Cyclist killed in Belfast this morning

hf4z6sqo7vjngi

My Father rang me this morning after witnessing and being one of the first to attend to a cyclist who had been knocked down off his bike by a truck driver who was not paying attention. Unfortuneatly he died at the scence

Be careful out there folks especially those doing an early commute as there are some stupid idiots out there not paying attention at that hour.

mgmt

:mad:

RIP

Hope your Dads ok.

TheAnswer

Camila Careful Wastebasket wrote: »

a truck driver who was not paying attention. there are some stupid idiots out there not paying attention at that hour.

Good to see a nice unbiased opinion! Terrible that anybody has been killed in such a fashion but when you haven't seen the accident yourself you shouldn't make judgement calls. I've seen cyclists do the most incredibly stupid things (like squeezing up on the inside of a truck while the truck has his indicator on!). Have some cyclists got no sense of self preservation????

I'll sit back now and wait for the lycra clad backlash.

MagicMarker

TheAnswer wrote: »

Good to see a nice unbiased opinion! Terrible that anybody has been killed in such a fashion but when you haven't seen the accident yourself you shouldn't make judgement calls. I've seen cyclists do the most incredibly stupid things (like squeezing up on the inside of a truck while the truck has his indicator on!). Have some cyclists got no sense of self preservation????

I'll sit back now and wait for the lycra clad backlash.

In fairness, his father witnessed the incident so he probably does know what happened.

And I'm not biased, I don't even own a bike. (yet)

Diarmuid

News report here

MagicMarker

Diarmuid wrote: »

News report here

Ugh, that's a haunting picture if ever I saw one.

hf4z6sqo7vjngi

TheAnswer wrote: »

Good to see a nice unbiased opinion! Terrible that anybody has been killed in such a fashion but when you haven't seen the accident yourself you shouldn't make judgement calls. I've seen cyclists do the most incredibly stupid things (like squeezing up on the inside of a truck while the truck has his indicator on!). Have some cyclists got no sense of self preservation????

I'll sit back now and wait for the lycra clad backlash.

Well sorry but my Father is a truck driver and witnessed it right in front of him and the cyclist was no way at fault. Not getting into the details here but i stand by my OP.

RIP to the guy and his family

07Lapierre

RIP. Regarless of who was at fault, i have sympathy for the truck driver. He/she didnt go out this morning intending to harm anyone. A sad situation for everyone.

C3PO

That's very sad. Am I right in thinking that it's the first cycling fatality in the North for a long time?

hf4z6sqo7vjngi

07Lapierre wrote: »

RIP. Regarless of who was at fault, i have sympathy for the truck driver. He/she didnt go out this morning intending to harm anyone. A sad situation for everyone.

Of course and sorry if my my post comes across that way, just pointing out that some people are not fully switched on at that time in the morning. Truck driver was visibily shook up and understandbly so.

I dont know

Just seen this on the BBC website. Terrible.
Just getting myself sorted out to get a bike through the cycle to work scheme at the minute and start cycling to the office in Belfast.
This makes me question whether I’m wise or not. Although obviously I know this doesn’t happen a lot.

Are there many posters on here who cycle in the city? Would you recommend it?

The photo on the bbc site is showing a little too much so early after the accident imo.

testicle

mgmt wrote: »

:mad:

RIP

Hope your Dads ok.

I hope the truck driver is OK.

GlennaMaddy

I dont know wrote: »

The photo on the bbc site is showing a little too much so early after the accident imo.

I agree it's a bit early. We need photo's like that to remind ourselves of the dangers out there.

TheAnswer

Camila Careful Wastebasket wrote: »

cyclist was no way at fault. i stand by my OP.

Of course you do.

Chips Lovell

TheAnswer: Please don't post on this thread again. Thank you.

sdanseo

el tonto wrote: »

TheAnswer: Please don't post on this thread again. Thank you.

<snip>

If this is anything to go by;




It looks like the cyclist may have been in the blind spot of the lorry?

MagicMarker

Or the cyclist was in front of the lorry and the lorry ran over him and the bike.

We can't tell anything from a photo.

Bunnyhopper

Terrible news.

mcmoustache

I dont know wrote: »

Are there many posters on here who cycle in the city? Would you recommend it?

We don't have trucks in dublin city centre but we do have buses and while a bus driver is more likely to see you than a truck driver (cabin height etc), the safe way to cycle near either vehicle is the same. It's easy and safe:

Do not allow yourself to get stuck between the truck and the kerb - in other words don't cycle alongside the truck's left hand side.

This is because if the truck decides to turn left, the driver probably won't see you and you'll end up under the wheels.

Always stay either in front or behind the truck. If you need to overtake on the inside, only do so when you can do it quickly. Between a truck and the kerb is one of the most dangerous places to be on a bike and the less time spent there the better.

If a truck is behind you, it's better to cycle away from the kerb to prevent them overtaking you dangerously.

Cycling is a very low risk activity and incidents like this are rare enough. This one in belfast is the most common type of city centre fatality for cyclists, however, and people should be aware of the danger. If you keep aware of yourself(look behind before any manouevre) and assume that you are invisible you should be OK.

Karagesh

Thoughts with all involved cant imagine what they are going through.

I'm sure the details will come out, but its another stark warning for all road users.

Captain Havoc

RIP to the cyclist, it is a reminder for everyone to be alert.

@I don't know, I wouldn't let this incident put you off, cycling injuries and deaths are very rare.

As previously mentioned, there are two sides to pass a truck: the outside or suicide.

mookie2007

el tonto wrote: »

TheAnswer: Please don't post on this thread again. Thank you.

RIP to guy and his family and god help the poor truck driver.

Mod - I think telling "answer" not to post on the forum is a little harsh. He was expressing a difference of opinion. Why tell him not to post again?

SpartanBaz

I dont know wrote: »

Are there many posters on here who cycle in the city? Would you recommend it?

I cycle in and around Belfast lots and find the safest way to do it is make yourself an 'obvious' cyclist. By that I mean don't be afraid to hog the road in certain situations, or put yourself right up the front of the traffic at lights. This might irritate drivers sometimes but at least they can see you!
I also recommend using the footpath when the road is tight or winding, just take it easy so pedestrians have nothing to complain about.

Captain Havoc

mookie2007 wrote: »

RIP to guy and his family and god help the poor truck driver.

Mod - I think telling "answer" not to post on the forum is a little harsh. He was expressing a difference of opinion. Why tell him not to post again?

In any boards.ie forum if you disagree with a mods decision you PM him/her first with your concerns, not do it in thread.

mookie2007

Ok fair enough Captain Havoc - Apologies

Karagesh

SpartanBaz wrote: »

I cycle in and around Belfast lots and find the safest way to do it is make yourself an 'obvious' cyclist. By that I mean don't be afraid to hog the road in certain situations, or put yourself right up the front of the traffic at lights. This might irritate drivers sometimes but at least they can see you!
I also recommend using the footpath when the road is tight or winding, just take it easy so pedestrians have nothing to complain about.

This.

I jump on the footpath all the time, especially near major junctions were cars are queued up and the drivers aren't paying attention.

mcmoustache

Captain Havoc wrote: »

the outside or suicide.

I'd like to see that used in a televised public safety campaign. It's the biggest cause of fatalities if I'm not mistaken and it should be the main point made in any safe-cycling campaign.

You can't depend on a truck driver seeing you but you can avoid putting yourself into a dangerous position.

Junior

mcmoustache wrote: »

I'd like to see that used in a televised public safety campaign. It's the biggest cause of fatalities if I'm not mistaken and it should be the main point made in any safe-cycling campaign.

You can't depend on a truck driver seeing you but you can avoid putting yourself into a dangerous position.

I see it on a lot of trucks a sticker on the back saying "Passing Side Suicide" with appropriate arrows.

tomasrojo

mcmoustache wrote: »

I'd like to see that used in a televised public safety campaign. It's the biggest cause of fatalities if I'm not mistaken and it should be the main point made in any safe-cycling campaign.

You can't depend on a truck driver seeing you but you can avoid putting yourself into a dangerous position.

Some trucks used to have it on the rear.

Something like this:


But the other way round for us.

el tel

terrible accident, dreading to hear who this poor guy was.

I work in belfast, yesterday a colleage was hit by a car on her commute. She was stationary, just drove right into the back of her. And sent her flying. Wasn't hurt but reported it to police for completeness and for the record. She has no inyention to go any further but the Psni are taking it super serious and pressing her for statements. Reassuring in many ways I thought.

TheAnswer

el tonto wrote: »

TheAnswer: Please don't post on this thread again. Thank you.

Typical Boards.ie response, you don't like the post so ban the poster. I shouldn't/wouldn't expect anything better from this forum. And you and all your "thankers" can sit here and smugly congratulate yourselves for getting rid of somebody who doesn't agree with your sentiments. Well done you!;)

Chips Lovell

TheAnswer wrote: »

Typical Boards.ie response, you don't like the post so ban the poster. I shouldn't/wouldn't expect anything better from this forum. And you and all your "thankers" can sit here and smugly congratulate yourselves for getting rid of somebody who doesn't agree with your sentiments. Well done you!;)

Banned for one week.

EDIT: Banned now for six months for sending an abusive PM.

Zorba

TheAnswer wrote: »

Typical Boards.ie response, you don't like the post so ban the poster. I shouldn't/wouldn't expect anything better from this forum. And you and all your "thankers" can sit here and smugly congratulate yourselves for getting rid of somebody who doesn't agree with your sentiments. Well done you!;)

Why keep posting on boards.ie if u don't expect anything better ?

positron

What a tragedy!! RIP to biker!

I hope this doesn't go unnoticed by the media and authorities and I sincerely hope something good comes out of this awful awful tragedy.

pmcd22

R.I.P

My condolences goes out to all parties involved.

CramCycle

Sympathies to the family, a terrible tragedy.

mumfordandsons

rip to guy. very sad news.
and not time for silly comments ect when something like this happens.
(the answer i ref to ) your timing all wrong.

High Nellie

I followed a few court cases in the press where truck drivers were prosecuted for killing cyclists or pedestrians. In each case the driver was acquitted because he wasn't able to see the victim.
While this is a simplification from memory, it seemed to me that the cases were saying that it is ok to drive over somebody if you can't see them because of height etc.
Take this scenario: truck driver stops at red light at pedestrian crossing. Elderly person begins to cross clowly, close to cab of truck. Driver doesn't see him/her because driver is blind. Lights change while pedestrian is half-way across. Truck drives over pedestrian. Pedestrian is at fault.
There were 'recommendations' that truck would fit mirrors whereby driver could see the road beneath the cab.
So, a new truck could cost god-knows-what, but to fit a safety device that would cost about 200E and save a life is only a 'recommendation'.
Seems to me that the law is very much stacked against the pedestrian/cyclist.

Ryaner

High Nellie wrote: »

So, a new truck could cost god-knows-what, but to fit a safety device that would cost about 200E and save a life is only a 'recommendation'.
Seems to me that the law is very much stacked against the pedestrian/cyclist.

There has been a few big truck companies in the UK fitting devices like http://www.truckview.net/ to their fleet. Another recently started putting audible alarms on theirs.

For all cyclists, you do need to know about the blind spots with trucks/buses. Not saying this was a case of one, but a lot of cyclists do completely ignore the blind spots. You do also have truck/buses who dangerously overtake and then pull in on top of the cyclist with no excuse and malicious intent.

biomed32

can I politly mention that this is a thread for possible condolances to the cyclist and should prob not be another ****** debate on truck drivers and their ability to see and cyclists and actions of cyclists. As was clearly stated no deductions can be made by those not there and certainly not by a photo. In all fairness I highly doubt a family member would appreciate this if it was seen by them in any way, appologies for the angry post I felt it needed to be said.

R.I.P to the cyclist and my thoughts are with his family and friends

biomed32

biomed32 wrote: »

can I politly mention that this is a thread for possible condolances to the cyclist and should prob not be another ****** debate on truck drivers and their ability to see and cyclists and actions of cyclists. As was clearly stated no deductions can be made by those not there and certainly not by a photo. In all fairness I highly doubt a family member would appreciate this if it was seen by them in any way, appologies for the angry post I felt it needed to be said.

R.I.P to the cyclist and my thoughts are with his family and friends

Without trying to sound like a prick, I don't think anyone here knows either the cyclist or the driver, and even if they do, a thread full of random usernames saying "RIP" probably won't be of much comfort to them.


Now, I'd frequent the cycling forum a fair bit, though I do rarely post, admittedly, but I think that when something like this happens, such a newsworthy event, that a thread discussing the accident (even if it is just speculation) and talking about ways in which it could be avoided is only a good thing.

You need to remember that, whilst the blind spot argument may have been done to death on here a thousand times over, because this is a newsworthy event, curious people will wander in from the Boards home page and may take a flick through the thread.

For such people, I think a thread highlighting a major safety issue and how to prevent it is much more valuable than a page full of "RIP" comments that the user will click out of after a second or two.

Maybe I'm being naively optimistic, but I think there's an opportunity in this thread to educate, even just slightly, non cyclists and occassional cyclists who wouldn't regularly visit the forum, or who wouldn't be aware of blind spots.


This is a terrible accident and I do hope that the family are coping okay with it, but I think it'd be best to use this as an opportunity to teach people and perhaps prevent it in future.


Then again, as I say, I don't post here much, so maybe my view is completely out of line with the cycling forum in general. If so, no offence or such intended.

Cookie_Monster

Ryaner wrote: »

For all cyclists, you do need to know about the blind spots with trucks/buses. Not saying this was a case of one, but a lot of cyclists do completely ignore the blind spots.

Just remember if you cannot see his mirrors he cannot see you regardless of any other circumstances.
(so doesn't fully account for blind spots but still)


Driving instructor gave me that piece of advice when coming up behind a wide van years ago, best bit of road teaching I've received to date

Beasty

None of us are in a position to determine cause or apportion blame. That is for the inquest and possibly courts to decide.

In the meantime, let's not speculate on such matters.

Thanks

Beasty

mgmt

If the Garda/RSA were serious about cyclists safety they could launch an ad campaign, tv and print, about the dangers of cycling on the inside of trucks. Their recent campaign of telling cyclists their in "constant danger" is worthless.

Mucco

mgmt wrote: »

If the Garda/RSA were serious about cyclists safety they could launch an ad campaign, tv and print, about the dangers of cycling on the inside of trucks. Their recent campaign of telling cyclists their in "constant danger" is worthless.

I emailed the RSA regarding their helmets comments to recommend this. They sent my this link, it's a shame they don't publicise it more:

RSA Video