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For God sake - has no one got any perspective any more. I'm a cyclist and perfectly happy to share the roads and accept the risk. This was a freak accident, and more are bound to occur..cycling is not dangerous, nor are we a danger to anyone.

Since Londoners all seem to hate each other why don;t we get together in Trafalgar Square after work on Friday and have a great big fight.

- Steve Gardiner, London, England

[quote]Cyclists need to be subject to legislation just like every other road user. At the very least they should have to pass the driving/bike theory test. They are an absolute menace on the road.[/quote]

This is absurd. Whom exactly do cyclists menace? Hint: consider the number of deaths and serious injuries caused by cyclists versus the number caused by lorries, buses and cars.

- Mike, Surrey

Taxi drivers will always say there are too many buses and that those are mostly empty. They say the same everywhere. On average, buses here run hourly. Clearly, it's a load of "sorry guv, I just started, I can't change a twenty for a 18 quid fare...."

- Anil, glos

"This is not just something that happens to other people - it could happen to you."

Yes, just like any other accident! I don't understand why everyone is getting so excited about this. It's not like anyone died and it's ONE accident in an enormous city. Or do cyclists think they are somehow magically exempt from realities like accidents? You are in a busy city, not Camberwick Green, you numpties!

- Sarah Bradshaw, Enfield, Middx

Jennifer white - your partner comments are daft. Try telling every person who squeeze themselves onto buses that most buses are empty in london. And how can he comment that cyclist should be banned in london? You say the roads not safe for so much traffic? Maybe then you can tell the other taxis blocking the roads in piccadilly to go elsewhere instead of causing massive tailbacks?!

People who don't drive into london and keep blaming lorries/buses/motorbikes for acccidents should read Noel Staples, London comment.

- Len, london

Bikers, please slow down - A LOT. Truck and bus drivers please look in your mirrors and WAIT TO PULL OUT. Cyclists PLEASE wear your high viz gear and stop running lights and squeezing through gaps as agressively.

Come on London, learn from this.

- Russell Ec2, City

I wish everyone would refrain from aportioning blame. Not enough information has been given to make that call. From experience, many bus drivers think they have right of way over everything, many cyclists ignore all the rules put in place to keep them safe, and many motorcyclists will make use of gaps to make progress.

But cyclists ignore the rules at their own risk, and if that is the case here then tough luck. Motorcyclists are the best people on the road, and although they may filter through traffic, 90% of the time they are involved in a crash because they are hit by a car not paying full attention to the road. And bus drivers may have the right of way pulling out of a bus stop, but that is the only time that do.

Anyone could of been at fault here, and all three groups have stereo types, please dont apply them unless you know all the facts.

- Neil, London SE1

I was right behind the accident when it happened yesterday and was deeply alarmed with the scene. Hope that all involved are doing well.

I commute on by motorbike from SW London to the City through Elephant and Castle and London Bridge every day. The most worrying part of my journey is between Elephant Castle and crossing London Bridge as suddenly I hit a number of cyclists ans scooters. I try to keep away particularly from the cyclists as I never know which side they come from.

I am also irritated by immediate comments on letting bikes into bus lanes. A lot of bike riders ride responsibly and I agree that there are some who do not behave as they should. But then again, there are a lot of cyclists who cycle as if they are the only ones on the roads. Those of us on two wheels should work together and be watchful of each other instead of against each other.

- Ao, London SW18

We should ban lorries and trucks from central London. They are a hazzard and cause congestion. Most of the lorry drivers are arrogant and don't care for cyclists or pedestrian safety.

- Neil, sutton

Please don't jump to conclusions on this accident given there is no information as to cause within this article.

Some people on motorbikes do go too fast over the bridge. Lots of people of bicycles ignore red lights. Bus drivers frequently ignore the red lights.
It is not known from the article above if any of these were contributing factors to the accident.

- Joseph, London E14

I am both biker and London bus driver and just picked up a £60 fine for being in a bus lane. Unlike cyclists I do not hold up the buses in bus lanes, and I am (now used to be)in a safer place. Many of my bus and lorry driving colleagues are also bikers. I am now 63 and ride a 15 year old Pan European with 95k miles on the clock. I live in Peterborough but have to commute weekly to London now because of the recession. As a bus driver I have to say that it is exhausting (and the younger drivers all find the same)keeping up the intense level of concentration required, for up to 5½hrs at a time, across central London. I try to keep so close to kerbs that cyclists and bikers can't creep up my nearside. This is because the boredom and frustration of sitting in constant traffic jams saps concentration very effectively. This is when it is very easy to start off when the lights change without checking both sides to see if someone is trying to squeeze past while you have been stationery yet again for some time. When you are moving forward in a straight line it is even easier to forget to look in your mirrors as all common sense tells you that, if there is nobody in front of you, then you can't hit anything. But of course there will now be half a dozen cyclists and a couple bikers squeezed in down both sides of your vehicle. . . My enormous motorway bike is too large for that, mostly, but even I try sometimes in the effort to get around . . .

- Noel Staples, London

My partner is a black cab driver and is always complaining about what Ken Livingstone has done to London. He says there are far to many buses on the road (which most are empty) and cyclists should not be allowed into London. The roads are just not made for so much traffi, and as for the taxi bikes they are are so dangerous he has witnessed two turning over, fortunately they turned towards the pavement they were driving up, but someday someone is going to be seriously hurt or killed. Come on Boris we voted for you, don't let us down.

- Jennifer White, Greenwich

This accident happened right outside my office window. The injuries suffered by the cyclist looked truly horrific and our thoughts and prayers should be with them. There seems to be a complete lack of empathy from those who have previously commented.

For what it is worth, I had to drive into the City recently and I was astonished at the reckless behaviour of a large number of cycles. There were times when I was surrounded by bikes weaving in and out of the traffic and observance of traffic lights seemed to be the exception not the norm.

- Kitten, London EC4

Along with several thousand other commuters this morning, I was horrified to see the accident at London Bridge. Upon leaving the station after my train journey, it was immediately apparent there was a problem as the bus station was empty, something I have seldom see in 50 years of commuting. Additionally, there was a queue of buses parked in the bus lane heading north over the bridge. I crossed the road in order to cross the bridge on the upstream side only to be nearly run down by a cyclist who had clearly crossed a red light. Not only that, but this was in front of a police car parked accross the road directing traffic away from the incident. You would have thought the cyclist would have had the presence of mind to obey the law at this point. The policeman was then instructing cyclists that they could cross London Bridge provided they dismounted. So what did we see within minutes, but cyclists remounting in contravention of police instructions. Finally, in Clements Lane, a cyclist came past me going the wrong way up the one-way street, a common occurrence.

So within ten minutes of a serious accident. I had witnessed three events which would have meant 9 penalty points on a motorists licence committed by various cyclists.

I am very aware of the danger of cycling in London, but cyclists really must obey the highway code, and cycle more carefully. Additionally, as a matter of self-preservation, surely they can see the danger of the proximity of large vehicles.

- David Croome, Sutton,Surrey

I've been cycling for years in central london, cant help wondering why we allow trucks on our streets during peak times in the first place. Why do bus drivers insist on overtaking a cyclist when approaching a stop only to cut the cyclist up & force them to move into the far lane & into the path of fast moving traffic? As for cyclists who make up their own rules...a heavy fine should be inforced!

- Andy, The Elephant & Castle

Lets thank the lord that their was not a child on the back of the bicycle.

If I had my way I would make it ilegal to carry anyone on the back of a bike especialy children, people who do this need their brains examined.

- Neil, london

Cyclists need to be subject to legislation just like every other road user. At the very least they should have to pass the driving/bike theory test. They are an absolute menace on the road. The onus is on all drivers to observe their safety while they frequently jeapordise everyone elses. Weaving in and out of traffic with no awareness whatsover, usually with headphones on and completely oblivious of everyone else.

To those drivers so quick to blame the motorcyclist, the fact is bikers are the most aware people on the road, and far more observant and capable than your average halfwit in a car.

- Simon James, London

How fast was the Motorbike going? I've seen bikes do ridiculous speeds over the bridges in this city, and these are the same "responsible road users" who want to share the buslane with pushbikes?!

- James, London

I do wish that the automatic reaction when a motorcycle or pushbike is concerned wasn't to go on about cyclists safety. Please remember that there are increasingly regular instances when the fault lies with the cyclist/rider. They frequently put themselves in danger by weaving in and out of traffic and not paying attention to basic road safety.

- Geraldine, London

Well it was only a matter of time now that they've allowed motorbikes in bus lanes..... Great work Boris

- Richard, London

If the cops are handing out mirrors to lorries , doesn't that show the industry is incapable or reluctant to insist on safe practice themselves?
Besides, more than half the cycling fatalities involved lorries colliding with bthe rear of the bike, mirrors would have made no difference. Sure, hand out mirrors, but why not also clamp down on drivers on mobiles, speeding, overtaking recklessly, reading maps and newspapers at the wheel and so on?

If the motorbike in this story had collided with a pedestrian on the pavement, would it raise questions about the safety of pedestrians in London?

Let's focus on the main issue, the stupidly reckless behaviour of many of London's drivers.

- Gordon Strang, London W4

pedestrians and cyclists should not even be on the same street as vans cars buses and lorries. All those vehicles should be driven underground and the streets for the people. Let the buses and trucks etc have the motorways.

Allowing this to go on is pure murder. Nothing will change

- Mike, London SE1

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