UPDATED: Deadly weekend on roads for British cyclists

I regrettably drove past the scene minutes after the policeman was killed at Whitelee Wind Farm last Friday. A passing paramedic could do nothing. The Mazda looked more like it had been struck by another vehicle - the windscreen told another story.

I guess the facts will out given there were approx 4/5 other bikes in the group.

A contributory issue would undoubtably have been the unique layout of the B764. Formerly a clearly marked 2 lane road (and plenty wide) it was changed to a single lane road with cycle lanes on either side - solely marked with white lines.

Both cyclists and drivers continue to be confused about how to use the markings. Some drivers use the "single" lane in the middle, moving over to "cycle lane" to deal with oncomig cars. Other drivers use the cycle lane all the time, partly because on the many brows of hills on that road, other drivers stay in the middle which has caused many near misses.

Some cyclists stop on the brows (in the "cycle" lane) which can cause issues for drivers.

In addition there are some "passing places" which take over from the cycle lane area, and some double arrows on road which no-one knows the purpose of.

Because of this we never cycle on this road, but take our bikes by car to the wind-farm.

The accident site was on a relatively straight section of road with good visibility in both directions, with no breaks in the cycle lane markings.

Perhaps this tragedy will lead to re-consideration of these types of markings, and a potential reversion to the two lane layout where both cyclists and drivers knew exactly what to do.

The driver from essex gets bail till mid december, and can drive around freely like he has done nothing wrong!! The Justice system is a joke.

Besides, one cyclist is "in a collision" and then the guy in Essex is "struck by a car".

But yes, strict liability would we welcome, except that you'd have all these cyclists going around crashing into cars on purpose so they could claim. (Apparently)

I think it's journalistic neutrality that upsets us when we read articles like this, when we're all thinking, 'I bet it was the drivers fault!'

If we had 'strict liability', maybe the legal proceedings would be a lot simpler?

Heard about the accident in Kent, not very pleasant reading is it?

As Freewheeler would put it: "Vehicular Cycling News Update"

"In a collision with a car"? Given relative speeds, I think the only way I could kill myself by cycling into a car is if I were on the wrong side of the road: we don't talk about pedestrians being in collision with cars, do we? Are bicycles that different?

As far being let out on bail after you've been charged with killing someone? What does that tell you?

(Sighs)