Mason is the first person to die in a cycling incident in London in 2011, according to Transport for London.
If so, that makes cycling much safer than I imagined - and I of course am a cyclist.
Safe cycling?
Safe cycling?
It's always sad to learn of someone dying on our road as in this story from the BBC, but can this quote in it really be true?
If so, that makes cycling much safer than I imagined - and I of course am a cyclist.
If so, that makes cycling much safer than I imagined - and I of course am a cyclist.
Re: Safe cycling?
You know that it's dated 7 January, right?
Re: Safe cycling?
How embarrassing. Can't find the emoticons on this mobile!
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Re: Safe cycling?
Haha, never mind Tim, Its Christmas! enjoy! 
Re: Safe cycling?
Back home now 
Re: Safe cycling?
Tim,
Unfortuately cyclists deaths have been gradually increasing over the last few years - the 16th cyclist to be killed in London this year died at the beginning of December (10 died last year). Much of this increase has been attributed to the uncreasing popularity of cycling.
Unfortuately cyclists deaths have been gradually increasing over the last few years - the 16th cyclist to be killed in London this year died at the beginning of December (10 died last year). Much of this increase has been attributed to the uncreasing popularity of cycling.
Re: Safe cycling?
I don't know if this is ironic or just that London is behind other places for cyclists: I asked a friend recently how he found it cycling in Oxford versus London. His response was "Much easier as there are more of us so vehicles know to look out for us".Marathon wrote:Tim,
Unfortuately cyclists deaths have been gradually increasing over the last few years - the 16th cyclist to be killed in London this year died at the beginning of December (10 died last year). Much of this increase has been attributed to the uncreasing popularity of cycling.
Sounds like heaven and hopefully not Cloud Nine from a London perspective.
Re: Safe cycling?
Well, I grew up cycling in Oxford, and I didn't think of the risks - but maybe just because I was young.
Marathon - re the increased number of deaths - I'm sure it is related to the increased popularity, which I have to think, in spite of the risks, is a good thing. Are there figures for numbers of deaths per mile cycled? It's possible on such a measure cycling is becoming safer.
Not always, but sometimes, safer cycling routes are possible - my route to Canary Wharf largely along the River Pool path is, especially now the lights have been adjusted crossing the A2 in Deptford, commented on here.
Does anyone have any evidence on how the increase in cycling is related to the recession? One significant attraction of cycling to work is how much cheaper it is than the alternatives, and it will appeal in particular to younger people who are anyway facing tougher economic conditions than their elders (like me).
Marathon - re the increased number of deaths - I'm sure it is related to the increased popularity, which I have to think, in spite of the risks, is a good thing. Are there figures for numbers of deaths per mile cycled? It's possible on such a measure cycling is becoming safer.
Not always, but sometimes, safer cycling routes are possible - my route to Canary Wharf largely along the River Pool path is, especially now the lights have been adjusted crossing the A2 in Deptford, commented on here.
Does anyone have any evidence on how the increase in cycling is related to the recession? One significant attraction of cycling to work is how much cheaper it is than the alternatives, and it will appeal in particular to younger people who are anyway facing tougher economic conditions than their elders (like me).
Re: Safe cycling?
Both my children work in canary wharf,and both cycle to work,but their employers help a lot by supplying shower/changing rooms/lockers etc.
I would love to cycle,but I am too nervous on the road,Its a shame that we have such narrow roads because if we could have some sort of low kerb/hump? that separated the traffic from the cycles i'm sure more people would use bikes.
I would love to cycle,but I am too nervous on the road,Its a shame that we have such narrow roads because if we could have some sort of low kerb/hump? that separated the traffic from the cycles i'm sure more people would use bikes.
Re: Safe cycling?
I cycle frequently in London now commuting from Sydenham to Kingston. Like any form of transport on London Roads it is about thinking ahead assuming that everyone else is an idiot and has no thought for anyone other than themselves.
It is also worth remembering that the most dangerous thing to do is not to cycle up the inside of the the traffic, as the way many people are hurt or killed when on a bike is when a vehicle, especially a bus or lorry turns left across the path of the cyclist. Counter intuitively the most snesible thing to do when passing a queue of stationary or slow moving traffic is to ride up the outside of the queue not the inside, looking well ahead to see where people may turn right.
And of course have lights and where visible clothing when it is dark.
It is also worth remembering that the most dangerous thing to do is not to cycle up the inside of the the traffic, as the way many people are hurt or killed when on a bike is when a vehicle, especially a bus or lorry turns left across the path of the cyclist. Counter intuitively the most snesible thing to do when passing a queue of stationary or slow moving traffic is to ride up the outside of the queue not the inside, looking well ahead to see where people may turn right.
And of course have lights and where visible clothing when it is dark.
Re: Safe cycling?
I contacted the Lewisham rep of the London Cyclists Campaign about this - hopefully they'll have some statistics to answer my question about safety expressed in accidents / deaths per mile cycled.
The rep also confirmed that they'd been working with Lewisham Council and TfL about the junction improvement I mentioned - and that the Lewisham officer had not had her contract renewed.
This year my wife also started cycling to work - which still makes me feel a bit nervous, even though I've been cycling for decades. She became very enthusiastic about how much better it is than the train, especially with some good cycle routes round the Elephant - but she's a bit more cautious having fallen off once thanks to some poorly maintained road surface and wet leaves.
The rep also confirmed that they'd been working with Lewisham Council and TfL about the junction improvement I mentioned - and that the Lewisham officer had not had her contract renewed.
This year my wife also started cycling to work - which still makes me feel a bit nervous, even though I've been cycling for decades. She became very enthusiastic about how much better it is than the train, especially with some good cycle routes round the Elephant - but she's a bit more cautious having fallen off once thanks to some poorly maintained road surface and wet leaves.
Re: Safe cycling?
Something that I see a lot now is cyclists wearing headphones. Surely this cuts out one of the main ways of being aware of traffic and potential danger around you. I find it astonishingly reckless.
It annoys me that I also see car drivers doing this too, which is equally dangerous, but probably far less likely to result in the death of the car driver. It surely must, however, mean increased danger to cyclists.
Why isn't something being done to stop both drivers and cyclists indulging in this selfishly dangerous habit?
It annoys me that I also see car drivers doing this too, which is equally dangerous, but probably far less likely to result in the death of the car driver. It surely must, however, mean increased danger to cyclists.
Why isn't something being done to stop both drivers and cyclists indulging in this selfishly dangerous habit?
Re: Safe cycling?
Davegr - I suspect you're right about it not being a great idea, but it's probably more education cyclists need than banning - it's quite hard to stop cyclists doing things which are already against the highway code such as turning left through red lights.
I used to cycle occasionally with headphones, but it was hardly a satisfactory listening experience. Maybe it was just that I had enough common sense not to have them so loud that they got in the way of my awareness of what what happening on the road / cycle track.
I used to cycle occasionally with headphones, but it was hardly a satisfactory listening experience. Maybe it was just that I had enough common sense not to have them so loud that they got in the way of my awareness of what what happening on the road / cycle track.
Re: Safe cycling?
I have heard of a couple of recent cyclist deaths where the cyclist had headphones on and wasn't aware of a lorry next to them. It seems such a mad thing to do.
I take your point about banning them. Maybe the danger of cycling with headphones on should be highlighted more. I have never seen anyone mention it when it comes to road safety.
I take your point about banning them. Maybe the danger of cycling with headphones on should be highlighted more. I have never seen anyone mention it when it comes to road safety.
Re: Safe cycling?
Recklessly dangerous? Unecessarily emotive language.
I cycle whilst listening to music through headphones (not least to get me up both sides of the hill morning and evening) and in my opinion it's no more dangerous than driving a car with the stereo turned up. I don't have the volume so loud that I completely block out the traffic noise, I'm always looking around me plus (and this may sound slightly strange) but being outside the cocoon of a car I can feel and sense the traffic around me - there are all sorts of cues available that you wouldn't necessarily see or feel as a car driver, such as vibrations from the engines and the road, reflections of the traffic behind you in shop windows or the paintwork of vehicles in front of you, car lights after dusk approaching from behind to give three examples.
Without trying to be flippant DaveGR, how is it known that the cyclists you mention weren't aware of the truck that killed them? They could hardly ask them.
And please let's not have the turgid discussions about cyclists and the highway code again. Aspects of it are ignored by all types of road user.
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I cycle whilst listening to music through headphones (not least to get me up both sides of the hill morning and evening) and in my opinion it's no more dangerous than driving a car with the stereo turned up. I don't have the volume so loud that I completely block out the traffic noise, I'm always looking around me plus (and this may sound slightly strange) but being outside the cocoon of a car I can feel and sense the traffic around me - there are all sorts of cues available that you wouldn't necessarily see or feel as a car driver, such as vibrations from the engines and the road, reflections of the traffic behind you in shop windows or the paintwork of vehicles in front of you, car lights after dusk approaching from behind to give three examples.
Without trying to be flippant DaveGR, how is it known that the cyclists you mention weren't aware of the truck that killed them? They could hardly ask them.
And please let's not have the turgid discussions about cyclists and the highway code again. Aspects of it are ignored by all types of road user.
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Re: Safe cycling?
It is regulary argued about amongst cyclists. My take is most are against headphones except those who use them! Here is a link to part of a relevant thread: http://cyclechat.net/threads/with-all-t ... st-1597891davegr wrote:Maybe the danger of cycling with headphones on should be highlighted more. I have never seen anyone mention it when it comes to road safety.
BTW you may note that some posters are very local.
Stuart