Reader views (19)

 Add your view

I am amazed and appalled how many people are blaming the victim of this tragedy based on no evidence whatsoever. Yes, I see cyclists doing stupid things, but I see other road users being just as stupid, but with several tonnes of metal. At the moment, I am waiting to give evidence in a case of a left-hooking truck that ran straight over a cyclist in front of me. It's a situation I see many times every day.

I wish people would not use their prejudices to blame a victim, and had some thought for the family and friends who are having to deal with this tragedy in their lives

- R Jackson, London, UK

I'm surprised that nobody else has even hit on my excellent scheme as submitted to the TFL people.

Do not allow HGVs into London between 7am - 9.30am and then from 4.30pm to 7pm. Hey presto! congestion instantly cut to pre Livingstone levels and safer roads for cyclists.

And yes I do own a bike and I have lived in Skandinavia, I am also a builder and recognise how we all want our deliveries first thing (7am - 8am) but something has to give and I am affraid it has to be the HGVs for the good of all of us.

Has anybody else noticed how a HGV can take up one entire change of lights. Now do you see where I am going?

- Jimbob, Kensington

Tragic and my thoughts are with the family and friends.
It is so important for cyclists to always assume that cars and trucks CANNOT see them. Yes cyclists have rights but should always remember that they are the smallest and most vulnerable.

- John, London

I passed the scene shortly afterwards. It is not even one of the more dangerous junctions. We have no idea yet what really happened, but I would strongly advocate to all cyclists that you keep well away from the kerb and /never/ pass large vehicles on the left. There are a lot of railings on the pavements in that area, they need to be removed as a matter of urgency as they act as crushing points for any pedestrian or cyclist who is caught out.

- Guy Chapman, Reading / London, UK

Good grief, Reuben Anderson, what the hell makes you think a helmet designed for a low-speed fall would make an ounce of difference in cases like this. In fact it's the other way about: misleading propaganda from people like you about helmet effectiveness seems to encourage people who wear them to take more risks than they otherwise would.

The number of cyclists killed by lorries is criminal, especially as the government refuses to force owners of older lorries to fit better mirrors. But rejoice that cycling is still about as safe as walking overall, and the chance of being killed by other types of vehicles is extremely low.

- Colin Mckenzie, London UK

I have been cycling in London for 20 years. The number of cyclists in London has soared, but sadly the provision for cyclists is still very poor. Many people are still deterred from cycling because of this poor provision. What is particularly disappointing is that in general when cycle lanes are provided they are badly designed, badly built and poorly maintained, so poor that they are difficult and dangerous to use.

- Angus Mcewan, London, England

I ride through the middle of the city everyday, cyclists have to ride in a way to avoid traffic contact no matter who has right of way, cycling in london has to be done in a defensive manner, you DON'T have a choice or pay the price.

- Ron, london

I drive in london every day and drive a 18 tonne lorry. Cyclists often come up the left hand side of me even when i am indicating to turn left. I also have rear view camera but some cyclists are just suicidal. Just a bit of advice to any cyclist, never come up the left hand side of any lorry or high sided vehicle unless you are sure you have been seen. My sypathy goes out to the cyclists killed and injured but you really have to have eyes everywhere driving a lorry in london. Its not all the lorry drivers fault in every incident, i am also a motorbike rider and wouldnt ever come up the left side of a lorry, especially at a junction.

- Darren Delaforce, south ockendon, essex

As a cyclist I find other cyclists scare me witless sometimes and generally deserve no sympathy. You have got to be alert to ALL traffic - behind you, in front, on sideroads, driveways, pedestrians...

I've seen 3 accidents during September; those cyclists who jump red lights and don't wear helmets are simply suicidal.

At the same time I think car drivers are getting lazier by the day and it's now more common than not for drivers not to indicate at all, particularly if they've been waiting at traffic lights.

- Reuben Anderson, London

Dangerous high traffic volume junctions in central and inner London should have segregated sections or cycle lights for them to go first as in europe

- Mark, Mark, London, UK

Judging from where the very large bloodstain was on the road, the cyclist was in front of the lorry about ten yards past the junction, heading towards Euston Road. It looks as though the lorry turned onto her. Sympathies to the family and shame on all those stone-hearted people who demonise cyclists - who literally have as much protection as an egg in a concrete mixer. But then again, they're probably the type of people who yell and scream at babies when they're crying.

- Steve, London

Insurance, testing and licences don't stop motorists killing pedestrians, cyclists, other motorists, themselves and their passengers or causing the accidents that make the insurance premiums so high. Perhaps the test isn't hard enough.

- Don Shipp, London, England.

R Wagner - Perhaps this is not the place for sniping at badly-behaved cyclists? There are plenty of Clarkson style anti-bike rants around the internet on which you can give your opinions. thanks.

- R Pigg, Tamworth

Lorries kill a disproportionate number of cyclists, usually when the lorry is turning left. It does not require the cyclist to be doing anything illegal or stupid for this to happen, in fact one suggestion is that cyclists who don't stop at red lights are less likely to be killed in this way than those who do. Cyclists are also killed by lorries pulling out of side roads and by lorries simply running them down, all because the drivers aren't paying enough attention.
A cyclist riding on the left is not necessarily "squeezing through"; the traffic on the outside might be moving faster with the lorry passing the cyclist and then turning. Just because you've seen cyclists ignoring traffic lights or turning without signalling doesn't mean that you can assume that they're always in the wrong, in fact analysis of road accidents shows that the motorist was responsible in 70% of cyclist/motorist accident.
Also don't forget that less than 5% of all road fatalities are cyclists; so how do explain the rest? Just look at the way people drive; there's your explaination.

- Don Shipp, London, England.

Adam, have you ever considered that maybe the cyclist was in front of the lorry and not undertaking it. The full facts are not given in the report, so how can you state that the cyclist was in the wrong. Maybe the driver overtook the cyclist and turned before getting clear, i.e. the lorry may have not taken account of the cyclist. Do not prejudice these events.

- Dannyp, Egham

Another strange thing is that if cyclists are involved in accidents, they are never to blame and no-one spares a thought for others drawn into the incident. Commuting by motorbike, every single day I see cyclists doing daft, dangerous and illegal things. Passing on the near side is a favourite, even when vehicles are indicating to turn left and have audible warnings announcing that they are turning left. Yesterday I saw a cyclist come speeding up on the nearside and go across a junction, swerving to the left in front of a vehicle that was already turning left. Cyclists should be obliged, like other road users, to have to pass a test, get a licence and carry third party insurance.

- R Wagner, London, UK.

Steve, that's because the HSE, like everybody else, think that deaths on business premises or on trains are unacceptable, but cyclists on the road, well its just one of those things. Hence ITV's London Today programme leading with the traffic disruption caused by a cyclist inconsiderately getting themselves to be killed. I can't think of any other activity than driving that would be tolerated if it killed 3,000 people including 200 children a year in the UK. That's equivalent to a Potters Bar daily and a Soham every four days. The road death toll in London alone is equivalent to a 7/7 every two months.

- Tony, Cambridge, UK.

All my sympathies to the unfortunate victim and her family.
But, isn't this a matter of cyclists obeying a few rules of the road.
DO NOT UNDERTAKE A LORRY!
Even as a car driver I know lorries have blind spots on their insides. I would never undertake a lorry on any road, urban or motorway.
I learned this the hard way on the Commercial Road, East London, not long after passing my test.
It should be asked, what was a bicycle doing on the inside of a turning lorry at a junction.
Cyclists, please apply your brakes and wait that 5-10 seconds to allow the lorry or bus to manouvrer.

- Adam, Harrow, UK.

The strange thing is, if a death occurs on a building site the HSE are there in a shot. On the roads, especially if it's a cyclist, nothing much happens- witness the £300 fine for the driver who killed Emma Foa after being distracted by paperwork in his cab. That driver is still driving a lorry around London, he didn't lose his license. Shudder.

- Steve Chappell, Bow

Add your comment