Save a Cyclist

Following the very tragic news of the deaths of Carla Swart (Team HTC-Highroad) and Lewis Balyckyi (British Cycling Talent Team) within a space of 24 hours of each other, a new campaign has been started on social networking site, Facebook. The campaign, called Save a Cyclist, is trying to get followers to start a new trend on Twitter using the hash tag search term ” #saveacyclist ” at the end of their comments to highlight the importance of safety for cyclists on the roads around the world.

The idea behind it is to change people’s attitudes between car drivers and cyclists. As the campaign creator says: “Why should we all automatically hate each other?? Cyclists, show courtesy to cars. Cars, show courtesy to cyclists. Every life is valuable and not worth risking unnecessarily.”

So please join this extremely worthy cause and help create a new trend and talking topic. One that hopefully our governments will stop and listen to and take into consideration. And if we are lucky, they may just do something to change the laws to protect cyclists.

Wear a helmet or be guilty of negligence!

A recent high court case in the UK where a cyclist and motorcyclist collided (Smith v Finch 2009), the judge ruled that the cyclist could have been found partly liable if wearing a helmet would have prevented or reduced his or her injuries. What this means is that cyclists who don’t wear helmets can be found guilty of contributory negligence if they are injured in a road accident in the UK. Ouch!

In an interview with BikeRadar, Richard Brooks from a UK law firm explained the ruling in that if you are injured and a cycle helmet could have reduced your injuries, you may not be able to recover full compensation.

He also added, “Cyclists who “expose themselves to a greater degree of injury” by not wearing a helmet can now be found to be negligent, even though it is not a legal requirement in the UK to wear head protection when cycling. However, for this to happen it would have to be proved – using medical and other evidence – that a helmet would have prevented all of their injuries or made them a good deal less severe.”

Interesting judgement this and one I’m sure will be opening up debates amongst cyclists. That said,I’ll be interested to hear your thoughts on this, so please leave a comment below.

Cyclist fined for killing girl – part II

Following my first posting of this story on Wednesday, more information on the case has started to appear. It seems that Jason Howard may not have been riding illegally at all. A police spokesperson said after the trial that Rhiannon “was probably a few inches, or a foot, into the road and then she moved towards the pavement”. As Richard Morrison from The Times points out, she may have been standing precisely where ‘responsible’ cyclists are encouraged to ride: close to the kerb, so that cars can give them a wide berth as they overtake’.

Now I am not recanting on my view points about Howard at all. The fact that he shouted and what he shouted at the girls still display’s his lack of better judgement and makes him an idiot for it.

That said, there has also been huge amounts of coverage dedicated to this incident. Some good, some bad. Even one of Rhiannon’s cousins has posted a comment on my first posting about this.  Unfortunately though cyclists suddenly find themselves cast as the ‘callous thugs of the highway’, according to Morrison.

But tiny details – such as potholes in the wrong place, the door of a parked car flung open, a driver misjudging his left turn, etc – can mean life or death to a cyclist. Last year 136 cyclist were killed on Britain’s roads and 2,428 seriously injured. The number of motorists and pedestrians killed by cyclists in the same period – one.

Could this possibly explain why cyclists feel so defensive about that vital metre between the kerb and the passing car, bus or truck? Unfortunately, only a few motorists seem to understand.

I’m not going trying to prove who was right or wrong. However, in time I will address this issue of cyclists and cars – and the lack of respect for one another. For now, as Morrison points out, “Cyclists are to deserve a better deal. But in return, they also need to grow up.”

So, guys and gals, let’s go out there and show more common sense while we are out on our bikes.

Cyclist fined for killing girl

Saw this story on the news this morning and was shocked to hear that a cyclist, Jason Howard, killed Rhiannon Bennet (17-years old) as she walked with her friends along a pavement in Buckingham last year. According to online reports, Howard shouted at the youngsters to “move, because I’m not stopping” but rode into Rhiannon when she didn’t move.

In my opinion, this is an absolute disgrace and unfortunately puts cycling back into the negative spotlight all thanks to Mr Howard. How can you shout at group of pedestrians (who are all walking on a pavement) and tell them to move cause you aren’t going to stop? What makes you better than them?

You cannot even call yourself a cyclist. It’s just unfortunate that you were on a bicycle. Come to think of it, the court should ban you from ever riding or owning a bicycle again. That way we can ensure that the image of cyclists don’t get tarnished anymore thanks to your stupid actions!

And finally, what’s wrong with the judge? How can you give the stupid fool a fine for killing someone? He should be punished for his reckless behaviour. Not be given a slap on the wrist.  It’s time this nanny state  starts to act like the powerhouse it’s meant to be!

Rant over!

The law needs to be changed so that things like this don’t happen again and that none of us ever have to suffer the loss of a loved one due to someone else’s thoughtless actions.

My condolences go out to Rhiannon’s parents on their loss. Our thoughts are with you.

Schoolgirl alive after head run over by car

A 11-year old school girl on her way home from a cycling proficiency test lost her balance and fell into the path of a car.   The vehicle ran over her arm, shoulder and head but, amazingly, she escaped with just cuts and bruises.

As you can see from the image above, the helmet took the brunt of the force.

I can see no better reason for people, young or old, to wear a helmet. I mean, if that’s what the car did to the helmet, then imagine what it would have done to her head if she didn’t wear one. A horrific image, to say the least!!

I think it’s time this government of ours did something good and pass a law that everyone riding a bicycle needs to wear a helmet. Just the same as if you are riding a motorbike, those riding bicycles should wear a helmet too.

So peeps, I’d be interested to hear your thoughts on this. Drop a comment or send me an email.