Forum Rider Down and/or notification of minor incidents

https://twitter.com/BBCLondonNews/status/276617569992065024

I can't find anything else and their link is broken.

(obviously this doesn't sound like a minor incident but I don't want to start a thread without more info.)

http://25.media.tumblr.com/a07db2f3d6d8a248af3d312331b9618d/tumblr_mf1fe45RhC1rc6dclo1_1280.jpg

Please check the image link above for an explanation on what happened

Went to Lewisham A+E, just heavy bruising on legs and road rash, not even a scratch on my helmet or upper body, paramedics were commenting on how lucky i was.

Campagnolo jacket is ruined and trousers (Dickies held up very well protecting me) have scrape marks on them and a few tiny holes, some of you may know i run rear brake only on my ssmtb, even if i had the stopping power of quadruple disc brakes it wouldn't of made a difference, the van driver came out of Devonshire road without looking properly, i do however feel fairly certain i made eye contact with him before he pulled out.

Thankfully a non emergency response ambulance saw exactly what happened and got witness statements from them, they were certain the van was at fault, we'll see how it turns out, i haven't really had a look at the bike, i called my father to pick it up and it's at his right now, i believe both wheels are buckled beyond repair and handlebars (weigh a tonne, downhill bars) are broken, hopefully the frame/fork is good

we'll see how this turns out

Sorry about your incident. Just registered to let you know the my wife was hit by a vehicle coming out of that junction, turning right. She drove into the side of her bicycle, thankfully with minimal damage all round.

My wife wrote to the council and our MP about the junction, as I am very wary of it too (as a motorcyclist) and there's no real alternative. I can confirm we got no joy whatsoever, as apparently it's not an 'accident blackspot' etc...

that was about 2 - 3 years ago btw.

Sorry to hear, heal up Arben.

Heal up mate.

Used to ride that road most days when my gf lived in Forest Hill, and I was always wary of that exact spot. Had a couple of drivers pull out on me thinking they had the time, not considering the speed of a cyclist downhill.

hoping you make a speedy recovery.

be careful, if the police look at your bike then you may end up sharing some of the liability as your bike was not roadworthy, and you chose to ride it.

This afternoon I was knocked down on the corner of Piccadilly and Down Street, W1 (by the Athenaeum Hotel). A left-turning light-coloured people carrier, possibly a taxi, cut me up as I cycled west to east down the middle of the bus lane, in clear view.

At the time I was on my way home after a final reccy of the Mithrasmas Mass route. This was Barry Mason's Xmas Day ride, and this year I'm leading it...

http://sedgemore.com/2012/12/mithrasmas-mass-on-the-wireless

There was insufficient time to stop, but I managed to offload most of my speed with a skid/handbrake. Still, I impacted with the rear nearside door of the car, which then roared off at great speed up Down Street.

Injuries: bashed up right knee, torn tights and Goretex jacket sleeve, bike unscathed, by the looks of it. I'll need to check the front wheel for shape, etc.

It was all too fast for the registration number to be noted. The hotel doorman was a gent - he called the police, and they were on the scene in five minutes. A statement was given, and CCTV camera positions noted.

Francis

Hopefully the CCTV got a good view. Hope you're feeling a bit less shaken now.

I will be surprised if anything comes of this, given that I've come out of the experience with only "slight" injuries and material damage. But still, it had to be reported. Hit-and-run is a serious criminal offence.

While I waited for the police, I watched other vehicles making a left turn from Piccadilly onto Down Street, including from the outside lane of traffic!

As for my state of shock, discounted scotch is working wonders.

sorry to read about this, hope you have some success getting the driver

Francis,
Good to hear your injuries are minor; best wishes.
Please do pursue it; bust the Police's balls; do your own investigation, find CCTV along the way the driver must have taken.
It is definitely worth it: if you manage to get him, and he loses his licence for a year, the roads will be safer for all of us.
If he is working for a firm, hassle them, make sure they take him off their books.
Again best wishes for your knee.
It is up to us to end this level of complacency for these vile crimes.

Aaaah damn, hope you get hold of that cunt!!

I will be surprised if anything comes of this, given that I've come out of the experience with only "slight" injuries and material damage. But still, it had to be reported. Hit-and-run is a serious criminal offence.

While I waited for the police, I watched other vehicles making a left turn from Piccadilly onto Down Street, including from the outside lane of traffic!

As for my state of shock, discounted scotch is working wonders.

When the scotch wears off I hope the bruises and pain are not too bad. I share your pessimism about police. Unless you can get definite reg number of vehicle they won't act, they won't chase cctv but you might get it from hotel or shop.

Charlie is of course right; the police will take no action without a registration number.

This morning I received a letter from the Met's Westminster traffic division to say that no further action would be taken. Despite there being CCTV cameras in the area concerned, it seems that none were recording at the time.

Given the particular circumstances of the case, the police decision to do nothing doesn't surprise me. What is telling about the letter which informs me of this decision is the following...

[INDENT]"It is worth noting that CCTV cameras do not normally record registration numbers of vehicles and deal only with traffic flow."[/INDENT]
Ah yes, "traffic flow", the holy mantra of London traffic planners and enforcers.

One interesting snippet I picked up recently is that all Addy Lee cars are being fitted with video cameras and are recording all journeys. They have an 8 day memory stick in them. The stick records over itself after 8 days.

[INDENT]"It is worth noting that CCTV cameras do not normally record registration numbers of vehicles and deal only with traffic flow."[/INDENT]
Ah yes, "traffic flow", the holy mantra of London traffic planners and enforcers.

Man TfL cameras can be steered and zoomed but most of the time time don't record and unless anyone is using them they will be set to a wide shot which doesn't have the resolution to read number plates. You can get an idea of what is available at http://www.bbc.co.uk/travelnews/london/trafficcameras

There are TfL ANPR cameras all over the place used for congestion charge and low emission zone enforcement but I don't know how you would use those post-collision to identify a vehicle.

From reading various sources it seems if you want to be have a chance of prosecution when hit/in case of dangerous driving you really do need a helmet cam :(

Get well y'all. :)

Some good news from way back on Page 1 of this thread.

After 6 months of tracking down the driver (who changed her phone number), being made a derisory offer by her husband, dealing with two car insurance companies (it was a hire car) neither of whom would accept liability, and multiple phone calls, letters and emails, today I've received a cheque for the full amount of damages I claimed.

Take home lesson, perseverance and refusing to be fobbed off works.

Awesome! Nice to hear a success story for a change

One interesting snippet I picked up recently is that all Addy Lee cars are being fitted with video cameras and are recording all journeys. They have an 8 day memory stick in them. The stick records over itself after 8 days.

And are they subject to Data Protection Laws as static cameras are? One would presume so. So if one had you off your bike, you could request a copy of the footage?

Not sure about the DPA but they are evidence and if you are hit by an AL car, ask for it and ask for it to be preserved. If they delete it then, they could be in deep trouble for contempt of court.

Correct Oliver. Just been told that I don't need surgery! They want to keep an eye on me (not sure how long for) and I can't walk on it for 6 weeks then I can start taking it very, very easy with putting very very small amounts of weight on it. I should be back on the bike with in the next 4-6 months! I never thought I'd be happy saying that. Thanks for all the well wishes and htfu's. I'll see you all soon.

hey jim,

bad news re the crash and the damages.

wishing a good recovery.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/a07db2f3d6d8a248af3d312331b9618d/tumblr_mf1fe45RhC1rc6dclo1_1280.jpg

Please check the image link above for an explanation on what happened

Went to Lewisham A+E, just heavy bruising on legs and road rash, not even a scratch on my helmet or upper body, paramedics were commenting on how lucky i was.

Campagnolo jacket is ruined and trousers (Dickies held up very well protecting me) have scrape marks on them and a few tiny holes, some of you may know i run rear brake only on my ssmtb, even if i had the stopping power of quadruple disc brakes it wouldn't of made a difference, the van driver came out of Devonshire road without looking properly, i do however feel fairly certain i made eye contact with him before he pulled out.

Thankfully a non emergency response ambulance saw exactly what happened and got witness statements from them, they were certain the van was at fault, we'll see how it turns out, i haven't really had a look at the bike, i called my father to pick it up and it's at his right now, i believe both wheels are buckled beyond repair and handlebars (weigh a tonne, downhill bars) are broken, hopefully the frame/fork is good

we'll see how this turns out

Shit. I absolutely hate that junction, heal soon!

Some good news from way back on Page 1 of this thread.

After 6 months of tracking down the driver (who changed her phone number), being made a derisory offer by her husband, dealing with two car insurance companies (it was a hire car) neither of whom would accept liability, and multiple phone calls, letters and emails, today I've received a cheque for the full amount of damages I claimed.

Take home lesson, perseverance and refusing to be fobbed off works.

nice one. well done.