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Cyclist, 91, killed while taking part in time trial in Buckinghamshire

Raymond Dare was reportedly hit from behind by a van

A 91-year-old cyclist has been killed in a collision involving a van while taking part in a time trial in Buckinghamshire.

Raymond Dare, who had seven decades of racing experience behind him, was treated by paramedics but was pronounced dead at the scene.

The fatal crash happened at 2.45pm yesterday afternoon at the  A41 Aston Clinton Bypass in Aston Clinton, Aylesbury on the Cycling Time Trials F11/10 course.

He leaves behind his wife, Beryl, aged 90. 

Members of Kingston Phoenix Road Club, to which Mr Dare belonged, reacted with shock and sadness to news of his death on the club's Facebook page.

One wrote: "Oh my goodness, this is just terrible. Much love to Beryl and all that knew this inspiring gentleman. RIP Ray. X"

Another said: "Incredibly sad news. This is happening too often... So inspiring... RIP Ray."

Just last month, Mr Dare rode a sub-30 minute time trial at the Alton 10, stopping the clock at 29 minutes 59 seconds.

Investigating officer, Sergeant Mark Ashby of Thames Valley Police's Joint Operations Roads Policing Unit said: “We are investigating the circumstances surrounding this collision which has sadly resulted in the death of a cyclist. 

"Our thoughts are with the family and friends of all those involved in the incident and I would like to appeal to anyone who witnessed or may have dash cam footage of the incident to please contact us."

Thames Valley Police can be reached on the non-emergency number 101 quoting the reference  quoting reference 884 19/7/17.

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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24 comments

Avatar
daccordimark | 6 years ago
2 likes

So sad to read this news. Ray was a lovely man, a very accomplished time triallist but like so many of the old guard modest with it.
My condolences to Beryl and all his friends in the Phoenix.

Mark.

Avatar
skippy | 6 years ago
1 like

  " Like putting the fox in charge of the hens!

The law is the same.

If by any chance the van driver is prosecuted, would he be charged with manslaughter, or assault with a deadly weapon? And give an appropriate sentence fitting the crime?

Time trialling at 90, fantastic."

  " 

burtthebike wrote:

DrG82 wrote:

Have you seen the state of this bbc article:-

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-40680451 (link is external)

 "his bike collided with a van" Sounds like the bbc are pretty sure who was at fault

 

 

"Ray Dare died when his bike and a van were involved in a collision......."

Have they changed it?

Yes, they have.

http://road.cc/content/forum/226398-its-time-presumed-liability

àààààààà

 

Just finished with my 20th TDF , and , if anything , the situation for People on Bikes , has become worse !

 

Each day , on recent stages , i could be found at the entrance to the VIP Village , with 2 "Placards",  one being the " StopKIllingCyclists and the other of the " SafePassMat "  .

 

During many days inthe past 20 ridings of the routes of the " Le Tour " , i have encountered those " UCI Officials " designated to control these events . With many of the current Racers , past Racers and " Policing Officials " from a variety of countries agreeing to be photoed with these same          " Placards "  , you would think that EVERYONE of them , would be willing to lend their support ?

 

Not so , in fact at the conclusion of the VIP Village in La Mure , as they were walking to their transport , i again " Challenged them " to pose with the " Placards ". On refusal , i suggested that they use their " Good Offices " to ensure , that a copy of a " Safe Pass Mat " be placed at the entrance of the VIP Village , so that any passing , would have the opportunity to UNDERSTAND how useful , this item could be for " Driver EDUCATION "! 

 

Having ignored me , i suggested they ensure that " #briancookson use his Official Position , to impose this VERY SUCCESSFUL measure . Having been rebutted , i suggested that , if #briancookson was unable to bring this about , he should be " excoriated "!  Another in their party , recently employed to deal with " Cyclist Safety Issues " called out " Skippy , you are a FUCKING IDIOT "!  Since " Mark W. " is unable to do his JOB , it appears that hurling abuse , is the best effort that he is able to make ?

 

No doubt this " Mark W. , who i met in Lugano during the depart of the " TDS " , still believes that " Social media " is the FIX ALL ?  Currently i see that " https://beyondthekerb.org.uk/casebook/cycling-fatalities-2017/ has only progressed to June 7th , in the efforts to advise on the UK Cycling DEATH TOLL .  WHAT has become of " Baz " ? Can noone assist in this IMPORTANT RESOURCE ?  Politicians must be delighted that their FAILED  & WEAK EFFORTS to keep us alive go  unreported ?

 

THAT i have annoyed many of the " S elf E titled S hit S ervers ( cess )pool , goes unsaid ! Those in the cesspool showed NO INTEREST in the DEATHS of 3 Aussies during the 1st week of the TDF , nor of the Dutch Tourist , or of the Portugese Cyclist !  Why would they , when their only irritant would be that they failed to get back to the snout trough , after the Racers had started into the neutral zone ?

 

ANYONE that fails to understand , that the SAFETY of People on BIKES , should be of the HIGHEST Priority , since those entertaining us at TDF , had to endure the same traffic , we daily endure , as they trained upto the level that allowed them to earn the BIG BUCKS !

 

As to the swine at the trough , to reach these VIP Villages , they DAILY passed People on BIKES , without allowing " SAFE PASS " , nor using the SIGNALS , provided in ALL SKODA VEHICLES ! At a guess , they rely on rubbing shoulders with the Gendarmerie , in SWINE Village , to lift any  indiscretions observed by the day to day Policing Officers ?

 

Message to " Chris Prudhomme ",  Expect me back next year , to ensure you continually brown your trousers !  YOU posed with the " StopKillingCyclists Placard " in Utrecht , yet WHAT have you done since ?

 

SFA !

 

SHAME on YOU and those that YOU CONTROL !

 

Cutting the " Guest Invite " from my wrist in Toulouse  by the green shirt THUGS was anticipated  and FILMED ! Your people behaved as if they had read the script !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Avatar
Steel | 6 years ago
4 likes

The Highway Code!

Written by motorists.

Like putting the fox in charge of the hens!

The law is the same.

If by any chance the van driver is prosecuted, would he be charged with manslaughter, or assault with a deadly weapon? And give an appropriate sentence fitting the crime?

Time trialling at 90, fantastic.

Thoughts go this gentleman's family.

 

Avatar
DrG82 | 6 years ago
6 likes

Have you seen the state of this bbc article:-

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-40680451

 "his bike collided with a van" Sounds like the bbc are pretty sure who was at fault

And all importantly "The driver of the van was uninjured."

Avatar
burtthebike replied to DrG82 | 6 years ago
0 likes

DrG82 wrote:

Have you seen the state of this bbc article:-

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-40680451

 "his bike collided with a van" Sounds like the bbc are pretty sure who was at fault

 

"Ray Dare died when his bike and a van were involved in a collision......."

Have they changed it?

Avatar
brakesmadly replied to burtthebike | 6 years ago
1 like

burtthebike wrote:

DrG82 wrote:

Have you seen the state of this bbc article:-

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-40680451

 "his bike collided with a van" Sounds like the bbc are pretty sure who was at fault

 

 

"Ray Dare died when his bike and a van were involved in a collision......."

Have they changed it?

Yes, they have.

http://road.cc/content/forum/226398-its-time-presumed-liability

Avatar
jimbo2112 | 6 years ago
1 like

Let's not be too quick to judge the van driver just yet. We only have scant detail from forst reports. Firstly, chapeau for an amazing span of cycling time to Mr Dare, RIP.

Ultimately, it's down to two things. Lessening risk and changing attitudes to cyclists. The first is easier in that it's a financial thing, the second is much more difficlt and could easily have its own website... 

Avatar
Mungecrundle | 6 years ago
16 likes

According to the BBC Mr Dare was killed when his bicycle collided with a van. I loathe this kind of description, it places the blame on inanimate objects and not their operators.

Raymond Dare, I shall take some time out today to read more about you and your achievements. My sincere condolences to family, friends and clubmates.

Avatar
James Warrener | 6 years ago
3 likes

Its making me think more about my cycling that's for sure.

I seek out less and less "A" roads to find quieter lanes.

Avatar
HLaB replied to James Warrener | 6 years ago
2 likes

James Warrener wrote:

Its making me think more about my cycling that's for sure.

I seek out less and less "A" roads to find quieter lanes.

I know what you mean, I tend to seek out slower sporting courses for TT's and for leisure rides I try to avoid 'A' roads as much as possible.  Just wednesday I was looking at a TT until I realised it was a dual carriageway 'A' road  7

Avatar
700c replied to HLaB | 6 years ago
2 likes

Such a tragedy and this gentleman should be an inspiration to us all.

HLaB wrote:

James Warrener wrote:

Its making me think more about my cycling that's for sure.

I seek out less and less "A" roads to find quieter lanes.

I know what you mean, I tend to seek out slower sporting courses for TT's and for leisure rides I try to avoid 'A' roads as much as possible.  Just wednesday I was looking at a TT until I realised it was a dual carriageway 'A' road  7

I have the same feelings - I just don't feel the 60 and 70 mph dual carriageway's are very safe for time trialing and I won't do it myself. I know they *should* be safe but let's face it, TT'ING on them is often really not, ref the various TT fatalities reported on this site. I get they make for a faster course, but not for me.

There's something about drivers simply not expecting cyclists on these types of road and when they do encounter them, they may not have space to properly move out, if lane two is occupied. Not to mention the excessive speeds often reached on the national speed limit ones. They're practically motorways with 80,90 mph.

This is all entirely the responsibly of drivers and reinforced by culture of the car being king. These roads were never designed for cyclists in mind. No victim blaming, just being pragmatic.

Avatar
maviczap | 6 years ago
4 likes

Rip

Unless this was the first rider the van encountered, then surely the driver would have seen other riders in this event and been a bit more alert?

On the phone, in a hurry as most van drivers are, over tired, who knows?

It shouldn't happen. But then every day there's accidents on perfectly good roads in good weather, so why? 

Avatar
Alan Williams | 6 years ago
9 likes

Ffs when will these fuckers give us space and respect. Kudos to you sir and thoughts with family xx

Avatar
DirkS | 6 years ago
3 likes

RIP Sir.

Avatar
ChrisB200SX | 6 years ago
3 likes

Is this the third time trialist that has been killed by collision with a van this year?

Makes me very sad and very angry. How do we stop the killing?!

Avatar
BarryBianchi replied to ChrisB200SX | 6 years ago
0 likes

ChrisB200SX wrote:

Makes me very sad and very angry. How do we stop the killing?!

You can't.  Keep putting bikes and vehicles in close proximity and it's a tragic enevitability.

Avatar
grumpyoldcyclist replied to BarryBianchi | 6 years ago
13 likes

BarryBianchi wrote:

ChrisB200SX wrote:

Makes me very sad and very angry. How do we stop the killing?!

You can't.  Keep putting bikes and vehicles in close proximity and it's a tragic enevitability.

That's precisely the point. According to the Highway Code the vehicle should have been nowhere near the cyclist.

Avatar
BarryBianchi replied to grumpyoldcyclist | 6 years ago
5 likes

grumpyoldcyclist wrote:

 

That's precisely the point. According to the Highway Code the vehicle should have been nowhere near the cyclist.

The Highway Code isn't worth the paper it's written on - the only place I've even seen it metioned for years is on this site.  I coudn't even guess what timy percentage of drivers have ever looked at it since taking the test, let alone remember any of it.

If cars and vehicles mix on the road, this will happen, and keep happening.  We take calculated risks riding on the road every time we go out, and sometimes we lose is the very harsh reality of it.

Avatar
davel replied to BarryBianchi | 6 years ago
12 likes
BarryBianchi wrote:

We take calculated risks riding on the road every time we go out, and sometimes we lose is the very harsh reality of it.

Often, there is zero calculation. That is the problem. There's a real danger in saying something like we take calculated risks in overstating just how much control at various points we have. The majority of cyclist KSIs are attributable to driver error, with little that the cyclist could have done, other than not being at that location on a bike at that time.

I don't want to speculate about this one, but as an example, TT fatalities are usually rear-endings, clear-cut cases of the driver being at fault and the cyclist having zero options to manage the situation. The only calculation that comes into play is 'should I go out on the bike, or stay in?' - or if it is utility cycling, 'should I use another mode of transport?'.

That's not much of a calculation: just how does that play out in your head, combined with your apparent fatalism? Accept this shit situation, as in 'sometimes we lose is the harsh reality'? What do YOU do? Not go out on your bike? Shrug your shoulders and think you've had a good innings and tell your family before each ride your number just might be up? Campaign to improve the current situation? Or just post defeatist shite on articles about TT riders being killed through zero fault of their own?

Avatar
wycombewheeler replied to BarryBianchi | 6 years ago
15 likes

BarryBianchi wrote:

ChrisB200SX wrote:

Makes me very sad and very angry. How do we stop the killing?!

You can't.  Keep putting bikes and vehicles in close proximity and it's a tragic enevitability.

I would say that as long as society copntinues to tolerate incredibly poor standards of driving, treats driving as a right not a priveledge and drivers can kill cyclist with impunity its a tragic inevitability.

What really gets me is a docotr can work for years saving countless lives, make one mistake and be struck off, while a driver can drive benefitting no one but themself take a ridiculous risk with someone elses life and be back behind the wheel in a short space of time, if they are even banned at all.

similalrly accidents in the workplace where someone dies though the negligence of someone else will be treated very harshly, but with a car on the highway then whoopsie.

Avatar
brooksby replied to wycombewheeler | 6 years ago
7 likes

wycombewheeler wrote:

BarryBianchi wrote:

ChrisB200SX wrote:

Makes me very sad and very angry. How do we stop the killing?!

You can't.  Keep putting bikes and vehicles in close proximity and it's a tragic enevitability.

I would say that as long as society continues to tolerate incredibly poor standards of driving, treats driving as a right not a privilege and drivers can kill cyclist with impunity its a tragic inevitability.

Problem there is that we've had (at least) thirty years of making the built landscape in such a way that many people (most people) believe that you must have a car in order to live. 

Tax breaks and free parking for out-of-town/edge-of-town shopping boxes; motorways-in-all-but-name (and, sometimes, real motorways) built right through the middle of urban residential areas; more and more "bypasses" to help people get from point A to point B without having to fuss about with going through points C and D...

Until the revolution/resurrection of home delivery services in the last few years, you really did need a car to be able to do your shopping (small convenience shops are inevitably way more expensive), buy larger items, etc, affordably.  You don't any more, but it'll take a while for the national soul to catch up - if it ever does. 

Cars have been made such an aspirational thing and you are seen as a loser by many people if you don't personally have or use one (wasn't it Thatcher who said that you are a loser if you ride a bus after the age of seventeen or something?).  Which I guess is your point...  I have an elderly neighbour who goes out in his car about the same time I leave, and who invariably offers me a lift so I don't "have to" ride.  If you choose not to drive at every opportunity, people assume you can't drive (either never learned, or have a driving ban (apparently they still do happen!), or a "health issue").

Avatar
ROOTminus1 replied to wycombewheeler | 6 years ago
6 likes

wycombewheeler wrote:

Similalrly accidents in the workplace where someone dies though the negligence of someone else will be treated very harshly, but with a car on the highway then whoopsie.

If it's a van driver, odds are they would be driving as part of their business so should be hammered by H&S law as much as Road Traffic laws

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mike the bike | 6 years ago
16 likes

 

Any 91-year-old who can dip under 30 minutes for a ten will be a sad loss to our sport.

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don simon fbpe | 6 years ago
8 likes

RIP brother.

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