Topic: | Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Another cyclist loses their life. | |
Posted by: | Andy Rooney | |
Date/Time: | 23/06/15 09:59:00 |
The vehicles in most of these incidents are four-axle tipper trucks carrying heavy aggregates to and from construction sites, so I don't think it's practical to keep them out of the centre of town. These trucks are particularly dangerous for bikes because of the way they turn - all four front wheels turn and they then effectively cut the corner with the rear wheels. I'd be amazed if that wasn't what happened at Bank junction yesterday. The fact that a particular sub-group of cyclists seems disproportionately affected suggests that focused education is worth trying - specific advice such as: never stop alongside a four-axle truck; never get alongside one or let one get alongside you near a junction; when you approach a junction in moving traffic get out into the middle of the lane to prevent large vehicles cutting you off, and so on. (That last one might be seen as aggressive behaviour, so perhaps women are more reluctant to do it). Perhaps leafleting cyclists with specific focus on the four-axle trucks, and advice on how to stay out of their way, might help. Another possibility would be to remove the pedestrian railings at these junctions to give trapped cyclists somewhere to go - perhaps replacing them with bollards to prevent traffic mounting the pavement. |