2009-03-20 - Rider Down, Uxbridge Road + Askew Road

and i agree with lpg

Lorry drivers are ok it's the Neo-Nazis that are the real cunts.

Glad she's ok. I think the lesson here is not to undertake lorries unless you're 100% confident that you're going to make it

I would extend that to do not undertake them at all ever.

Glad she's ok. I think the lesson here is not to undertake lorries unless you're 100% confident that you're going to make it

If a lorry overtakes you and then begins to slow, even if they are in the outside lane, watch out! That's a sure sign they are about to do something stupid, like a rapid left turn across your path. The driver will claim you were coming up on the left, even if you keep a steady speed. The same is true for cars and motorbikes, but the lorries will do it from a lot further out in the road, and will hurt you much more.
About half the cyclist/lorry mashes happen this way, the other half are where they move off from being stopped at lights or junctions.

I wasn't blaming anyone just stating that all lorry drivers are cunts.

Which they are.

How do you know she was undertaking?

True, don't know for sure. Was just going on the pic from the article -- looked like she was caught between the railings and lorry as it made a left, but not necessarily the case. http://www.ealinggazette.co.uk/ealing-news/local-ealing-news/2009/03/20/cyclist-dragged-under-truck-on-uxbridge-road-64767-23193260/

Still, I stand by the sentiment as a good one to follow when riding.

I fucking hate lorries. And lorry drivers. All of them. They are cunts.

This is one of the most cuntish things I have heard in a long time. They are doing their job. They are generally bloody good drivers. They generally respect cyclists when they see them.

Keep your fear/loathing to lorries - lay off the drivers.

Obviously I am saddened when inexperienced cyclists fall foul of lorries - and I see people squeezing past them every day at traffic lights, and have done for years.

I would agree that Lorry drivers are fine and calling them cunts is a bit stupid - Its BMW drivers who are the real twats - . If you know one is behind you, look round and keep looking round until you are sure they have seen you. One of the best times to jump a red is when you are at the front of the queue and there is a large lorry behind you. Like to put as much distance between myself and them

I wasn't blaming anyone just stating that all lorry drivers are cunts.

Which they are.

Yawn

Most truck drivers are much better than most drivers/riders on the road, cyclists included.

We don't know the facts so don't go blaming the rider or the driver for anything just yet.

It is the few lorry drivers who are not so good we have to worry about. Far too many of them are the drivers of large tipper lorries (as this morning) or other construction industry people who are under financial pressure to rush around and get as many trips in a day as they possibly can.
They do have a duty of care to other road users, even those who are not paying attention or breaking the law. We hope that new health and safety laws will be used to bring the dodgy drivers and their employers up to a decent standard.

My sympathies to the cyclist, and I hope they will be okay.

Why don't we give lorry-drivers handouts when we're stopped at traffic lights or something?

Spoke cards can't be read by lorry drivers, not anyone else when they're spinning in the wheel.

If we do friendly handouts, maybe even more than one per driver, they'll hand them out at truck-stops, and discuss our predicament. A possibly positive raising of awareness amongst the group that may be least informed, but the most concerned.

What does anyone think of this?

Look at these cunts stood around looking at the ground.

Yawn

Check my post history if you are not asleep already.

What does anyone think of this?

Good idea, who funds it?

Check my post history if you are not asleep already.

pm sent

Why don't we give lorry-drivers handouts when we're stopped at traffic lights or something?

Spoke cards can't be read by lorry drivers, not anyone else when they're spinning in the wheel.

If we do friendly handouts, maybe even more than one per driver, they'll hand them out at truck-stops, and discuss our predicament. A possibly positive raising of awareness amongst the group that may be least informed, but the most concerned.

What does anyone think of this?

Transport for London have just re-printed a small leaflet we worked on about 5 years ago. If you read it from one side it starts "Ignorant lorry drivers" ... but if you pick it up the other way it starts "Ignorant cyclists!" I'll see if I can find the pdf and post it up here .. but not tonight. We don't have any in the office but I'm sure TfL will send some out.

I am a motorcyclist and a cyclist, I do the over-the-shoulder-slightly-paranoid-checking thing all the time. I did it on the Grosvenor Road a couple of nights back, just by Dolphin Square, and nearly shat myself - one of those ENORMOUS crane lorries was thundering up behind me, one of the things with 5 foot tall wheels. There was a truck in the outside lane. I felt like Indiana bloody Jones in the temple of doom (but without the bullwhip, stubble, hat, or looted golden idol). I was next to the boarded up garage-type thing, and just swerved over the dropped kerb, and got straight on the brakes. The bastard gave no indication at all he had seen me, and he was going so fast, so close to the kerb, I'd have been squished flat. I was shaking all the way home. Utter, utter wanker.

I don't undertake lorries at lights unless I know the light phases, and know I have time to get well out in front.

So so glad this rider was ok.

I blame the Poles

Most truck drivers are much better than most drivers/riders on the road, cyclists included.

We don't know the facts so don't go blaming the rider or the driver for anything just yet.

Been riding in London for about 2 years in my expierence lorry drivers are wankers but the worst is White van men..!!

the worst are definitely minicabs, lest we forget!!

Thank goodness that she is not too badly injured and I hope she mends quickly and fully.

Be careful. Ride safely. The traffic this week seems to be very heavy and aggressive.

Looks like cyclist is going to be ok. Incredibly lucky escape.

http://www.ealinggazette.co.uk/ealing-news/local-ealing-news/2009/03/20/cyclist-dragged-under-truck-on-uxbridge-road-64767-23193260/

Just saw this. Check the lazy reporting of 'someone' who works nearby, no name, who apparently alleges that people 'skip the lights' implying: so it's her fault she got run over! When a left turning lorry was also 'skipping' the lights, presumably.

Bloody hacks.

trufax !

I hope she is back on the bike soon. sounds bad but this is one more rider (+ all her friends and family) who will not be running down the inside of lorries.

It's not the lorry drivers we need to educate, they have enough distractions on the road in built up areas. nearside mirrors are now the law (sadly not on all lorries but thats another arguement) but next is "do not pass" stickers on the inside, you get them on enough lorries the message will be better understood.

But lets blame the poles and russians all the same