Cycle campaigning

Yeah I see what you mean,

There are many junctions with light phases like the above.

This, the large issues is that most of the junctions don't account for the average speed of a bicycle, e.g. while a drivers can clear a junction after passing an amber before the opposite side changed to green, a cyclists may still be trying to clear a junction after the opposite traffic turn green.

http://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/save-our-cyclists

http://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/save-our-cyclists

The plan should address what actions are to be taken - and what changes cyclists can expect - on the following key areas of concern, over the next 12 months;

• Cycle Superhighway 2
  
• Heavy Goods Vehicles
  
• Training for motorists, including TFL staff
  
• Training for cyclists
  
• Further investment in the cycling fund
  
  

how about:
promotion, investment, maintenance (signage, junctions), and development of (more?) London Cycle Network routes, as these motor-traffic-lite routes are surely better for people (especially newbies) to cycle on than busy roads with lots of motor traffic and HGVS;

Forget about segregation and road apartheid. Clearly a combination of sensible infrastructure, legislation and training for cyclists and drivers alike is the only way forward; it our culture that need to change.

Think a healthy dose of patience all road would do the trick. Not in London but my experience here on the roads is drivers see a bike ahead on the road and e dry thing else fades to grey as they just have have have to get past as soon as humanly possible, no matter what the road up ahead is doing, whether there's a junction or roundabout ahead, whether there are traffic lights set to red, a choke point courtesy of a road island, or what manoveur they are planning next, like turning left or parking.

This morning a van overtook me then seconds later pulled onto the curb, waiting for the traffic to clear in the other lane, before reversing while turning into a driveway and blocking my lane and most of the opposite one (its a terrible narrow road through a village called Long Ashton just outside of Bristol) forcing me to brake and wait. It wasn't dangerous, just selfish and impatient.

And we are as bad: it's why we jump red lights. I'm guilty of that, always looking to filter past slow moving traffic and making the odd bad decision on the way. Riding in France showed how a much more relaxed approach from both sides worked really well. We just need to be more Jamaican about it all.

I don't usually frequent this thread.
I'll leave it to those more knowledgeable, articulate and well thought through then myself.

But fucking hell.
4 fatalities in 1 week.

When do we do this...?

I think you've made your point perfectly.

@ Jimmy 'Jimmy' Fingers.

Only in a stereotyped, rather than a literal, way, I hope.

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20130811/auto/auto2.html

UK - road fatalities per 100,000 population - 2.75
Jamaica - road fatalities per 100,000 population - 11.6
France - road fatalities per 100,000 population - 6.4

The figures per 100,000 motor vehicles are 5.1, 65.4 and 9.75.

^ Crikey! Though breaking it down, it seems pedestrians over there are at much greater risk than cyclists.

Go Jamaican would be an interesting angle for the LCC to explore.

(its a terrible narrow road through a village called Long Ashton just outside of Bristol).
Its a lovely road, i know it well.
I agree with you though Patience seems to be a rare thing on the roads, i was tooted at this morning on the Vauxhall oneway system, by a driver just because i was in his lane and i wouldnt mind but the lights ahead were red.

^ Which road is that you're describing?

And who is Patience? ;)

Apparently multiple friends of mine have got in touch with TFL regarding the light phase at that section of the roundabout being incorrect, so that cars travelling around the roundabout heading towards the southern exit have a green light, and the cyclists heading west also do.

(this terrible diagram might illustrate what im trying to say)

I noticed this twice but thought it was just cars running reds!!

If this was the direction the vehicle who killed the cyclist was travelling in, I think there would be liability there? They had been informed of a safety issue and made no change to it.

If it was just left turning vehicle as usual, then it'll be business as usual...
The police reports says lorry and cyclist were coming from the east.
I spent quite a while at Bow today but didn't check for overlap between circulating and westbound light phase. It must be close because quite a few times cars and lorries failed to clear the ASL area as the lights changed for circulating traffic.
In the TfL "early start" set up cyclists get 3 seconds or less plus 9 metres start. If the cars/lorries rush off just as lights start to change they will catch up with a slow cyclist right in the conflict area.

@ Jimmy 'Jimmy' Fingers.

Only in a stereotyped, rather than a literal, way, I hope.

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20130811/auto/auto2.html

UK - road fatalities per 100,000 population - 2.75
Jamaica - road fatalities per 100,000 population - 11.6
France - road fatalities per 100,000 population - 6.4

The figures per 100,000 motor vehicles are 5.1, 65.4 and 9.75.

I'm all about the stereotypes, just meant being more laid back. Interesting statistics.

It was my experience of cycling in Bordeaux. It was chaotic but much more relaxed, and an almost total lack of tension between motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. No-one was rushing to get past me and overtaking me dangerously, unlike here. I got skimmed a couple of times but that was the worst of it.

Has the Times given up on its `Cities for for cycling' campaign? Five paragraphs on p.23 of today's newspaper.

UK - road fatalities per 100,000 population - 2.75
Jamaica - road fatalities per 100,000 population - 11.6
France - road fatalities per 100,000 population - 6.4

The figures per 100,000 motor vehicles are 5.1, 65.4 and 9.75.

I think the UK does pretty well by having comparatively low numbers of deaths of people in cars and quite poorly in child and old people deaths. Will research this when I get a chance

UK has one of the worst child pedestrian casualty rates in Europe, despite walkers and cyclists intimidated off the roads by reckless drivers. The motor lobby cite the relatively low road casualty figures as "proof" that drivers are sensible and it boils my piss, the road injury rates are relatively low because vulnerable road users are bullied off the roads.

Has the Times given up on its `Cities for for cycling' campaign? Five paragraphs on p.23 of today's newspaper.

I've cross posted a reply to the Times Campaign discussion.

Don't know if this is the right threat but there is a 'Die-In' and vigil happening outside TfL HQ on the 29th Nov, before Critical Mass:

https://www.facebook.com/events/568751353179586/?source=1

if you support it then Share, RT, contact your journo mates etc etc.

Oliver would you or someone else from Hackney LCC be interested in coming to talk to Hackney North & Stoke Newington LP, if they were interested?

I mean, I am a delegate to the GM and I am interested, but I would have to check with the secretary and so on.

I'm planning writing to my MP regarding the recent deaths and cycle safety in general on London's streets. Has anyone else done so and is more eloquent than me? If so would yo mind if I read your message? I kind of know what i want to say by i feel like i'm ranting a bit too much.

Just go for it marmot - set out the facts and speak from the heart.* Out of interest, which borough do you live in?

*I'd be happy to read over it if you like though. :)

Good to see markbikeslondon in an extended report on cycle safety on BBC London news tonight.

LCC is urging everyone to email the Mayor NOW to stop cycling deaths.

It takes less than a minute.

LCC's '14 local election campaign looks sensible for more longer-term priorities;

the reactionary 38degrees petition has almost reached the target 25,000 signatures, so lots of pressure on the mayor, as he also has to respond to coroner Mary Hassall's Prevention of Future Deaths report, which also has specific reference to "cycle superhighway 2"

Blimey, it was 18,000 sigs last time I checked.

Can I just mention that quite a few pedestrians have been killed by HGV / LGVs of late. I'm convinced cyclists need to combine with pedestrian groups more effectively, and focus on stopping peak time lgv movement, junctions and speed together.

This is about street enviroments for people, and getting away from focus on throughput for motor traffic. Make places better for peds, and by definition that makes cycling more prominent.