2011-10-24 - Rider Down/Fatality, Bow flyover

40miles?! He must have been in good shape.

Petal,
this is so sad, all our sympathies are with you and your children.

We at London Cycling Campaign and other cycling groups have been sent a copy of a letter that a friend of Brian's has sent to the Mayor.
It concludes
"Please assure me, and those of us close to Brian, that cyclists will be warned they are entering a Danger Zone at this location and that alternative routes are provided and that suitable signage is erected.
I look forward to a positive response that may bring some recognition and comfort to his family and those others of us who are now without our friend."

The whole letter is on our site.

good letter.

i am still thinking about brian.

and praying for change........

thanks for posting this charlie.

blogger diamond geezer posts about it again http://diamondgeezer.blogspot.com/2011/11/blue-monday.html
although the comments leave a lot to be desired, it's good to see a resolute non-cyclist writing about CSH problems.

Brian's wife has replied to a BBC article:

"I am the wife of Brian Dorling who was killed on 24th October at this awful junction. I and our 3 children are devastated by his needless death on what is an appalling layout. We went to watch the reconstruction of the collision and whilst I was watching the traffic in 20 minutes 3 more cyclists were nearly hit. I said to the police and traffic engineer at the time that someone else will die."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-15708227?postId=110858573#comment_110858573

Just feel so sorry for her and her children, and the family and friends of the lady killed there on Friday.

She has now appeared in a BBC interview found here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-15724907

I cycled CS2 today, visited the place where Brian died. Most of CS2 is a ridiculous strip of blue paint where cyclists shouldn't be riding if they want to get seen by drivers, The terrible route meets bow flyover where there is a short segregated section that encourages riders to the left of left turning vehicles. It is shameful and sad to see how little our society values the place of bike riders, the most benign way of moving around at speed, in the road hierarchy.

LCC has an open letter to the Mayor:
http://lcc.org.uk/articles/please-take-20-seconds-to-tell-the-mayor-of-london-cyclists-need-a-safe-bow-roundabout

And yet another miscarriage of justice as lorry driver David Cox walks free from court despite admitting causing Brian Dorling's death by dangerous driving. This disgusts me.
http://www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/news/court-crime/lorry_driver_who_crushed_cyclist_to_death_at_bow_roundabout_escapes_jail_1_2293415

the BBC also have a piece:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-23424735

Slightly different angle on the verdict

It is a valid point made by Debbie Dorling

Mr Dorling's widow, Debbie, said: "...
"He is a broken man. Putting him in prison is not going to achieve anything."

While it is hard sometimes to accept driver behavior (which many cyclists experience as threatening, dangerous, even murderous sometimes with intent), drivers often don't understand the consequence of their actions nor intend or wish to hurt anyone and when they do suffer terribly.

A lot of anger -cyclist hatred from drivers (and their complaints -rljing, road tax, riding on the pavement, riding in the middle of the road, insurance etc) is due to a fear of hurting someone. This has come out at some driver on-bike training sessions which help drivers understand more about being on a bike.

I'm sorry skydancer, I really don't understand this sentiment.. The fact that drivers don't understand the consequences of their actions shows a complete lack of imagination. Therefore why would they have a fear of hurting someone? They just want to get from A to B and sod everyone else. Maybe only type B drivers go on your sessions.

Condolences once again to Mrs Dorling. A very great lady,.

The drivers do not choose to go on the courses. They have to complete a certain amount of CPD (continuing professional development) every year. They are frequently surprised when they get there and find out what it is they will be doing.
Of course there are reckless drivers but they are a minority. Most are well aware of the damage their vehicles can do and are frightened of killing or injuring cyclists. When cyclists ride in a dangerous way - including ways that the cyclists may not even know are dangerous - that adds to the drivers' fears. People are weird - fear can come out as aggression or impatience or all sorts of things.
Working with HGV drivers is fascinating. It's not one big love-in with everyone hugging at the end and promising to keep in touch but it is worthwhile.

Mr Dorling's widow, Debbie, said: "...
"He is a broken man. Putting him in prison is not going to achieve anything."
I am happy to support Debbie on this.
We still do not know what actually happened at Bow. It will not have been presented in court, Debbie may have been briefed by the police but we don't know the details of the crash.
I feel that a long term driving ban would be more effective in this sort of case. Prison terms are more appropriate for the driver like the one who killed Catriona Patel, he was drunk, that day as well as every day and was on the phone when he killed her.
David Cox, whose lorry killed Brian Dorling, has been banned for two years as well as the suspended jail sentence. The roadcc report suggests that he is emotionally unable to drive again. I think an even longer driving ban would give a strong message about taking more care to all other drivers.

Asked by the coroner what status cycle superhighways had in relation to vehicles not being permitted to enter, PC Hewitt said: “Legally nothing. It’s just a piece of blue paint.”

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/coroner-blasts-mayors-cycle-superhighway-as-accident-waiting-to-happen-at-inquest-of-man-killed-in-crash-with-tipper-truck-8879430.html

Also this report.
The inquest is still going, focussing on the role of blue surface 'virtual lane' acted as what the coroner called a 'safety blanket' leading cyclists into danger.
Ben Plowden, TfL director of strategy and planning for surface transport has just begun to give evidence.

First time a coroner actually said something correct.

Boris Johnson’s network of cycle superhighways were severely criticised today by a police safety expert.

Pc Simon Wickenden, from the Met’s traffic management unit, also said that Transport for London ignored police warnings about the danger faced by cyclists due to the design and lack of legal status of the blue painted lanes.

He was giving evidence at the inquest into the death of Brian Dorling, 58, who was the first cyclist to be killed on a superhighway. He collided with an HGV at Bow roundabout in October 2011.

Pc Wickenden told Poplar coroner’s court: “I consider the use of the blue road surface marking to be ambiguous and to lead to confusion.” He said there were advantages and disadvantages with the extension of the blue lane across the junction in Bow. Mr Dorling was seeking to ride straight across and the HGV was turning left.

Pc Wickenden said: “The advantage is that it highlights the potential presence of cyclists to drivers… The disadvantage is quite clear. One: it places cyclists in a position in the roundabout where they may come into conflict with traffic when it is leaving the roundabout. Two: it may give cyclists a false sense of security.” He added: “In my view, it would be safer not to have the marking at all on the roundabout.”

The hearing continues.

It's not a lane. It's not even a significant amount of paint, it looks pretty narrow. You could take an assertive Primary but then you'd have to swerve back in to get to the segregated lane. Ross Lydall tweeted something interesting, if an average-sized vehicle was in the near side lane there is NO WAY it could fit without encroaching the blue paint. The lane's not wide enough. So, the paint has actually made things worse. It directs people into danger.

slippery when wet paint too

The cycle lane in London especially is always going to be dangerous and people will ultimately put their lives on it.

slippery when wet paint too

Have been doing this bastard route for 10 years now.
I opt for the flyover, North-bound. Never nice - jumping the lights by the church is a pre-requisite for a safer passage.

Hitting Stratford by the Picture House is my current Bete Noir; that new-ish left feed off to Westfield is just insane road design!
Again, one has to jump the lights to the next set, 20 m away, set to avoid "left turning bell-end" wipe-out.
Happy to get done here...will refuse any fine and take further, speak out.

The Coroner's Report is now out. She slams the use of blue paint false cycle lanes. They cause confusion, give cyclists a false sense of security, lead them to ride in the wrong position. Cyclists and drivers can't tell the difference between a real lane and false lane

"Thus, cyclists riding in cycle lanes elsewhere in London and the rest of the country, are put in greater danger"

The Coroner's Report is now out. She slams the use of blue paint false cycle lanes. They cause confusion, give cyclists a false sense of security, lead them to ride in the wrong position. Cyclists and drivers can't tell the difference between a real lane and false lane

It's a Reg 28, good.
A summary of all Reg 28 reports is published here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/204786/9th-rule-43-report.pdf

More comment here:
London Cycling Campaign
The Times
BBC London

Yay for the coroner. Sparky, you on this? I will spread around some hacks I know who cover real-life stuff also.