2009-12-09 - Rider RIP

A 63 year old man, (2 weeks away from retiring), went under a bendy bus today and was killed riding home from work this morning (on night shift). They had to use some sort of crane/forklift truck to get the body out from under.

The accident happened this morning (round 7am i think) at Lancaster Circus in the city centre.

I don't know his name.

Rider RIP.

edit: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_midlands/8403159.stm

The roads are being a right dangerous place this winter. Its still dark at that time.

Ive seen this old bloke on bristol road sometimes who wears a motorcycle helmet while riding his bike, plus has a zillion lights & mirrors attached to his bike. I think its probably a wise idea if we all start doing the same.

Im thinking the whole ghostbikes thing might really have some value in Birmingham too, perhaps much more so in London because drivers here really do need reminding that cyclists exist.

I'm getting one of those yellow reflective vests with the led lights, £7 B L market.

http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Grip-LED-Safety-Vest/2549654/product.html?cid=133635

That's fucking awful, it really is.
Such a fucking blatant reason to remove Bendy-Buses from the road.
I fear that Birmingham car users are failing to recognise us guys, or are unsure what to do whilst passing us...
Please be careful, especially with current road conditions/ lighting conditions.
Rider RIP.

:(

bad news.

So tragic, RIP :(

Sad news for sure.

RIP

Im thinking the whole ghostbikes thing might really have some value in Birmingham too, perhaps much more so in London because drivers here really do need reminding that cyclists exist.

totally agree. lets do it.

and

http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories/2009/12/09/cyclist-dies-after-being-trapped-under-bus-in-birmingham-city-centre-97319-25356204/

Yeah - lets do it.

R.i.p

Sad news. RIP.

Hopefully some good can come from this terrible situation:- ie more awareness/care/respect from vehicles towards cyclists or more cycle lanes from the council.

totally agree. lets do it.

and

http://www.birminghammail.net/news/top-stories/2009/12/09/cyclist-dies-after-being-trapped-under-bus-in-birmingham-city-centre-97319-25356204/

Let's do a ghost bike for next critical mass! Ican get an old bike together and do a plaque.
Just want to run it by the family so if anyone knows how to contact them please pm me.

Rip :(

There was a cyclist who got killed by a speeding joyrider a couple years back just where the 35 crosses edward road (close to our polo court). Driver got a £400 fine and a pat on the back.

I think that needs something too, I dont think there is anything practical to stick a ghost bike onto plus I think something more subtle would be more apt.

May just paint a white bicycle on the wall.

But for the lancaster circus, an actual bike definetely. Because it was so recent and it'll need to be bold for people to notice it.

do you mean slap on the wrist?

I think a ghost bike at lancaster circus is a good idea too...but the transportation and highways department is based at 1 lancaster circus so its debatable how long it will last.
The cycling bit of the council is there too though, and there's lots of cyclists that work there so it will get people talking.

A ghost bike could backfire if it causes the family even more upset, especially if the papers spin it that way. If i die on the roads I would like a ghost bike and the drivers life to be made a real misery if they were at fault.

PS http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/staffordshire/5340006.stm Edward Road wasn't a joyrider unless there was more than one?

She was speeding and had no license or insurance. They have taken the full story offline so its hard to get all the info. It appears to have been a £950 fine though and not much else.

To add insult to injury the police took & sold the bike! Motherfuckers.

http://www.birminghammail.net/news/birmingham-news/2008/01/31/police-sold-off-my-dead-brother-s-bike-97319-20418528/

That really sucks.

If a ghost bike is placed at Lancaster Circus it should be chained to either of the two 20(mph) signs right where it happened alongside where it has SLOW painted on the road twice (see google street view) . I wonder if the bus was doing 20mph or less?

Spoke to a postie when I was out this morning.
He said that the cyclist was in front of the bus, so he was hit from behind.
Unconfirmed report that the driver was on their mobile (ironic given the news about mobiles/drivers today).
Guy had been doing rounds for ages on an old old bike and i believe that his wife had just bought him this new bike in the photo above.
News reports bizzarely seem to be referring to the fact he did not have a helmet as if this would have saved him.

I think a ghost bike would have a real impact especially at that roundabout which can be difficult to negotiate. I am angry and sad.

makes a knot in my stomach.

sincere condolences to the riders family and friends.

Spoke to a postie when I was out this morning.
He said that the cyclist was in front of the bus, so he was hit from behind.
Unconfirmed report that the driver was on their mobile (ironic given the news about mobiles/drivers today).
Guy had been doing rounds for ages on an old old bike and i believe that his wife had just bought him this new bike in the photo above.
News reports bizzarely seem to be referring to the fact he did not have a helmet as if this would have saved him.

I think a ghost bike would have a real impact especially at that roundabout which can be difficult to negotiate. I am angry and sad.

I hate it when the media dish this old favourite out as if in some way it was the riders fault

if a ghostbike is to happen i reckon it needs to happen sooner rather than later.

oh and fuck the transportation and highways department. if people start putting flowers down, i would hope they would leave it alone.

yeah as long as its not actually in the road i'm sure it would be ok.