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Original poster

Death cyclist fine angers family

120 replies

ChickenBurger · 09/07/2008 07:46

This is so shocking.

Why would you ride straight into someone regardless as to whether you had right of way?

OP posts:

edam · 09/07/2008 13:27

And I'm surprised anyone could think the cyclist is likely to come off worse in a collision with a pedestrian. Why? The cyclist will be faster and the pedestrian is hit by a machine plus a person. I always assume, as a pedestrian, I'm the one who will be hurt. Bet, if there are any stats, they show pedestrians are most vulnerable.

iBundle · 09/07/2008 13:28

but twig, he rode onto the pavement

itati · 09/07/2008 13:30

ON NEWS NOW

His bike cost £5000

taipo · 09/07/2008 13:38

Bet £2,200 isn't even his monthly salary.

sarah293 · 09/07/2008 13:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Twiglett · 09/07/2008 13:53

OK I didn't know he rode onto the pavement as article is not clear.

when cycles hit things at speed and with force they tip the cyclist over and off so he will have the force of the speed he's cycling at plus further to land and the sudden braking .. I have no research it is just my estimation as someone who cycles (gingerly) .. patently the pedestrian was killed in this case so it's a moot point anyway

sarah293 · 09/07/2008 13:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

iBundle · 09/07/2008 14:01

apparently use of cycle helmets has been shown to increase risk-taking behaviour in cyclists...

Original poster

ChickenBurger · 09/07/2008 14:03

I got hit by someone on a bike on the pavement outside Sainsbury's once. I definitely came off worse

He must have known at that speed that she was very vulnerable to him. When I was learning to drive my instructor gave me this advice - "always, always treat pedestrians as though they have right of way over you, regardless of the situation - they are more vulnerable than you are"

Same should have applied here.

OP posts:

TheFallenMadonna · 09/07/2008 14:13

DH was pretty damaged in one of his collisions. Very fortunately the pedestrian wasn't. She was cross though.

However, as I said, he was on the road at the time...

hifi · 09/07/2008 15:02

it did mention in one report that the group had been drinking, the victim had 2 cans of beer.as i took it it sounded like they were larking about, all moved out of his way then the victim stepped back infront of him.very shocking he was given a fine not imprisonment.

TeacherSaysSo · 09/07/2008 18:28

He does seem to be reported as being on the road so what if this had been presented the other way around...

" I was riding my bike down the road when a bunch of merry teenagers crossed over and didn't even bother to look at the traffic coming. I shouted to get out of the way as the high way code says I shouldn't have to slow down due to crossing traffic, but instead one stepped directly into my path and tragically they died from the collision. Now people are demanding I go to jail for murder. Is this fair?"

iBundle · 09/07/2008 18:30

"the highway code says i shouldn't have to slow down for crossing traffic"

so - what if someone's baby falls out of their pram?

would he stop then?

TeacherSaysSo · 09/07/2008 18:38

iBundle, that's not the same at all.

When you learn to drive you are told you must never cross a main road if you will force the oncoming vehicle to change speed. If so, wait until vehicle has passed..or words to that effect! I just wonder why no onus is on the pedestrians? Look before you cross and all that.

iBundle · 09/07/2008 18:43

of course there's an onus on pedestrians

but like in the sea where motor gives way to oar, gives way to sail (or whatever, I am not a boat person!) if something unexpected happens you DO stop/give way

when an accident is about to happen you don't think oh the highway code says x, you try and limit the amount of damage to yourself/others, surely?

we have community police officers regularly at a zebra crossing where children are going to school, stopping and warning (and fining, where repeat offenders) cyclists who literally swoosh over crossing when lollipop lady is in middle of road and children are crossing I do think some cyclists are reckless

Hulababy · 09/07/2008 19:04

Doesn't matter if he was on the road or pavement IMO. If he had time to shout out a full sentence, he had time to swerve or to brake hard. Yes, he might still have hit her, but at a much slower speed and that may have meant she wasstill alive now.

He caused death by dangerous cycling.

I have clients at the prison who are on lengthy sentences for death by dangerous driving. A cyclist should face the same charge.

TheFallenMadonna · 09/07/2008 19:07

If you are cycling on a road then swerving puts you in the path of motor traffic. He should of course have tried braking.

FluffyMummy123 · 09/07/2008 19:08

Message withdrawn

1973 · 09/07/2008 19:17

Well the only people who have ALL the available facts decided that he was guilty of dagerous cycling.
Not manslaughter.
Not murder.
Why is that so hard to accept? I'm assuming there is no one on this thread with the same level od information as the CPS?

stitch · 09/07/2008 19:19

hula, that was my thought as well
road rage should also apply to cyclists.
but as cod said, those with all the facts decided a fine was the most appropriate thing

FluffyMummy123 · 09/07/2008 19:20

Message withdrawn

Hulababy · 09/07/2008 19:21

I assume there was not enough evidence to present to the court to guarantee a conviction for anything worse. Just a shame that dangerous cycling or whatever doesn't hold more severe sentences.

FluffyMummy123 · 09/07/2008 20:39

Message withdrawn

Original poster

ChickenBurger · 09/07/2008 20:46

When you take your driving test now you take a hazard perception test where you have to be aware of hazards exactly like a group of teenagers stepping into the road.

You don't deal with it correctly, you fail your test.

There is more to driving and cycling than just knowing the highway code - you need to be aware of what is going on around you so that you don't cause an accident.

I'm not going to comment on the sentence, but the cyclist was wrong, wrong, wrong to cycle straight into her. He saw her - he could have avoided her. He killed her.

OP posts:

Original poster

ChickenBurger · 09/07/2008 20:47

Sorry, "so that you don't cause an accident" was the wrong phrase. Am not implying that the cyclist was wholly responsible for the situation.

OP posts:

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