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Simple rules when trucks lurk
CyclinG is safer than non-cyclists think. Statistics usually measure accidents per mile. Motor vehicles travel further than bikes and so seem safer. Bikes are no more dangerous per journey. But cyclists do need to watch out for trucks.
Last Thursday afternoon, St Clement's was closed for about five hours following a collision between a cyclist and a lorry. It didn't sound hopeful at first, but I am extremely relieved to hear that the cyclist is making a good recovery.
The crash happened where Marston Road meets the bottom of Headington Hill.
Exactly who was at fault doesn't matter for the purposes of the points I want to make. The important thing to note is that while the truck was turning left to go up Headington Hill, the cyclist hit the side of the truck in what is a tragically common accident.
Tsk Fok died a little over a year ago at the junction of Broad Street and Parks Road in precisely these circumstances. The cyclist involved in last week's crash had a lucky escape. Her bike was mangled but she wasn't dragged under the truck, perhaps because the truck was modern and was fitted with under-running sideguards.
These are barriers between the front and rear wheels which can prevent cyclists being dragged under the rear wheels. Her survival is a reminder of the importance of under-running sideguards. This particular truck was from London. Nevertheless, both the city and county councils should make sure that all their trucks have them - many still don't.
As a cyclist, it's a reminder to give trucks a wide berth. Drivers can't always see you if you're right in front of them, and they have blind spots in their mirrors, too.
It's very important to follow these two basic rules:
1. Never cycle between a truck or a bus and the kerb.
2. Always wait for a truck or bus to turn left at a junction. Long vehicles have to pull forwards or wide to turn left - this is when most accidents occur. If the vehicle is indicating left, stop and wait.
While St Clement's was closed, Cowley Road traffic became more paralysed than usual. Hundreds of buses, trucks and cars jammed the road, and so cyclists used pavements to pass blockages, then cycled along the inside of the traffic where there were gaps. It left me cold to see dozens of cyclists putting themselves in similar danger.
I always bypass stationary traffic by cycling along the dotted white median line, as if I was riding a motorbike.
I thought twice about recommending this tactic to readers in case it was a bad old motorcycling habit (I've had a licence for 20 years), but I checked with a cycling instructor who said it was a good idea "as long as you are aware of what's ahead and can stop safely at the speed you're doing, it is probably better to pass traffic in the middle of the road than to put yourself in mortal danger at the road's edge".
It makes me wonder whether in Cowley Road, they should install cycle lanes down the middle of the road.
5:45pm Monday 21st April 2008
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CommentPosted by: Floris van den Broecke, Headington/Cowley on 10:17pm Mon 21 Apr 08
Dear James
Of course they should construct a cyscle lane in Cowley Road and everywhere else as well. No the cheap type that wanders on and off pavements and roads, from one side of the carriageway to the other, as it does in Cowley and London Roads. Confusion spells accidents, as many near misses go unreported.
I support your no parking on the pavement campaign (I too got your sticker on my car!), but stick to my observation that the contradictory needs of emergency services dictate pavement parking. Cycling up or down your road is now nigh impossible when a car passes. The issue is even more complex than that, particularly when it transpires that it was the volume of traffic at the top of Southfield Road waiting for the volume of traffic coming up Southfield Road that delayed the fire engine by no more than 3 or 4 minutes in reaching the fatal accident on Southfield Golf Course.
It is by the way also my opinion that cyscling in the middle of the road is even more dangerous if you are not fast and do not have fast reactions.
Best wishes
Floris
Dear James
Of course they should construct a cyscle lane in Cowley Road and everywhere else as well. No the cheap type that wanders on and off pavements and roads, from one side of the carriageway to the other, as it does in Cowley and London Roads. Confusion spells accidents, as many near misses go unreported.
I support your no parking on the pavement campaign (I too got your sticker on my car!), but stick to my observation that the contradictory needs of emergency services dictate pavement parking. Cycling up or down your road is now nigh impossible when a car passes. The issue is even more complex than that, particularly when it transpires that it was the volume of traffic at the top of Southfield Road waiting for the volume of traffic coming up Southfield Road that delayed the fire engine by no more than 3 or 4 minutes in reaching the fatal accident on Southfield Golf Course.
It is by the way also my opinion that cyscling in the middle of the road is even more dangerous if you are not fast and do not have fast reactions.
Best wishes
Floris
Posted by: kevin, bicester on 12:36pm Fri 25 Apr 08
why a cyclist can not nip onto the pavement,push my bike accross a jucntion or lights? tell me under what law this is illegal? i always cycle on the pavement and tell my kids too.
if i was to cycle to oxford from bicester i am suppossed to use the a34...must be joking, or any so called "a" roads are too narrow and dangerous even for cars let alone bikes!
should be legal to cycle on pavement at under 10mph, if you hit someone then be prosecuted.
maybe in 30 years time we will have some road upgrades
why a cyclist can not nip onto the pavement,push my bike accross a jucntion or lights? tell me under what law this is illegal? i always cycle on the pavement and tell my kids too.
if i was to cycle to oxford from bicester i am suppossed to use the a34...must be joking, or any so called "a" roads are too narrow and dangerous even for cars let alone bikes!
should be legal to cycle on pavement at under 10mph, if you hit someone then be prosecuted.
maybe in 30 years time we will have some road upgrades
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