Join an already active online petition at the official Number 10 office.
Cycling Plus magazine is calling for recommended EU legislation on HGV blind spot mirrors to be brought in now and save an estimated 18 cyclists a year.
Appeal for Witnesses – Oval 29th June 08:20am
August 25th, 2009 by MrPipMy name is Anish Patel and I am the husband of Catriona . On Monday 29th June at around 08.20, Catriona died as a result of a collision with a green Tipper lorry at Kennington Park Road, at the junction with Harleyford Street. I would like to make a personal appeal for anyone who was in the Oval area that morning , who saw Catriona or the tipper, to come forward as a potential witness. Even if you did not see the incident directly, you may still have useful information on the lead up to, or aftermath of the incident. So, please, I urge you to come forward. Any information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, may be crucial to the case. I and the entire family would like to understand what happened on that day and you may have seen something that is relevant. Please contact the Collision Investigation Unit Witness Line on 020 8941 9011 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 if you have any information. Many thanks, Anish.
Protest Friday 3rd July 2009
July 2nd, 2009 by DavidKWe have had a call from Kate Cairns, whose sister was killed by a HGV lorry in February, to support an short demonstration tomorrow calling on the Crown Prosecution Service to take a stronger line dealing with drivers involved in cyclit’s deaths. So far this year 7 cyclists have been killed by lorries in London…
Dear All You Cylists
PROTEST TOMORROW FRIDAY 3 JULY
Sorry dont really know where to post this on your site. There is a protest in Reading at the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) following the lack of action when a van mowed down and killed a cyclist with the excuse of not seeing him. Guess you guys are all based in London.
And how about doing the same at the London CPS at the same time tomorrow?!?
Crown Prosecution Service 4pm 50 Ludgate Hill EC4
I am desparately trying to get Eilidh’s case to court so the driver doesnt just walk away and continue this precedent of – never mind mate, sh!t happens, off you go.
The case should be going to the London CPS any day now.
- Kate
Charlie Lloyd
Cycling Development Officer
London Cycling Campaign
Rider down, Notting Hill 5th February 2009
February 12th, 2009 by DavidKA lot has happened in the last week, from the initial post on the LondonFgSs forum:
Rider down – Notting Hill Gate (5th February 2009)
Sorry to bring the bad news but this morning I saw there was an incident with a HGV on Notting Hill Gate, I could see a multicoloured lo pro with white bull horns crushed leaning against the railings.
I spoke to the traffic cop who told me a girl was trapped under the HGV but there was no fatality. I hope who ever it was is ok, I dont know anyone with that bike but more than likely someone here knows who it is. Ride safe everyone.
And the news that the girl, Eilidh, was the girlfriend of a member of the LondonFgSs community:
sadly, this was my girlfriend Eilidh, she was riding the bike she loved on the route she takes to work everyday. she died in hospital yesterday. words cannot express how much i loved that girl. cycle safely.
giles
Since that point the community have rallied in support, and shown immense consideration for the family and friends of Eilidh. Caught between outrage & anger and wanting to publicise the incident to help increase awareness and reduce risk, and the very real thoughts and empathy towards Giles and the family of Eilidh the community waited before doing anything until the wishes of the friends and family were heard.
Now that these wishes are known the LFGSS community are doing the following:
- Compiling a condolence/memorial book.
- Gathering donations towards bike-shaped flowers for the funeral, and all additional money will be donated to charities specified by the friends and family of Eilidh.
- A memorial ride will be held on Saturday 7th March 2009.
- A ghost bike, perhaps made from Eilidh’s bike, will be placed near the accident location.
- Flowers have already been placed near the accident location.
At this time the focus is not on politicising the tragedy in any way, however if you are a cyclist in London who in any way feels connected to this loss of life and who wants to pay some respect to Eilidh, then you are very welcome to join the memorial ride… please check on the LondonFgSs website for the details of this as they are announced.
Action from the Mayor Of London
October 13th, 2008 by MrPipThe Mayor of London’s office has responded to questions regarding the safety of cyclist on London Roads.
And so far the response is very positive.
The TFLs London Road Safety Unit (LRSU) have recognised cycle safety as a problem and have run a number of campaigns over the last few years to attempt to highlight the issues. These campaigns include:
* Leaflets and posters which were distributed to both cyclists and lorry drivers
* Stickers for the rear of HGV trailers which read: ‘Beware of passing this vehicle on the inside’
* Distribution of 10,000 ‘fresnel’ lenses: Enabling the lorry driver to see more of their blind spot along with their conventional mirrors.
The LRSUs current approach is a focus on “change blindness”. Focusing on the how we process information that enters our brain. The basic premises are changes in a persons surrounding are missed if the person’s attention is elsewhere.
A recent TV advert and website were run to highlight this problem. www.dothetest.co.uk
They are currently developing a web-based campaign launch on the theme of “look out for cyclists” which follows the ‘moonwalking bear’ change blindness principles.
Watch
this space ….
The Observer writes about ghost bikes
October 5th, 2008 by jbcommuterThe Observer looks into the ghost bike movement in London and around the globe.
Follow the link for the article in the Sunday October 5 edition.
Olympic Delivery Authority takes action to reduce lorry deaths
October 2nd, 2008 by DavidKBill over at Moving Target has writtten about the increased HGV traffic to the Olympic sites in London and the increased risk that these present to cyclists.
He covers a particularly good article in the Evening Standard that shows that the Olympic Delivery Authority is thinking about cyclists by making more than 1,000 fresnel lenses available to trucks around the Olympic Park.
Not sure what a fresnel lens is? Maybe this picture will help:
It’s a great step towards helping to potentially reducing accidents due to the increased traffic… if they’re used by the drivers.
Freesheet in balanced article shocker!
October 1st, 2008 by JallaphantiOne of the benefits of commuting via bike in London is that you can generally avoid the free ‘newspapers’, although the distributors still try and give them to me whilst I wait at lights.
For a change The London Paper has published not only a balanced article, but a balanced article about cycling.
The article titled “As cycle deaths on London roads mount up, a cyclist and a lorry driver swap places to see who’s in the wrong” can be found here.