Cyclists killed by HGV this year
Professor David Vilaseca-Perez, 46 from South Bank (February 2010)
Muhammad “Haris” Ahmed, 21, a 4th year Medical student (March 2010)
Shivon Watson, 28 years old, a designer and musician from Bow (March 2010)
Another woman dies on 14th April 2010
In 2009, 69% of cyclists' deaths were caused by HGVs/lorries, yet we see no action from our cyclist Mayor to look at the London Lorry Control Scheme and re-assess, or increase the budget on road safety.
London Lorry Control Scheme (LLCS)
The LLCS restricts the movement of HGVs in London at night and weekends. It aims to limit noise pollution in residential areas and restrictions apply between:
21:00 to 07:00, Monday to Saturday
13:00 Saturdays to 07:00 Monday
which means that HGV are forced to go through the city during peak hours;
There have been huge efforts from cycling communities around raising cyclists' safety awareness: never EVER ride on the inside or outside of a lorry if there is a chance it may make a turn; a lorry to turn left will most possibly bear right to be able to then make a left. Keep clear from them, and if you are waiting in front of them at the lights, leave some distance so they can see you: make eye contact to make sure the driver has also seen you. I sometimes raise my hand to signal i am there - most drivers signal back and smile, then i know they have seen me. There are cycling courses for adults to raise road safety awareness. There are ghost bikes all over the city to remind us of the cyclists' deaths.
But these are still not enough: It does not just take a cyclist to be aware of the dangers - it takes educating the drivers, removing this ridiculous cyclist Vs driver war (see my previous blog entry) and reconsidering the London Lorry Control Scheme.
TAKE ACTION: JOIN THE CRITICAL MASS
Friday the 26th March from 6.00PM.
The London Mass meets at 6.00pm on the last Friday of every month on the South Bank under Waterloo Bridge, by the National Film Theatre.
This video below was on the news a couple of days ago - the guy driving the HGV had no idea he was dragging the car in front... just like when the HGVs driving in London have no idea they are driving over cyclists.(photo above taken from the Real Cycling blog)
Another woman dies on 14th April 2010
In 2009, 69% of cyclists' deaths were caused by HGVs/lorries, yet we see no action from our cyclist Mayor to look at the London Lorry Control Scheme and re-assess, or increase the budget on road safety.
London Lorry Control Scheme (LLCS)
The LLCS restricts the movement of HGVs in London at night and weekends. It aims to limit noise pollution in residential areas and restrictions apply between:
21:00 to 07:00, Monday to Saturday
13:00 Saturdays to 07:00 Monday
which means that HGV are forced to go through the city during peak hours;
There have been huge efforts from cycling communities around raising cyclists' safety awareness: never EVER ride on the inside or outside of a lorry if there is a chance it may make a turn; a lorry to turn left will most possibly bear right to be able to then make a left. Keep clear from them, and if you are waiting in front of them at the lights, leave some distance so they can see you: make eye contact to make sure the driver has also seen you. I sometimes raise my hand to signal i am there - most drivers signal back and smile, then i know they have seen me. There are cycling courses for adults to raise road safety awareness. There are ghost bikes all over the city to remind us of the cyclists' deaths.
But these are still not enough: It does not just take a cyclist to be aware of the dangers - it takes educating the drivers, removing this ridiculous cyclist Vs driver war (see my previous blog entry) and reconsidering the London Lorry Control Scheme.
TAKE ACTION: JOIN THE CRITICAL MASS
Friday the 26th March from 6.00PM.
The London Mass meets at 6.00pm on the last Friday of every month on the South Bank under Waterloo Bridge, by the National Film Theatre.
This video below was on the news a couple of days ago - the guy driving the HGV had no idea he was dragging the car in front... just like when the HGVs driving in London have no idea they are driving over cyclists.(photo above taken from the Real Cycling blog)
8 comments:
Oh my goodness, that clip of the lorry pushing the car down the motorway is terrifying! It just goes to show how poor a lorry's line of site can be - this is why, despite best intentions from driver and cyclist, accidents can still happen. It seems crazy that the 'lorry ban' makes trucks rush out straight into the morning rush hour - they need to change that legislation, and fast!
that video was on TV a few days ago. The driver really had no idea about the car...so they probably have no idea when they clip/hit/drive over cyclists....scary huh?
there are clearly many things that need to be considered to improve the safety for cyclists. with definite urgency, should be a reconsideration of the operating hours of london lorry control scheme... and whether the scheme helps at all with cycling safety. seems crazy that these huge vehicles are rushing through the city at the same time cyclists start their morning commute. madness.
The advice to never pass a lorry on the inside is good, what do you do when they pass you on the outsideand turn left. The majority of lorry drivers are fantastic most of the time, but it only takes one, or one slip. You're likely to survive being clipped by a car, not so a lorry
yes "None of the Above" getting clipped by a lorry or tipper would bring the end of us - it's murderous they just overtake and then make a turn - sometimes without even indicating the left turn... not to mention when another one is parked right on a cycling lane leaving absolutely no space for cyclists...:-(
I'm shocked to hear about all of the cyclists killed by trucks in London this year. After those women were killed last year, you'd think something would have changed.
I hate trucks and do everything I can to avoid riding or sitting next to one, but they're everyone in the mornings.
The HGV Training indsutry is trying to get to grips with accidents involving cyclists. Better education on both side and enforcement is the logical way to reduce these needless deaths.
The HGV Training indsutry is trying to get to grips with accidents involving cyclists. Better education on both side and enforcement is the logical way to reduce these needless deaths.
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