Cyclist knocked down and killed pedestrian

[brucemillar]

Well for the removal of doubt in the court room. The entire incident was captured on CCTV. I suspect that it has got to this point as there are "contributing" factors on/from both parties.

The "illegal for road use" statement is interesting, to say the least. If I ride my bike, with no front brakes, in the knowledge that it has, no front brakes. Then subsequently kill somebody as a result of having no front brakes/being unable to stop. I know what I would expect from the courts, regardless of whether the deceased contributed by walking in front of me.

 

[219]

This all reminds me of Ettore Bugatti : in the early days some cars had rear brakes only - on being criticised for the poor stopping ability of his cars , Mr Bugatti retorted " My cars are made to GO , not stop ! "

 

[Petrol Pete]

There is no place on a public highway for a fixed sprocket bike with no front brake.

It belongs on a track.

He is quite pretty, maybe he will get to pick up the soap in HMP showers from time to time.

 

[219]

There is no place on a public highway for a fixed sprocket bike with no front brake.

It belongs on a track.

He is quite pretty, maybe he will get to pick up the soap in HMP showers from time to time.

Many of the comments below the original article allude to that notion , along the lines that some 'cycling' may go on in prison

 

[brucemillar]

But none of this will anyway comfort this you woman's family.

Do we know if she was actually in the road or on the pavement? Only for my curiosity. It changes not my opinion on the facts that we see.

The bike should never have been on the road.

Am I correct in believing that a "fixed wheel bike" can only be slowed (in a normal manner) by using the rear brake? Given that you cannot free wheel as the chain ring is driven by the rear wheel which is fixed to the drive permanently.

 

[whitenemesis]

If it were truly a "track bike", it wouldn't have any brakes, only slowed by using peddle resistance.

 

[geraldrobins]

Typical "lycra lout", the amount of these idiots I see going through red lights at junctions/pedestrian crossings, riding up onto the pavement to avoid traffic lights, it was only a matter of time before they killed someone! They moan about inconsiderate driver's but I see more cyclists flouting the Highway code than motorists! They should have some sort of compulsory training before being let loose on public roads and have insurance, MOT and a license, like the rest of us!
Instead of cycle lanes that eat up valuable road space, better educated and trained cyclists, would make all the difference.

Sent from my SM-G800F using Tapatalk

And maybe pedestrians as well!!!

 

[219]

Am I correct in believing that a "fixed wheel bike" can only be slowed (in a normal manner) by using the rear brake? Given that you cannot free wheel as the chain ring is driven by the rear wheel which is fixed to the drive permanently.

Not being expert , I share your curiosity on this matter , but guess you are correct ?

This is quite different then to the bikes used on the continent , at least Germany , where back pedal brakes are commonplace ...

 

[markjay]

If? as the cyclist claims, she was on the her mobile phone (easily checked) Then it may well be that we some degree of culpability being placed on her. However. He was riding a machine that is not road legal and, as has been stated in court: Had it been fitted with a front brake (making it legal) he could have avoided the collision.

Nobody deserves to lose their life going out for a walk in their lunch break. To do so knowing that it was down to an illegal act makes it harder to bear for all.

I see no winners here. It was, by all accounts an avoidable act.

^^^^^^^^
This.

Pedestrian not taking care when stepping into the road.... biker with illegal bike...

 

[geraldrobins]

Not being expert , I share your curiosity on this matter , but guess you are correct ?

This is quite different then to the bikes used on the continent , at least Germany , where back pedal brakes are commonplace ...

Are back pedal brakes not different to a fixed wheel though, in allowing a brake to be applied while the cycle free wheels?

 

[219]

Are back pedal brakes not different to a fixed wheel though, in allowing a brake to be applied while the cycle free wheels?

That is what I think , but will wait for an 'expert' to clarify .

 

[Doodle]

Yes, a fixed wheel is literally that, no freewheel, sprocket solidly fixed to the hub.

A back pedal (or coaster) hub is a little different in construction to a normal freewheel hub but still has the freewheeling function. The brake is built into the hub a little like a drum brake, where the action of pedalling backwards pushes the braking surfaces against the inside of the hub.

 

[brucemillar]

Yes, a fixed wheel is literally that, no freewheel, sprocket solidly fixed to the hub.

A back pedal (or coaster) hub is a little different in construction to a normal freewheel hub but still has the freewheeling function. The brake is built into the hub a little like a drum brake, where the action of pedalling backwards pushes the braking surfaces against the inside of the hub.

So this guy was never going to stop the bike (hence it being illegal on the road).

Even with a front brake (which he did not have) he would have gone over the bars.

We see this in the Velodrome where the cyclists, take several laps to slow down, whilst appearing to be pedaling. In reality their legs are being driven by the "fixed" rear wheel.

 

[grober]

https://ukcyclerules.wordpress.com/2011/05/04/the-rules-of-bike-brakes/

 

[Petrol Pete]

Many on here appear to either be motorcyclists or have been in a previous life. We all know your rear brake is practically useless on a sports bike in an emergency (different on a big touring bike with passenger etc) The rear brake can be used to stop the front wheel coming up under hard acceleration or settling the bike down before going in to a corner when used with the front brake , or trailed in very slow manoeuvres (car parks etc) to balance the bike at walking pace.

I can not imagine a single motorcyclist out there who would willing remove his front brake system (speedway and ice racing nutter's are excluded )

Try to stop ANY vehicle with just its rear brakes and it will end in tears.

Lets hope this ladies family hire a few technical specialists.

 

[Scott_F]

I have long advocated that , as well as holding third party insurance , road-going cyclists ought to be identifiable , and the simplest way of doing this is to make compulsory the wearing of a hi-viz vest , with their 'registration number' displayed clearly on the back . The number would belong to the cyclist and not the bicycle ( many cyclists have more than one ) .


If this became law , and a cyclist was seen on the road , not displaying their vest with number , the police would be entitled to stop them and ask why , with the possibility of charges or bike confiscation if no satisfactory explanation.

When you consider the million or so drivers with no insurance, the number of untaxed vehicles on the road, the number of disqualified drivers on the road, the millions of people who openly use their phone whilst driving every day etc. etc. etc. then how on earth are the police going find the resources to enforce your proposals for cyclists ?

They have neither the time nor the inclination to be made to look mugs chasing (but never catching) teenagers on bikes who never stop when requested and who know all the back alleys and short cuts.

A good idea in theory but impossible to put into practice.

 

[brucemillar]

When you consider the million or so drivers with no insurance, the number of untaxed vehicles on the road, the number of disqualified drivers on the road, the millions of people who openly use their phone whilst driving every day etc. etc. etc. then how on earth are the police going find the resources to enforce your proposals for cyclists ?

They have neither the time nor the inclination to be made to look mugs chasing (but never catching) teenagers on bikes who never stop when requested and who know all the back alleys and short cuts.

A good idea in theory but impossible to put into practice.

Agreed. But we live every day with the consequences of doing nothing.

A recent spot check by Kent Police on the only road on/off the Isle of Sheppey found the 30% of those stopped had no insurance and or no license. I have a Police friend says this was a "good day" he estimates the real number to as high as 50+%

When I lived in the East End of London the standard comment was "Communal Driving License" and it is endemic in that community. Where one member of the community takes and passes the driving test on behalf of countless others.

So now you have untaxed, uninsured, unsafe cars being driven around London, by people who have never taken a driving lesson in their life and when stopped they either produce the communal license or a genuine license issued to to the communal test taker in their name.

This will only get worse. A lack of any visible Police deterrent encourages this behaviour along with rising insurance costs etc.

I speak as somebody who posted on here about having my prized C55 Wagon badly damaged by an untaxed, uninsured, no MOT, unsafe car with a driver who had no license and was already disqualified for previous offenses. He was disqualified (again) for running into me, but carried on driving with his kids in the car taking them to and from school each day. Complaints to the Police brought no action until I write to the PCC with photographic evidence.

My bill for my car was £3000 to me. The Police tell me his car cost him £25 and was a scrapper, that was literally falling apart.

Chase cyclists? Not going to happen, I'm afraid.

 

[219]

When you consider the million or so drivers with no insurance, the number of untaxed vehicles on the road, the number of disqualified drivers on the road, the millions of people who openly use their phone whilst driving every day etc. etc. etc. then how on earth are the police going find the resources to enforce your proposals for cyclists ?

They have neither the time nor the inclination to be made to look mugs chasing (but never catching) teenagers on bikes who never stop when requested and who know all the back alleys and short cuts.

A good idea in theory but impossible to put into practice.

Not disagreeing , and I accept that it would never stop the hardened criminals , but just as it is the case with motor vehicle drivers , it would reduce the instances of this happening with the majority of cyclists , who are predominantly law abiding .

 

[rf065]

Many on here appear to either be motorcyclists............................................................................................Try to stop ANY vehicle with just its rear brakes and it will end in tears.

I see you have discounted CBS,(Honda's Combined Braking System ), where applying the back brake will also partly apply the front and vice versa. Pedantic, I know!

Russ

 

[219]

More on this today

https://uk.yahoo.com/news/cyclist-hit-pedestrian-shouted-lay-ground-dying-140938655.html