Blood on the streets

You know how every spring there are a spate of posts proclaiming "Noddergeddon!" due to the numbers of noobs and fairweather riders swelling the roads. Is it possible that this is Noddergeddon? Once you've had a few months of ca$h in your pocket from travel cards, or are still feeling good from not sitting in constant traffic jams, going back to those old ways is a bleak prospect. Are we seeing the first wave of inexperienced riders toughing it through their first dark, bleak winter?

ffs thought I'd slipped under the radar

After my ride this morning I'm thinking the HGV ban OR have HGVs piloted by specialist drivers within the CBD.
I got passed by a MASSIVE rig one Euston Road - I was riding in the centre of the bus lane and this double trailered moving truck overtook half in the bus lane and with enough speed to shunt me to the side. Mental. I had my rear lights burning too - I was not invisible. You'd think with the current high rate of fatalities drivers would be more cautious. Not shaken by it as it was close, but I knew he was behind me - did not expect him to pass that fast especially in rain and traffic. Plus he's plates were obscured by grime. Dodgy. I'm rambling but the point being WTF was he doing driving like that and why did he even need to be on the roads at that time. Craziness.

An unusually balanced report on the main ITV News tonight

http://youtu.be/xPRUdLOTC2g

I noticed the reporter's helmet seemed to be balanced precariously on the back of his head. Berk.

Boriswatch. Note that left indicator is on

Was that actually Boris?

Debate on now

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25016097

Ooh, ta.

I got in touch with Road.cc after monday's chat with the police and they've quoted me! http://road.cc/content/news/99261-police-safety-operation-targets-dozens-london-cyclists-lorry-drivers

How exciting.

Well, that Boris question time generated more heat than light.

This is heart-breaking, Mr Muzira’s daughter takes on the Evening Standard trolls:

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/revealed-life-of-war-hero-father-who-was-sixth-cyclist-to-die-in-london-in-two-weeks-8950869.html

that poor woman.

why does the ES have comments turned on? jesus christ, it's an obituary.

http://www.sueddeutsche.de/auto/stadt-ohne-verkehrszeichen-kahlschlag-im-schilderwald-1.1607052

http://www.minds.com/blog/view/248215469679448064/german-town-abolishes-traffic-lights-and-codes-accidents-are-now-almost-non-existent
Would this work in London? I'm not sure what the source article (first link) says as google translate isn't great...

I bet you the headphone ban will come because it's easier than putting a parital ban on HGV and yet will put Boris in a positive light.

London Assembly survey on cycling:
http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor-assembly/london-assembly/investigations/cycle-survey?source=lfgss

Please go fill it in.

Was that actually Boris?

Yes

I believe that skydancer has offered the Mayor cycle training on more than one occasion, but he has consistently refused.

Indeed I have. I did discuss with him how to ride past sideroads but he wasn't really listening
It may be timely to do this again
I am also waiting for Gilligan to confirm his session date

^probably had his headphones in

http://www.sueddeutsche.de/auto/stadt-ohne-verkehrszeichen-kahlschlag-im-schilderwald-1.1607052

http://www.minds.com/blog/view/248215469679448064/german-town-abolishes-traffic-lights-and-codes-accidents-are-now-almost-non-existent
Would this work in London? I'm not sure what the source article (first link) says as google translate isn't great...
I agree about the translation.
Even worse, it was made apparently cyclists.

The implementation of the pure doctrine is not about the association : " Shared Space is not that suddenly all the traffic lights and signs are prohibited," says Kaufmann . So it 'll still a mountain in rowing after the transformation - provide curb - albeit small . Thus rowing mountain could give a new impetus for more shared space areas in the state .

Never, ever use Google Translate or any of that other automated shit. It's simply terrible. People worldwide think that they're reading an approximation of the meaning of a text in a different language and get completely misinformed, missing all the nuances.

I believe that skydancer has offered the Mayor cycle training on more than one occasion, but he has consistently refused.
Oh but it's fine because as he says "...sometimes I just go round Elephant & Castle because it's fine. If you keep your wits about you, Elephant & Castle is perfectly negotiable."

Many of us may feel happy to cycle around the northern roundabout of the Elephant and Castle, but plenty of people don't and wont.

That roundabout alone accounts dozens of casualties in the past few years and several cyclist deaths.

Hi Andrew,

It’s been a while since we last communicated.

In the light of recent events it would be great if messages from the Mayor’s office about cyclist/ driver behaviour were appropriate and positive (and linked to the Cycle Training Standard.)
I am attaching some Top tips for Both Cyclists and Drivers which you may wish to show the Mayor so he can issue more informed and constructive guidance to everyone.

Can I also encourage you (and perhaps you can encourage the Mayor) to take me up on my earlier offer of 2 hours of Urban Cycle Skills Training both to inform you of the content of the syllabus and how it is effective even for confident riders like yourself. It would also be good to show leadership since you are encouraging adults to take up this training across London.

Kind regards

(skydancer)

Filled it out. Have your say.

"I love cycling in London. It's one of the world's greatest and most beautiful cities and exploring its wonders by bike has been one of the greatest sources of joy for me. However I am extremely concerned about the number of cyclists now in London and the manner in which they must compete for road space, especially in light of the recent spate of cycling deaths. I am a skilled and confident cyclist, but that does not stop the constant concern I have for my own and other cyclists safety. London is constantly changing and improving and I appreciate the transport and infrastructure demands that creates. But 500,000 cyclists a day, an Olympic Park and world-renown skyscrapers (and others soon-to-be-built) are turning London into a transport contradiction. Example: a useful and encouraging Cycle Superhighway lead cyclists on sensible route northbound into the city over Southwark Bridge. But at Southwark bridge often has 7 or 8 tipper lorries (at rush hour) stacked up at the lights waiting to turning left and right. This situation is not compatible. An example of success has been the Elephant and Castle Roundabout redesign which generally leads cyclist safely around it. Urban planners, urban engineers and the mayor of London need to apply this kind of approach to the rest of London, relying not on one tactic (ASL, segregated lanes, bike lanes) but a comprehensive approach to redesigning London for all. Traffic, congestion and accidental deaths can go down, health, happiness and progressive living standard can go up in London if the Mayor of London and his engineers committ themselves to it."

I don't think Boris will, but some Mayor of London should.

Oh but it's fine because as he says "...sometimes I just go round Elephant & Castle because it's fine. If you keep your wits about you, Elephant & Castle is perfectly negotiable."

Many of us may feel happy to cycle around the northern roundabout of the Elephant and Castle, but plenty of people don't and wont.

That roundabout alone accounts dozens of casualties in the past few years and several cyclist deaths.

It isn't even just that single aspect of E&C. It's a wound in the urban landscape that needs to be closed to create an attractive centre and destination, with more jobs, better shops, etc.

We need to get rid of the superfluous transport infrastructure resulting from the 20th century's failed attempts at turning London into a motor-centric city. It serves no purpose and makes the day of everybody who has to pass through there a little worse, without even having to mention any reason even tangentially related to worries about crashes, as it's so much worse than just that.

(skydancer)

You're so predictable, David.

(Cycle training joke.)

London Assembly survey on cycling:
http://www.london.gov.uk/mayor-assembly/london-assembly/investigations/cycle-survey?source=lfgss

Please go fill it in.

done.

hope they read all the comments as these are likely to be more useful than the scores out of 5 for various things, although obviosuly more labour intensive to analyse

I don't think Boris will, but some Mayor of London should.

dan for mayor. (or my mate ralph who is an urban planning engineer, who is not on here but some of you have ridden with on dunwich dynamo or london classic.)