2009-06-12 - Rider Down/Fatality, Holborn

Very sorry to hear this, my thoughts go out to you...

I've just seen this, this is so so sad I don't know what to say. I'm so sorry to hear this.

Been away for a week and only just read this. Awful, I don't know what to say....

RIP Emma and I, like many others will be on the ride for you

Riccardo, I'm so sorry for your loss. Every time I pass the spot where she died, I think about Emma and a little shadow falls over the day. Take good care of yourself.

RIP

Where can I find a tshirts/hoodies/whatever that promote safer roads for cyclists in London?

Rip

Reading that was hard and painful..I'm sorry for your loss RIP Emma

My deepest condolences go out to you Riccardo, I rided passed the scene that evening and hoped it wasn't going to be another cyclist incident, its been painful reading this thread.

Deepest sympathies...
...ride safe everyone.

Riccardo, my deepest sympathies and love go out to you and Emma's family. Rest peacefully Emma.

The posts here leave me with a range of emotions- anger, saddness, bewildered, and frightened are come some that spring to mind.

In the Metro last Friday there was an article about a city Co Director woman who was killed on a bike in London, regretably other "lesser" peeps don't seem to get mentioned. The death and injury rate are being swept under the carpet.

Someone told me yesterday that the law that the motorist was guilty until proven innocent in place in parts of Europe was rejected by Mr Blair- I know that cuts across the way we do things over here- innocent until proven guilty, but if it was in place, it might make motorists think twice.

The CTC seems to have lot its teeth recently in chipping away at bad attitudes etc.

Just an idea-now I'm not one to rant and rave often, but its getting to a time for a show of solidarity with eg an equivalent of a protest march to Downing St to hand in a petition to stop this creeping violent death in some way. Maybe some of the other protest rides need to focus on that, and we can all join in there.

As to Boris, he does have a man who deals with cycling, I've met him twice on club runs and he's a tidy rider so knows his stuff on cycling, (he was a higher ranking cop before that) I know he recently spoke at the Pedal Club dinner, I'm buggered if I can recall his name, but I have a mate who is in touch with him, so maybe its time to engage, and see his views, maybe he'd come out to beers nights and see everday London cyclists (and its the same everywhere for cycling in the UK, I'm not short sighted, meeting very fast cars on narrow roads up and down the country is equally unfunny).

I'll make contact and update.

In the Metro last Friday there was an article about a city Co Director woman who was killed on a bike in London, regretably other "lesser" peeps don't seem to get mentioned. The death and injury rate are being swept under the carpet.

To be fair to newspapers, some families simply don't want the publicity, but you're right--which cases attract attention is very much a random process. There is definitely a bias towards people who can be written about (from the newspaper's perspective) in glowing terms--standard ideas of 'attractive' and 'successful'.

Someone told me yesterday that the law that the motorist was guilty until proven innocent in place in parts of Europe was rejected by Mr Blair- I know that cuts across the way we do things over here- innocent until proven guilty, but if it was in place, it might make motorists think twice.

That's not really what this is--it's more a case of the motorist being presumed to have to show their innocence, i.e. the burden of proof is on them and not the vulnerable road user (VRUs, basically pedestrians and cyclists, although some also count motorcyclists under that heading). This makes sense, as the Continental experience is that the majority of VRU collisions is caused by motorists, not the VRUs, and in those rare cases when a collision is caused by a VRU, circumstances tend to be such that their fault is more easily established.

As to Boris, he does have a man who deals with cycling, I've met him twice on club runs and he's a tidy rider so knows his stuff on cycling, (he was a higher ranking cop before that) I know he recently spoke at the Pedal Club dinner, I'm buggered if I can recall his name[/quote]

What's his position and which organisation does he work for? The Mayor's Transport Adviser is Kulveer Ranger, and the London Assembly's Ambassador for Cycling is Andrew Boff, but to the best of my knowledge neither have been policemen. Would be interesting to hear whom you mean.

Deepest sympathies Riccardo, to you and all those close to Emma.
Paolo

My thoughts are with you all.

Take care everyone

the TFL man I've met that I was on about is-

ianbrooks@tfl.gov.uk

deepest sympathies riccardo, thoughts and love with the family

Not really too sure what to write here. My thoughts are with the people you left behind. Carpe diem.

This thread is so shocking. My deepest sympathies to Riccorda and all who have been affected by this tragedy. I hope to see lots of friendly faces on saturday's ride.

Very sad news, sorry to hear it.

RIP, Emma.

Hi guys,
long time I didn't access here. I should more but as long as I don't live anymore in London I'm not anymore into it.
Just a quick post to tell you that I've been in London the 22nd of december to attend the inquest for the accident. After the investigation the driver was found not guilty because he stated that he didn't/couldn't see her.
I read the report of the investigation, saw the pictures and think that the verdict is unfair.
Do you think is a good idea to bring this case to higher courts? Anybody of you knows how much time we have to bring it to higher courts?

After the inquest I had an interview with a journalist of the evening standard and he published this arcticle that stayed almost a week on the first page of the website:

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23788071-marias-death-could-have-been-prevented-says-boyfriend-of-cyclist-killed-by-lorry.do

I think the comments are now not displayed but before they were and I could read so many people against the cyclist.
Two things are possible:

1. The arcticle is misunderstood by the people.
   
2. The people in London are very rude and against cyclists.
   
   

By the way I finally managed to have a copy of the memorial ride footage. Thank you.

The comments on that article make my blood boil.
Absolutely tragic.

RIP to this poor lady. I agree that the reactions of the general public make my blood boil too but so many people seem to be insensitive to others these days that it does not surprise me.
I am new to this site but have been spurred on by the fact that my boyfriend came off his bike on Wednesday. He suffered severe concussion, terrible shock and a broken elbow. Because of the shock and concussion he has no memory of the accident and does not even know where it happened because the shock made him behave erratically and he ended up back on his bike coming to meet me. I am going to post a thread tomorrow relating to what details I have sketched together my self but am hoping that someone out there might have seen what happened as it was during early morning rush hour. I hope someone can help me as he is not himself and I am really worried that the knock to the head has affected him worse than was first thought.

Sorry for the verdict. I was on this memorial ride and at the time I was confused at how the poor girl could've been killed on a straight road

"the driver was found not guilty because he stated that he didn't/couldn't see her"

Is a stomach churning excuse for a death

the comments are ridiculous, why are there so many cretins on this planet?

"What about the couriers, the trend setters of modern cycling in London. Other cyclists, the regulaur commuters and those who choose to immitate the real two wheeled hooligans. These despatch warriers, unwashed, vegetarian, illegal working, tax dodgers who entertain themselves with illegal street races, loaded with alhohol.
lets pull these in. license them, enforce health and safety rules, insurance."

- Jermyn Tailor, London UK