2009-09-16 - Rider Down/Fatality, Whitechapel Road

Truly awful - just round the corner from my flat and echo the comments regarding the Whitechapel Road/area in general being pretty hairy for two wheels

RIP

as the sergeant in hill street blues said:
'lets be careful out there !'
i do feel that nothing will ever happen to change this situation.... uncaring drivers...so, the only answer is for us to be really, really cautious and alert at all times.....

Hope the LCC keeps up the god work, IMO we should all support them. Their idea re Bike Tube and led rides for novices are sound ideas, but I guess that's another thread too.

Thanks, domski. There's all sorts of stuff you can get involved in if you want to. [advertising] The best way of supporting us is to join the LCC--the more members we have, the stronger our voice is. Lots of membership benefits that save you money through discounts in bike shops and free third party insurance, among others. http://www.lcc.org.uk/index.asp?PageID=47[/advertising]

Oliver
LCC

Hi all, thank you so much for all your kind words.
The cyclist was my beautiful cousin, Chrystelle Brown, she was 26 years old and simply loved cycling. Her accident has devasted our family, she was so full of life and vitality none of us can believe she is gone.
I have heard from you all that the junction is dangerous, I even have un unconfirmed story that she was the second cyclist to be killed there within a week. My sister and I are starting a campaign to have the junction made safer for cyclists and as soon as we have more information I will happily post it here for you all to see.
Chrystelle, you are so precious to us all. We will never forget you, or the joy you brought to everyone that knew you. I cannot begin to express how much we miss you. The house is filled with all your favourite people, popping in and out and drinking tea. You would love the crowd that have gathered to seek comfort. We laugh as much as we cry, you have given us so many funny stories it does not take us long to start smiling when we remember our time together. Poor mum has had the kettle on constantly and we seem to allways have a full teapot and no clean cups left.
Thank you for teaching me the real meaning of the phrase unconditional love, because that's what you truly gave me.
All my love, Kat xxx

Really sorry for your loss Kat. My thoughts are with you

Kat, I'm so sorry for the loss that you and your family have suffered

Kat, I feel for you and your devastating loss.

I hope you find much solace and comfort from your and Chrystelle's loved ones.

Get in touch with RoadPeace if you haven't already:

http://www.roadpeace.org/

All the best.

Enough is enough i think, investment in cycling has to be matched with investment in safety for our cyclists. As someone who recently lost a loved one, I feel your loss.

It looks like the original alignment of New Road was such that there wasn't a dog leg between Valence Road and New Road (you can tel this by the building line on the north east end of New Road). If this was re-aligned north-south traffic would not need to swerve around the existing dog leg. This would make it safer for cyclists to turn right onto whitechapel road from Valence Road.

@Kat - I'm so sorry for your terrible loss. It's heart wrenching when a young life is snatched away like this.

The very least I can do is sign the petition and I urge others to do so too.

Sorry, above post didn't make particullary good sense, just not thinking straight, try this...
Hi All

After what happened to Chrystelle on Wednesday, my sister and I have decided we may not be able to change the cycling world, but we can try and stop any other cyclists being in danger at that junction. We have arranged a petition to try and get the road layout changed and the road widened to make it safer for all traffic. I have included the link, please please please help us to change this horrible crossroads.

Chrystelle was an experienced and proud cyclist and we cannot begin to understand how this happened. If you would like to support our cause in memory of our very special cousin please go to

http://www.gopetition.co.uk/petitions/save-cyclists-lives.html

Thank you again for all your thoughts and messages and stay safe

Have signed.

Am so sorry for your loss Kat x

Signed and I hope the forum will be able to have some effect on the outcome. Condolences to you Kat and to all your family.

Good work on the petition Kat. It has been signed.
My thoughts are with you and all that knew Chrystelle.

iam sorry to hear about your loss. I have signed the petition and I hope that we can change something

I'm sorry for your family's loss Kat. I have signed the petition in the hope Chrystelle's tragic incident can bring some change.

Terribly sad after hearing of this tragic accident, signed the petition, let's hope it can help make our roads safer.

Signed the petition.

So inspiring to see people acting when something like this happens.
Just read through the whole story of Eilidh back in Feburary and was moved to tears.

Godspeed, Kat.

Signed. Hopefully we can make a difference.

Signed. Thoughts go out to you Kat. Stay strong. x

signed too.

And I

So sorry for the loss to you and your family Kat.
You have my backing with your petition.

Hate that junction as well. Cannot imagine what it's like to loose someone close. My condolences to you and your family.

Signed. I would urge others to do so also.