2012-10-29 - Rider Down/Fatality, Bethnal Green Road (London)

There was a collision between an HGV and a cyclist on the Bethnal Green Road this morning around 7ish.

When I passed by about 7.50AM there were several police cars on the scene and the road had been closed to traffic going westbound. The incident happened on the stretch of road between Bethnal Green tube station and the Shakespeare pub. The road here is split in two by a central island, it looked to me like a cyclist had got caught between a parked Volvo car by an overtaking Bywaters Recycling lorry cab (which was unattached to a trailer).

The bike was still on the ground and all of the cyclist's possessions strewn all over the road when I got there, with Police taking photos and making reports. There was an ambulance with its lights on parked alongside, but no sign of the rider.

I live just off the road and always feel sketchy cycling through the pinch point there because traffic tries to push past even if you ride wide.

Really hoping that the rider is okay and everyone involved comes out unhurt. Any further info gratefully received.

Thanks for the post Mark, here's hoping that it's less serious than it sounds.

Too close to home, this.
I hope the rider is ok

Those railings in the middle were put there one April for no good reason and, because parking is still allowed there, they are deleterious to rider safety.

Just walked past this. The bike is still there.

Really hope the rider is OK.

Live just round the corner. rode past east bound 5 minutes ago. Doesn't look good, hoping for the best.

Am surprised the road is still closed. Don't want to read too much into that, but keeping everything crossed for the rider.

My housemate just came back from the shops and having asked a police man what happened, had some good news. Apparently the rider suffered serious injuries but is stable in hospital.

Thats good to hear, looked a massive mess at 9am and I assumed the worse... that is a shitty part of road too where drivers try and squeeze past cyclists and parked cars, actually that whole road is pretty dangerous....

TfL have tweeted road is now clear FWIW.
Get well soon rider!

I just saw a pic of the mess, so glad to hear it wasn't worse as the bike looks like it got rolled over. I live just off this road near the PO, it's full of obstacles.

Here's hoping for the rider.

If it's anything like what they've done in Railton Road/ Brixton, this is one of my least favourite attempts at "traffic calming". There's now a series of build-outs that create pinch points, so even if you take primary to assert your position you end up playing chicken with oncoming traffic - and around here there's enough "I'm bigger than you so get the f**k out of my way" drivers it's a bit sketchy for cyclists...

This isn't really the place to discuss Railton Road but I do agree with you entirely with your synopsis.

Just giving this a very gentle bump to see if anyone has any concrete news of the rider? I don't know them, but living just round the corner from the collision site it's made me feel concerned.

Hi all, I work with the guy involved and the last I heard was that he is not in good shape at all; he was in theatre all day yesterday and will be again today.

Hopefully I will return later with some good news. Until then, think positive thoughts and ride safely.

Fingers crossed it'll end well, be strong fellow rider!

Do keep us inform Danny, thank for contributing.

Fingers crossed he pulls through. It looked awful.

Wow, that sounds about as serious as it could be.

Thanks for the update Danny R, keep strong yourself and we'll all be thinking of your colleague and hoping for the best.

Thoughts and prayers with the rider. Stay strong.

sending lots of positive thoughts for a successful outcome. Really hope he is okay.

Ok, just received an update from the people at the hospital....

He's still in a bad way but he is stable and there appears to be no spinal damage.

Thanks for the information Danny.
If there's anything that we can do please ask.

^+1.
Glad to hear some positive news.

I saw the wreckage when I opened the front door the other morning and really expected the worst. Glad to hear he is stable. I agree with the posters above regarding the dangerous layout with the traffic island narrowing the space there.

All best wishes to the rider. It sounds very serious.