2011-02-24 - Rider Down - Old St Roundabout - 8am

Thank cripes for that! Was it just me who thought publishing the sorry looking pile of personal effects was a bit raw when someone's fighting for their life?

Undoubtedly insensitive journalism. Although, having said that, it was all the stuff in the road that made it particularly forcefully awful to look at this morning, it just really highlighted for me that this person has a life and a routine just like me, and they chose which scarf to wear this morning, and put all their bits and bobs in their handbag then... In a way it brings it home more; I guess if the picture means the article has a similar effect that actually seeing this in person did on me this morning, then it might encourage everyone (cyclists, drivers) to be a bit more careful - even if it's only for the next couple of days. Poor woman. The two accidents at the roundabout these 10 days have made me feel really upset as this is my regular commute. I really hope both people make a full recovery.

That's a relief. Heal up soon lady cyclist.

:) heal up soon lady..

I'm so glad. I only heard bad things this PM til now.

Heal up rider down.

thoughts and prayers with the rider, her family and friends.

i will write to my mp, my local councillor and my local highway authortiy. (second time in two days. yesterday it was a pedestrian down. a small child hit on pedestrian crossing by a car. east india dock road e14 about 1300 hrs).

as for the comments above re red lights and lorries.

i slow down at junctions and watch for traffic. if it is clear i go. i like it when the light is red because then i get safety uplift. the traffic is stationary and therefore less hazards. i can see what is going on and i get some traffic free road on the other side. nice. i virtually always go through on red in town because (i think) it is safer.

re lorries etc. anybody and everybody that is moving about in / with a motor powered vehicle has chosen to put danger into the community. and in virtually all cases a lot more than is necessary.

If only everyone was as thoughtful as you, Somebody. I will write to my MP as well. I am distraught for this poor lady. We shouldn’t have to anticipate death or severe injury at every junction and roundabout. My thoughts are with her, and her family and friends.

I usually avoid old st roundabout on the way to the city, I ride the back streets from Leonard St (off Gt Eastern) toward white cross lane (over city rd, barbican side), then rejoin Clerkenwell Road near Look Mum No Hands. Its not too bad other than having to stop at city road.

Went past Old Street this morning and stupidly presumed due to the amount of emergency services present the outcome was bad.The belongings strewn all over the road was a sight that will stay with me forever. Hope however it is pulls through and makes a full recovery! My thoughts and prayers are with you!

My thoughts are with you. Speedy recovery

If only everyone was as thoughtful as you, Somebody. I will write to my MP as well. I am distraught for this poor lady. We shouldn’t have to anticipate death or severe injury at every junction and roundabout. My thoughts are with her, and her family and friends.

nice one.

i would encourage others to do the same.

i do it every time i hear of or see a bad crash.

keep the pressure on the powers that be.

lets them know we are not asleep etc. and we do care.

if you are not sure who your mp is.

linky linky rinky dinky

http://findyourmp.parliament.uk/

it also gives you an option to email direct from this link.

in terms of what to write. just say it like it is. use you own words. be brief. get straight to the point. be polite.

i.e. ask for safer roads please - for all road users.

20 mph on all roads in built up areas for example.

good luck.

i agree somebody..

i think with could go bigger though.. david cameron wants a big society, i think we can give him something to think about. with other cycle communities pulling together we should create big voice in London, demand better awareness, treatment and respect on the road. i think the situation is getting worse not better on the roads for us. contacting MPs is a very good start though. i also recognise that there are efforts surrounding HGV issues in EU currently under review

Not the place for this discussion.

Heal up rider.

done. written to my mp.

it does me feel better. i feel uncomfortable not doing anything.

thinking about the rider now. lets hope she pulls through.

i campaign for cyclsits touring club.

and london cycle campaign also do some fantastic work in london.

some of my thinking piggy backs of others.

20's plenty is a good campaigning group.

as is brake.

as is roadpeace.

and there is a safer streets coalition.

you can google all the above for inspiration and thinking.

and if you want to get involved go for it.

Not the place for this discussion.

Heal up rider.

agreed, apologies

glad its good news, word to me was two cyclists dead.

I'm so glad to hear she's going to heal up, I too cycle through there daily and saw the scene.

written to Meg Hillier my local MP and probably MP for the old st roundabout

you too can write to her http://www.meghillier.com/

Hello Meg,

I've recently moved to the borough from whitechapel so I'm new to your constituency. As you're probably aware there has been a big campaign to make the roads safer for cyclists, especially regarding HGV's travelling around at rush hour in London. The other morning 24/02 on my way into work Old St roundabout was closed off due to a near fatal collision between a female cyclist and a skip truck. As I cycled up I saw her belongings strewn across the road and ambulances and police everywhere. The tragic thing was that isn't the first time this has happened, and probably won't be the last. Old St round-about is notorious for cyclists being knocked over, and more often than not it's due to them being in the blind spot of the HGV driver.

Something has to be done about this, from what I understand Boris has withdrawn funding from the HGV testing centre in London, and things are only going to get worse. More often than not it's female cyclists being hit by HGV's and I'm sick of my daily commute being peppered with the sight of injured or dead cyclists being put into ambulances. Please can you do something about this, it's literally killing off your constituents.

thanks for taking the time to read this.

glad its good news, word to me was two cyclists dead.

my sister told me that too. Apparently a corner shop owner saw 2 people getting run over by a truck. I think he was talking out his arse.
Good news this girl is going to recover.

Well done for writing, Bristly. I rather wish that we could get rid of the pointless old fossil that is Old Street roundabout, but it would probably cost more than £20-30m or more. (Costs are ridiculous nowadays.) One day ...

I'm so glad to hear she's going to heal up, I too cycle through there daily and saw the scene.

written to Meg Hillier my local MP and probably MP for the old st roundabout

you too can write to her http://www.meghillier.com/[QUOTE]Hello Meg,

I've recently moved to the borough from whitechapel so I'm new to your constituency. As you're probably aware there has been a big campaign to make the roads safer for cyclists, especially regarding HGV's travelling around at rush hour in London. The other morning 24/02 on my way into work Old St roundabout was closed off due to a near fatal collision between a female cyclist and a skip truck. As I cycled up I saw her belongings strewn across the road and ambulances and police everywhere. The tragic thing was that isn't the first time this has happened, and probably won't be the last. Old St round-about is notorious for cyclists being knocked over, and more often than not it's due to them being in the blind spot of the HGV driver.

Something has to be done about this, from what I understand Boris has withdrawn funding from the HGV testing centre in London, and things are only going to get worse. More often than not it's female cyclists being hit by HGV's and I'm sick of my daily commute being peppered with the sight of injured or dead cyclists being put into ambulances. Please can you do something about this, it's literally killing off your constituents.

thanks for taking the time to read this.
[/QUOTE]

The north-east quarter of the roundabout is in Meg's constituency. For the other three quarters, write to Emily Thornberry, MP for Islington South and Finsbury.

The Mayor of London did indeed withdraw Mayoral funding for the former Commercial Vehicle Education Unit at the Metropolitan Police, but following determined campaigning, the Met used its own funding to re-establish it as the Commercial Vehicle Unit:

http://www.lcc.org.uk/index.asp?PageID=1714

Also saw this on Thursday and was chatting with another cyclist who had to dismount and walk. Good to hear the news regarding recovery!