Forum Topic

Bicycles

The thread about collision rates in Chiswick High Road got too long and sidetracked by discussion of the consequences of SUVs on our roads. Is it possible that it isn't just the type of the vehicles but also the character of the riders that makes bicycles so dangerous? From the Sunday Times October 13, 1924 (reproduced on October 13, 2024):"Dr George Downing Liveing, the oldest member of Cambridge University, was knocked down in the street at Cambridge yesterday by a woman cyclist, and was taken home suffering from an injury to his thigh and from shock. Dr. Liveing, who is in his 97th year, is president of St Johns and has been a fellow of that college for 71 years."It seems that the issue of dangerous cyclists on our roads has a long history.

Richard Greenhough ● 35d31 Comments

Ah bless Richard, are you lonely? Did you need some hits. Just write the word bicycle and then any old nonsense. Feel better?

Tony Mansell ● 31d

“ how on earth bicycles and cycle lanes have inspired such negative rage from a few is indeed a sadness to behold.”Yes, as a cyclist I find it very sad that many cyclists have made all cyclists the most despised species. If only they could behave responsibly and decently and obey the law. They have inspired such negative views from millions. I think the damage is done and they will struggle to gain respect and confidence from decent law abiding citizens trying to go about their business without getting run  down or cursed at.

Steve Taylor ● 31d

To be fair Bill, it's usually the same odeous individual that is responsible for the items you mentioned. I don't believe anyone takes him seriously.

Mark Frost ● 31d

"Particularly a future that involves the next generation wanting to fix the appalling health of planet earth."The elephant in the room is the rapidly growing human population across the globe, and no numbers of people taking to bicycles is going to affect that.

Richard Greenhough ● 31d

Think most people expected cyclists to use the cycle lane, instead of theroad and pavements, that's where the problem lies, well from my point ofview.  Otherwise I had no objection to cycle lanes at least children do use them.

Janice Evans ● 31d

Yes Robert,Im afraid Jim Lawes was somewhat letting himself down and merely seeking an excuse for a dig at me after what I wrote about the unpleasant part he played in the oystergate affair.But I also agree with another point you allude to.  The wisest and happiest of us make great effort to support and embrace change for the future.  Particularly a future that involves the next generation wanting to fix the appalling health of planet earth.  Whilst a few obstinate folk can't cope with anything different and grossly exaggerate their "problems" with change.How on earth bicycles and cycle lanes have inspired such negative rage from a few is indeed a sadness to behold.  As is all this semi-religious extolment of SUV motor cars in towns and cities.

Bill Danton ● 31d

Thing is the aggressive cyclists give them all a bad name.

Janice Evans ● 31d

My parents were not great at that but you learn yourself by observing politebehaviour, my partners mother was excellent she taught him how to shopand economise, how to run a home, just about everything.

Janice Evans ● 31d

The majority are just too stupid to have respect. Also it’s bad parenting and now you find many who don’t understand basic manners and respect because their scum parents didn’t teach them any.

Steve Taylor ● 31d

so so right steve .No respect

John Kennedy ● 32d

Steve, I said you were putting words in my mouth.According to you I was saying "that (tackling) illegal immigration should be given priority over potential killer cyclists on pavements."I said no such thing.Tackling "illegal immigration" is not synonymous with tackling "drugs and drug dealing". I have no doubt that parts of the illegal drug trade in the UK are heavily controlled by overseas organised crime groups. I also have no doubt that some illegal immigrants are involved with drug dealing. There are also plenty of British citizens in the UK who are involved at all levels in the illegal drug trade, but my view is that tackling drug dealing where it damages society should not depend on the immigration status of the person involved. I'd already said previously "The fact that cyclists being involved in a fatal collision attracts a lot of attention partly down to how rare and uncommon these incidents are." so I have clearly acknowledged that cyclists can be responsible for causing deaths. However demonising all cyclists acting illegally, which is a modus operandi of yours in many of your posts on this forum, by describing them as potential killers is no more helpful to a rational discussion than if I were to describe all car drivers acting illegally as potential killers.For what it's worth, when I see a cyclist on a pavement my first thought isn't oh my God, there's a potential killer, I think something like there's someone who is cycling  illegally on the pavement.   

Andrew Jones ● 32d

Indeed Jim. Many people have complained about near misses with cyclists on pavements when they step out of shops. The worst scumbags are those who speed up on the inside lane and don’t stop at red lights even if they can’t see pedestrians crossing who may be obscured by a van or bus stopped at the red light. Lots of very, very thick scumbags out there.

Steve Taylor ● 32d

So don’t you think cyclists speeding on pavements, weaving between pedestrians, are potential killers when they are acting illegally?  And are you saying that you don’t think drug dealing gangs employ or are controlled by illegal immigrants?

Steve Taylor ● 32d

You're putting words in my mouth Steve ... I didn't mention anything about illegal immigration, nor did I use the words potential or killer.

Andrew Jones ● 32d

May I suggest, Jim, that irritation leads to exaggeration. Despite the frequently anti-social behaviour of cyclists on the pavements of Chiswick High Road, I've never had a cyclist whizz past my nose as I step out of a shop.

Robert Fish ● 32d

You step out of a shop onto the pavement and a cyclist and his machine whizzes past your nose ...it has happened to me on occasions."Ordinary cyclists are no problem"says Bill. Rubbish!

Jim Lawes ● 32d

“ question, I would say more harm is caused to society by drugs and drug dealing, so I would prioritise dealing with that over dealing with cycling on pavements.”Ah ok, so you are saying that illegal immigration should be given priority over potential killer cyclists on pavements. I’m guessing the vast majority would agree.

Steve Taylor ● 32d

"It’s an alien concept to have to look both ways."I recall as a child being taught to "Look left, look right, look left again" which still seems relevant when you are dealing with two-way cycle lanes.

Richard Greenhough ● 32d

In terms of life changing injuries, far more are caused by collisions between motor vehicles and people than are caused by collisions between cycles and people.The fact that cyclists being involved in a fatal collision attracts a lot of attention partly down to how rare and uncommon these incidents are.But, in answer to your question, I would say more harm is caused to society by drugs and drug dealing, so I would prioritise dealing with that over dealing with cycling on pavements. That isn't to say that cycling on pavements should be given a carte blanche - it shouldn't and I'd like to see the most egregious cases tackled and if appropriate, prosecuted.Although I don't know the full facts of the case, the recent jailing of a cyclist in York for 8 months didn't seem excessive to me given the injuries caused to the pedestrian victim.

Andrew Jones ● 32d

Oh yes indeed. With all the uncontrolled illegal immigration, drug dealing is rife but that’s another subject. Nothing to do with cyclists mowing down pedestrians on pavements. Which is the bigger problem you want the inept mayor to tackle?

Steve Taylor ● 32d

As a pedestrian you MUST always look BOTH ways before crossing as you should havd been taught - and learned and practised well - as a child.  You MUST always expect traffic of some kind from EITHER side.  It is a worry that car drivers who so often REVERSE to extricate their cars from queues of traffic and parking spaces seem so often to have forgotten this and do so at speed and without looking.

Philippa Bond ● 32d

Meanwhile, back in the real world ...https://chiswickcalendar.co.uk/bad-car-smash-on-goldhawk-rd/

Andrew Jones ● 32d

Hallucinations, such as seeing swarms of locusts -  or even cyclists - all over the pavement, aren't as common as other mental illnesses. You might be bipolar. Or it could be even worse.  Do you see dead pedestrians too? You really should see a doctor.

Bill Danton ● 32d

Yes it’s so sad that the locusts now swarm over pavements and sidewalks and pose such a deadly threat to pedestrians.

Steve Taylor ● 32d

Crikey, a case of a pedestrian in Cambridge in 1924 and a road crossing in the 1980s, these cyclists really are worse than Attila the Hun!!

Francis Sheehan ● 33d

The benefits of the cycle lane are truly boundless.

Paul Campbell ● 34d

Brooks without an 'e'. I don't feel unsafe on CHR as I choose not to go there as a disabled pedestrian. There are far better areas.

N V Brooks ● 34d

Cambridge has a proud cultural history of cycling. In the city of Cambridge one in three cycle to work apart from the students. So it's  hardly surprising that very occasionally an elderly pedestrian is involved in an accident.I'm sorry that Mr Brookes and Ms Thorburn feel unsafe on Chiswick High Road. All High Roads are potentially unsafe for the very old and the disabled.  They both need to take the utmost care or find an escort.  I'm getting a bit old but feel perfectly safe there.The most dangerous, in my view, are the delivery bikes and the very fast silent electric bikes. Ordinary bikes are no problem whatsoever. I usually wave them through because their momentum isn't courtesy of an accelerator pedal but hard physical effort.  Powerful cars accelerating hard as the lights go red and very often after the lights have gone red are potentially lethal. A common sight all day long.  But I'm aware of this and keep my wits about me.Otherwise this thread is far too blatant for my delicate taste buds.Less salt perhaps.

Bill Danton ● 34d

Yes, the issue of dangerous cyclists on our roads gets worse every day as cyclists become more and more arrogant.

Steve Taylor ● 35d

It feels like that crossing Chiswick High Road at a pedestrian crossing having to look both ways on the cycle lane bit many don’t bother to stop at the lights. It’s an alien concept to have to look both ways.

Jayne Thorburn ● 35d

Back in the late 1980'sI worked on a project on Regent Street Cambridge. You took your life in you hands every time that you crossed the road even when you were on a pedestrian crossing. The  (overwhelming) majority of cyclists observed no traffic laws at all and is was a virtual free for all.

N V Brooks ● 35d