A cyclist who had her left leg amputated after a collision with a cement mixer has called for restrictions on HGVs using congested urban roads. Sarah Doone was dragged under the vehicle at Old Street roundabout last month and only just escaped being crushed by the rear wheels.
“I’ve got a big, bright backpack but [a driver] can’t have eyes everywhere if your truck is too big,” she told the Sunday Times. “These trucks are enormous.”
She added: “[I remember] screaming as loudly as I possibly could — ah, ah, ah — just so people would hear me before I went under the next set [of wheels]. I knew if I went under the next set, then my head would probably be under.”
Work to improve the Old Street roundabout for cyclists was due to begin in 2016, but has been repeatedly pushed back.
The Islington Tribune reports that following the collision involving Doone, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan called an urgent meeting with Transport for London (TfL). The transport authority has now confirmed that preparatory works will start in November and contractors will work six-day weeks with extended hours to complete the work by autumn 2020.
A study for TfL by consulting engineer WSP this week recommended using larger articulated lorries for deliveries to construction sites in the capital.
The Construction Index reports that switching to artics to carry bulk construction materials could reduce CO2 emissions by 32 per cent and bring down the number of construction lorries on the roads by up to 37 per cent.
Ian Brooker, director of logistics at WSP, said: “The benefits of using articulated vehicles far outweigh any actual or perceived safety concerns.
“HGVs currently still remain essential for the transportation of materials to and from construction sites, but if we can reduce these numbers by using larger, more appropriate vehicles, we can drive towards a reduction in emissions and improve the safety on our roads.”
Indeed, I have noticed that as my hands are not frozen I am able to use the brakes properly....
Plenty drinkable single malts for that price
The problem with this sort of driving is that half the drivers will be pissed off, the other half will be thinking "Why didn't I think of that?"...
Luxury! You can almost fit a 3" tyre past your toes there! In Edinburgh I'd want steelies doing that.
Since we're on 1678 comments, I assumed it was a case of "Cap'n, she cannae take any more", but Lo! here we are without having to select newest...
Never used electrical tape, but thorns were a right pain growing up in Oz and we used to make little loose wire straddles to sit next to the brake...
They don't seem to have learned from the failings of the review of the Halfords Intercity - they don't tell you the actual tyre size: 20x1.75 is...
Most things in cycling go in cycles. I've got a poster of bikes from over 100 years ago - custom frame bags, dropped stays, passive suspension all...
Now I wish I had Shimano disks just so I could upgrade to them. Well found. Unfortunately my Hope's don't have this design error.
a phenomenON.