Update: Upper Thames Street Cyclist Fatalities Blackspot

by Beaulieu | August 10, 2009 at 10:04 am

721 views | 14 Recommendations | 12 comments

Update: 17/8/09

I went there yesterday to take some footage (to be uploaded later).

There were no posters or signs warning lorry drivers (and other motorists) to watch out for cyclists when turning left. Many motorists, motorcycles and even police, were using the Advanced Stop Line by the junction and traffic lights by Southwark Bridge and Upper Thames Street reserved for cyclists despite it being a 'blackspot'.

At the corner of the junction the cycle path 'seemed to disappear'. Footage will be made of this. Where had the cycle path gone?

I spoke to another cyclist and asked if he knew if it was a cyclist fatality 'blackspot'. He said he didn't so more fatalities will happen here as the road has no signs to warn cyclists of the danger at this particular stop.

So it appears, that nothing has been done.

Previous Story 10/8:- Another Woman cyclist crushed by cement mixer in London Blackspot

Further to the recent BBC Radio 4 programme, 'Woman's Hour', in which they reported that many women cyclists in London are dying like flies under lorries, today, yet another woman cyclist, as yet unnamed, was crushed in Central London beneath a cement-mixing lorry at a reknowned 'cyclist/lorry' blackspot. The driver hasn't been named either.

It was only when I got home I heard the news. I was cycling today on Blackfriars Bridge but every so often I do cycle along Upper Thames Street and Southwark Bridge.

I tend to 'survive these mean streets' by making eye contact, having a horn and a mirror so I can see a lorry creeping up in advance and I try to avoid undertaking them. Sometimes it is hard to avoid as they drive behind you and try to turn left, just ignoring you. Often there are rails on the left so there is little escape. Only in very few places are there big posters warning lorry drivers to keep an eye out for cyclists. It is no wonder that crowds of cyclists protested out the CPS office complaining about the regular cyclist deaths and lack of legal protection for them.

So many cyclists have died here including Sebastian Lukomski in 2004 and another, Nick Wright. Just how many more?

Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, in the Evening Standard today was even encouraging more cyclists to take to the road, despite the risks, but does not be doing much to create more off-road cycle paths and making London safer, particularly along blackspots. The same thing will happen again. The Evening Standard, a paper that campaigns for cyclists, reports that: [q url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk] "The woman was crushed by the truck belonging to the firm "Jim'll Mix It" at the junction of Upper Thames St and Southwark Bridge. She was also taken to the Royal London Hospital suffering from pelvis injuries."

[/q]

However, on their 'corporate spiel', 'Jim'll Mix It' appear to be extremely proud of their Health & Safety achievements.

"We recognise and promote the importance of Health & Safety for our employees, contractors and customers. All employees and visitors to our premises are issued with Personal Protective Equipment.

Under the guidance of a specialist Health & Safety Consultancy firm, we operate an OHSAS policy in accordance with the guidelines detailed in OHSAS 18001:1999, OHSAS 18002:2000 and BS 8800:2004."

There are no links to cyclists who have been killed by their lorries.

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Beaulieu

at 10:07 on August 10th, 2009

The Now Public coding does not appear to be working.

Eyevea (not verified)

at 16:03 on August 10th, 2009

The cyclist in question is my daughter. She's lucky to be alive. Her pelvis is fractured and she's pretty banged up, but today her 3 year old daughter was not on the back of the bike as she often is. The result might have been very different. The driver of the truck didn't know he had hit her even after she was under the truck. A witness stopped the truck from moving any further. Good thing.

Beaulieu

at 23:06 on August 10th, 2009

I have sent you a Private Message. Glad she is alive. Any witnesses on the scene to come forward.

eyevea (not verified)

at 10:57 on August 14th, 2009

I didn't get any private message. Well, if I did, I don't know how to retrieve them. I saw on another site that you said you had sent me a message..*shrug* thanks for caring enough to send along information. I'm sure my daughter will be seeking legal advise.

Beaulieu

at 22:24 on August 17th, 2009

I sent it to caj in error!

So in the end I put a copy of it on here.

Beaulieu

at 22:32 on August 17th, 2009

I have put some photos of the area on here and I will be keeping an eye on this spot and taking more video and photo footage in due course on this story.

You will notice from the video I have put on here that motorists regularly use the Advanced Stop Line at the traffic lights which is for cyclists and the police hardly do anything about this issue, it's just not treated seriously.

Come to think about it, I didn't pay attention to any CCTV when I was there. One would have thought there's footage at the traffic lights but I don't know if it covers the nasty corner. I also don't know how long they keep footage on here anyway so if there is anything, I would 'grab it' by the horns via the police.

gerrypopplestone

at 03:11 on August 11th, 2009

Important post, Beaulieu. Too much press coverage of knife crime and too little about the hazards of cycling in London. Ive not seen any annual statistics of crashes between vehicles and cyclists. Keep up the good work!

Beaulieu

at 12:48 on August 17th, 2009

It's a very nasty junction. Vehicles are in a rush to move. Here is a video of vehicles stopping in the Advanced Stop Line reserved for cyclists, which is an extra danger for the cyclist as they try to turn left. It will continue to be a blackspot.

Incidently after this video, a police van parked on the Advanced Stop Line. I had a cyclist witness to see that too as I was pointing out how dangerous it was.

You will see how that there is no cycle path at all, and there is no cycle path on the left of the traffic light which would avoid the corner.

Beaulieu

at 07:21 on August 11th, 2009

I;ve just read your comments in the post. It is incredible that she is still alive considering what happened. I think that is a miracle. As you say, it could be a lot worse.

Maybe it shows that people are more aware of what is happening, hence the witness was more 'on the ball'.

This is area is a well known blackspot and no doubt there are no posters etc warning lorries. In Tooting, there now warning posters, where a cyclist was killed by an HGV.

Supposedly some lorry drivers have had more training and some, only some, have installed 'cyclist friendly mirrors'.

What she now needs is lots of legal help.

Here are some ideas:

1) To cotnact the London Cycling Campaign - they specialise in this issue.
2) The Cyclist's Defence Fund (they give you loads of great advice on how to get justice ie keeping a copy of records 'as often police lose it'. www.cyclistsdefencefund.org.uk
3) I know of a specialist cyclist friendly solicitors
4) Cycling Touring Club - CTC
5) If she belongs to a union they may help too.

Some good Youtube Videos:

Youtube video on Upper Thames Street
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9k2cXgwdIw

Youtube video Cyclists & Freight
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Uf5WVfY_RY

Youtube video: Trucks in Towns don't mix
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgzsxgrryEQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtouHYOVz0o

Cyclists v Concrete Mixers

Cyclists on the Fixed Gear website have reports of the accident
http://www.londonfgss.com/thread27148.html

Beaulieu

at 03:34 on August 13th, 2009

From the World Health Organsation - Road Safety Collaboration in June this year:

(it appears that the Now Public coding is not working):-

[q url=http://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/road_safety_status/2009/en/index.html]

"Approximately 1.3 million people die each year on the world's roads, and between 20 and 50 million sustain non-fatal injuries. The Global status report on road safety is the first broad assessment of the road safety situation in 178 countries, using data drawn from a standardized survey. The results show that road traffic injuries remain an important public health problem, particularly for low-income and middle-income countries. Pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists make up almost half of those killed on the roads, highlighting the need for these road users to be given more attention in road safety programmes. The results suggest that in many countries road safety laws need to be made more comprehensive while enforcement should be strengthened. TheGlobal status report on road safety results clearly show that significantly more action is needed to make the world's roads safer."

[/q]

Beaulieu

at 04:16 on August 15th, 2009

On Saturday 18 July, Neil Ellis will use his time on the plinth to commorate cyclist fatalities since January 2008 in London. His installation will include a banner to symbolise each victim.

Beaulieu

at 13:05 on August 17th, 2009

While browsing online I noticed Japanese sportscars 'tunnel racing' along the Upper Thames Street Tunnel on Youtube so this road is also a race track too. Isn't about time there was an off-road cycle path here?