Cycling is NOT something that the Chief of New Scotland Yard , Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, the Metropolitan Police commissioner does , he revealed when interviewed on BBC London Radio recently ! Unlike Boris ( motormouth ) Johnson who has claimed responsibility for the increase in Cycling in the City that he supervises as Lord Mayor.
Emulating " Monty Python Antics" with this ?
" Mr Johnson says that his cycle lanes are safe, and that some cyclists ought to be more careful—not wearing headphones, for example".
Both of these gents were commenting on the loss of 6 Cyclists in 9 days on London Roads , a significant loss , against the previous calendar year of 2012 , when only 14 Cyclists were lost in Traffic "Accidents /Incidents "! Boris with Bernie
Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe had this to say on the Radio :
“I’ve never been a big bike rider anyway but it seems to be that if you get it wrong, or the driver gets it wrong, the person that’s going to pay is the cyclist.
“It seems to me that there’s a lot of traffic and personally I wouldn’t (cycle). But of course some people don’t have the choice; economically it’s not easy you know.
Later in the day he had to issue the following Statement when the earlier comments caused people to assume that he had implied that Cyclists were "skint /poor / :
“I was expressing a personal view as a non-cyclist and I would like to clarify my position.
“There is no doubt that despite the growth of cycling in London, it has got safer and its cost effectiveness and health benefits make it an attractive option for many people."
The graph here shows clearly that there is a
problem on London roads . From reliable
sources , " From TfLs own statistics, in 2012
there were 14 cyclist fatalities and 657 serious
cyclist casualties." Reports in the Media , indicate there have been 13 Cyclist Deaths in the UK ( mid month ) , so far in November 2013 .
With the spike of Cyclist Fatalities , Boris has been reported to make outlandish claims which reflect very poorly on his character . Bear in mind that there is an expectation , that when he finishes as Mayor , he plans to take up residence in the House of Commons ( US House of Reps ) , on his way to seeking the Job of Prime Minister ! With English Politics being what it is at present , ANY Comic , has a good chance ?
Some of those suffering the hazards of London Roads , have this to say , on the subject of London Transport
" The odd day when I have to travel by public transport is miserable, stuck standing on a bus in traffic inhaling everyone else's breath, or squashed on the tube in a tunnel everytime I do it I consider what a difference cycling to work could make to the lives of the people travelling in misery and paying for the priviledge! "It seems to me there is a lot of traffic" - yes well done Bernie that's the chief problem, hence trying to get more people on bikes, hence all the fuss when they keep getting killed, keep up. The various comments from people in power this week have been astonishing. 
" No Mr Hogan-Howe, when I was working in London I rode cos
1) It was farking great
2) I got to work buzzing and wide awake
3) 8 miles took me 25 mins by bike, 45-50 mins by train/tube and over an hour to drive.
2) I got to work buzzing and wide awake
3) 8 miles took me 25 mins by bike, 45-50 mins by train/tube and over an hour to drive.
" Poor dear. Benefits of my regular commute:
* better physical and psychological health
* increased concentration levels at work
* less illness
* it's quicker
Bernie mate, it's not the money,"
Whilst this was going on , the Judiciary in Norfolk were busy collecting Revenue from a Self Proclaimed "#bloodycyclist " tweeter ! In revealing that she had " skittled a Cyclist " , she tweeted :
" Definitely knocked a cyclist off his bike earlier. I have right of way – he doesn't even pay road tax!" and came with the hashtag, #bloodycyclists."
She was convicted of " Failing to Stop & Failing to report " an accident ! The more important charge , She was found not guilty of " careless driving."! Can you believe that SHE confessed to the CRIME , yet it is not accepted as a CRIME ? Relieved of GBP637 , there is no report of whether the Cyclist has received any recompense for the damage to bike or " slight Injuries suffered ?
Another JUDICIAL failure was in Oxford where a bus collided with a Cyclist , whilst on it's way to a rest stop . When the Cyclist caught up , he was PLAIN Spoken about the incident , to a brazen , uncaring female driver :
" Lee said: “I tried to talk to her and she said she didn’t care and to report her.
“It was quite a serious thing to happen to me and it shook me up.
“I complained to the company and the bus driver was sacked, but she got her job back on appeal.
“She got a second chance so I’m just asking for one for me. I sincerely apologise to everyone.”
HE now has a Criminal record , after paying out GBP35 and LAUGHABLY " Victim Costs of GBP15 " ! The " LAW is an ASS ", surely applies here ? In addition there appears to be no record , of her conviction for similar offences to the " Emma WAY matter "?
In the Comic relief segment of the news , you find this GEM :
some of the comments are hilarious , yet this pompous fool , really believes that what he had to say was relevant to the current Road Carnage .
Even the Canadians wonder IF Cyclists being KILLED on the roads is a Crime :
http://www.treehugger.com/bikes/lets-stop-calling-murder-cyclists-people-driving-bmws-accidents.html
Rising Canadian squash star Adrian Dudzicki was murdered yesterday by Aleksey Aleksev, while riding his bicycle to practice in Toronto. The weapon was a 1992 BMW 325; Aleksev has been charged with dangerous driving causing death and criminal negligence causing death.
Not seen the Excuses offered by the Car driver !
Another Canadian " Incident " demonstrates that a Car driver can KILL , but there are ONLY Complaints about Cyclists :
http://www.treehugger.com/bikes/when-an-81-year-old-driver-kills-an-84-year-old-cyclist-why-do-they-blame-the-victim.html
This could ONLY happen in the USA :
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/opinion/57157696-82/cyclists-canyon-accident-driver.html.csp
This month, two cyclists traveling in bike lanes up canyon roads have been struck head-on by cars. In both cases, the drivers crossed the center line and the opposite lane to collide with the cyclists near or on the far shoulder ("Utah Judge Anthony Quinn killed in canyon auto-bike accident," Tribune, Oct. 24).
They don't shoot " Judges "? They run them down !
According to USA Today:
Fatality rates for drivers begin to climb after age 65, according to a recent study by Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh and the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, based on data from 1999-2004. From ages 75 to 84, the rate of about three deaths per 100 million miles driven is equal to the death rate of teenage drivers. For drivers 85 and older, the fatality rate skyrockets to nearly four times higher than that for teens.
And yet when an 81 year old driver kills an 84 year old cyclist, everyone blames the victim and demands bike licensing and there is not a peep, anywhere, about whether 81 year old drivers should be relicenced. Why is there this disconnect?
Because there are millions of voting seniors who can't live without their cars, and seniors are about the only people who pay for newspapers anymore. But cyclists? Who cares as long as they get out of the way.
Another Canadian " Incident " demonstrates that a Car driver can KILL , but there are ONLY Complaints about Cyclists :
http://www.treehugger.com/bikes/when-an-81-year-old-driver-kills-an-84-year-old-cyclist-why-do-they-blame-the-victim.html
This could ONLY happen in the USA :
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/opinion/57157696-82/cyclists-canyon-accident-driver.html.csp
This month, two cyclists traveling in bike lanes up canyon roads have been struck head-on by cars. In both cases, the drivers crossed the center line and the opposite lane to collide with the cyclists near or on the far shoulder ("Utah Judge Anthony Quinn killed in canyon auto-bike accident," Tribune, Oct. 24).
They don't shoot " Judges "? They run them down !
According to USA Today:
Fatality rates for drivers begin to climb after age 65, according to a recent study by Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh and the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, based on data from 1999-2004. From ages 75 to 84, the rate of about three deaths per 100 million miles driven is equal to the death rate of teenage drivers. For drivers 85 and older, the fatality rate skyrockets to nearly four times higher than that for teens.
And yet when an 81 year old driver kills an 84 year old cyclist, everyone blames the victim and demands bike licensing and there is not a peep, anywhere, about whether 81 year old drivers should be relicenced. Why is there this disconnect?
Because there are millions of voting seniors who can't live without their cars, and seniors are about the only people who pay for newspapers anymore. But cyclists? Who cares as long as they get out of the way.
Sydney , Australia has seen it's share of recent Cyclist Deaths , as has South Africa , both of whom are trying to have Laws revised to reflect the need for 1 1/2M safe passing and " Strict Liability " , as in Europe .
A South African article :
http://rideyourcity.wordpress.com/2013/05/21/pedal-power-submits-impressive-comment-to-the-draft-safetyof-cyclists-regulations/#comment-980
Victoria State of Australia , seems to have taken a STRONG Step forward in their current Road Safety Campaign starting TODAY , 25th November , with the imposition of $A437 fines AND 4 Demerit Points for Each Use of Mobile Technology , unrelated to Driving :
A South African article :
http://rideyourcity.wordpress.com/2013/05/21/pedal-power-submits-impressive-comment-to-the-draft-safetyof-cyclists-regulations/#comment-980
Victoria State of Australia , seems to have taken a STRONG Step forward in their current Road Safety Campaign starting TODAY , 25th November , with the imposition of $A437 fines AND 4 Demerit Points for Each Use of Mobile Technology , unrelated to Driving :
Cyclists don't seem to care to much about " Safety Issues " , since the following is being IGNORED :
Seems to be an issue that few will worry about until they find themselves in a strange country , after an unpleasant experience ?
HOW HARD is it for English Speaking Countries to copy Europe with :
1 1/2M ( 5ft ) Safe Passing , EVERYWHERE ?
Strict Liability Laws :
Compulsory Check of ALL Traffic Incident participants' Cell/Mobile Phone Records
HOW HARD is it for English Speaking Countries to copy Europe with :
1 1/2M ( 5ft ) Safe Passing , EVERYWHERE ?
Strict Liability Laws :
Compulsory Check of ALL Traffic Incident participants' Cell/Mobile Phone Records
My Facebook comment on the Change.org Petition :
" These people will not be signing ANY Petition to improve Cycling Safety Issues :
Details of the 13 cyclists to die so far in 2013 in London can be found below:
1: George Orrey, Leytonstone hit and run, Feb 9 (v car): http://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/wife-of-cyclist-tells-hitandrun-driver-come-to-the-mortuary-8494815.html
2: Dr Katharine Giles, Victoria Street, April 8 (v HGV): http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/parents-of-cycling-death-scientist-dr-katharine-giles-pay-tribute-to-her-groundbreaking-work-on-climate-change-8568020.html
3: Paul Hutcheson, Lewisham, June 24 (v car): http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/wife-of-cyclist-killed-in-suspected-hit-and-run-in-lewisham-pays-heartbreaking-tribute-to-her-soul-mate-8675885.html
4: Philippine de Gerin-Ricard, Boris bike rider, Aldgate/Whitechapel, July 5 (v HGV): http://lydall.standard.co.uk/2013/10/mother-of-first-borisbiker-to-die-my-daughter-was-an-innocent-victim-of-dangerous-roads.html
5: Alan Neve, Holborn, July 15 (v HGV): http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/family-pay-tribute-to-kind-compassionate-loving-alan-neve-51-who-was-killed-when-hit-by-tipper-truck-in-holborn-8713203.html
6: Dr Clive Richards, Archway Road, August 5 (v HGV): http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/protect-cyclists-say-family-of-ex-gp-killed-in-crash-on-archway-road-8752093.html
7: Chiara Giacomini, West Dulwich, September 4 (v HGV) : http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/tributes-flood-in-to-cyclist-killed-in-dulwich-on-day-mayor-announced-fines-for-hgvs-flouting-safety-measures-8801141.html
8: Maria Karsa, Aldgate/Whitechapel, September 15 (died September 22) (v HGV): http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/ill-never-ride-a-bike-again-says-boyfriend-of-young-cyclist-dragged-under-tipper-truck-in-aldgate-8838507.html
9: Brian Holt, November 5, Mile End Road (v HGV): http://road.cc/content/news/98457-mile-end-death-cyclist-named-another-critical-after-coach-crash
10: Francis Golding, Southampton Row , Nov 5 (died November 8) (v coach): http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/cyclist-killed-in-holborn-coach-crash-named-as-architecture-expert-francis-golding-8932634.html
11: Roger De Klerk, East Croydon, November 12 (v 410 bus): http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/london-cyclist-deaths-met-warning-over-hgv-killing-machines-8941184.html
12: Venera Minakhmetova, Bow roundabout/Cycle Superhighway 2, November 13 (v HGV): http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/russian-tech-entrepreneur-24-is-named-as-12th-cyclist-to-die-in-london-this-year-8939369.html
13: Unidentified man, Whitechapel High Street, November 13 (died nov 14) (v 205 bus): http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/mayor-boris-johnson-warns-london-cyclists-against-taking-risky-decisions-after-fifth-rider-death-in-nine-days-8938505.html
For a comparison of statistics showing the number of cyclists killed or seriously injured since 2000, and whether cycling in London is getting safer or more dangerous, see this blog post by Adam Bienkov.
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