, of the responsibility to prevent more of these collisions.

Let me help you with your words. :)

No, I am serious. I have already said what I think is wrong the spoke-card thing. I started this journey by calling for a HGV ban, not by distributing leaflets to cyclists which implicit blame dead people for their own deaths.

In the absence of a ban on HGVs, what is the most pragmatic thing to do to harness this enthusiasm and raise awareness of the danger cyclists face?

No, I am serious. I have already said what I think is wrong the spoke-card thing. I started this journey by calling for a HGV ban, not by distributing leaflets to cyclists which implicit blame dead people for their own deaths.

Fair point, but is a HGV ban likely ?

I agree with your sentiments Bill, but as Tynan says is an HGV ban really likely? I'd love to be proved wrong, but I really cant see it.
I think we have a collection of like minded individuals here that want to educate cyclists in whatever small way. I agree that lobbying and press attention will improve circulation, but I think the spoke card/flyer/sticker idea is very inclusive and something that we can make happen fairly quickly with the bunch of creative minds in this forum.
Yes, lets write the letters to government/transport agencies/press but lets also employ some guerilla tactics to get this cause noticed by the cyclist on the street.

I don't think the intention here is to distribute leaflets implicitly blaming dead people for their own deaths at all, and I think the brainstorming thats going on will come up with something that educational rather than damning.

edit: sorry mean 'thought shower' brainstorming is racist.