Brighton and Hove cyclist's five-figure compensation payout (From The Argus)

now she's set a precedent, I think I will go round to the Drive and the junction of Cromwell Road, have a small accident, and make a massive claim, I can then go and realise my ambition of following Englands' cricket team on a winter tour
S-W cash-fall

But why would Mary Mears be making such a statement when it hasn't even been resolved yet?
hmmmm.... there isn't an election coming up is there?

Cycle lanes give you cancer as well don't they?

The safety report shows that the cycle lanes in Grand Avenue / The Drive are not safe. I understand that the design feature of the cycle lane between pavement and row of parked cars in roads where there are so many entrance ways crossing the cycle lane is the fundamental problem. There is no straightforward way to make this situation safe for road users (those improvements that could be made have already been made). The cyclists are clearly vulnerable, but so are pedestrians who must cross the cycle way to get to bus stops and car drivers who correctly come to a near halt to check the cycle lane is clear before crossing it and risk being rear-ended. Additionally emergency vehices can be blocked by buses stopped at the Grand Avenue stops.

Given that, in addition to a safety report that the cycle lanes are unsafe, the council has now been forced to make a large compensation payment to a cyclist (and presumably faces more in the future) isn't the immediate solution to close the dangerous cycle lanes to prevent more accidents and more council liability?

Will the council recoup the losses from the cycle lane designers?

TheInsider this is an interesting idea. As a transport consultant myself action could easily be taken in accordance with CDM regulations....

Perhaps cyclists should use their common sense.

Mary Mears, surely the cheap solution would be to fill in alternate sections of the cycle lane with turf to create contained grass verges, attractive, green, cheap and safe, no cyclist can then use them. keeps everyone happy.

Where can one see a copy of this safety report? I have my suspicions that this is more of a political move than a genuine and widespread problem.

You don't need evidence when you have a right wing Argus knee jerk reaction?

'The cyclists are clearly vulnerable, but so are pedestrians who must cross the cycle way to get to bus stops and car drivers who correctly come to a near halt to check the cycle lane is clear before crossing it and risk being rear-ended'

But this is exactly the situation you have in Holland, Germany, France, Spain and probably other countries, yet the system works.
Why is it that UK road users seem so lacking in an ability to multi-task.

Sean Jenkins wrote:
Perhaps cyclists should use their common sense.

If motorists slowed down a bit and understood by law us cyclists have as much right to be on the roads as them and not try to do dangerous overtaking manoeuvres for the sake of a few seconds we may not need as many cycle lanes, and as a point cyclists should never cycle in the gutter, always cycle in the middle of your side of the road and if car drivers have to wait a few seconds before they can overtake safely then so be it.

A friend of mine's young daughter was knocked down by a cyclist on Sydney street last week.No offence committed because Cyclists rule our roads and Pavements.They can do no wrong.Of course it was the Cyclists fault.The poor girl spent 4 hours in A&E .Cyclists should be treated the same as motorcyclists and car drivers with insurance/road taxes and penalties.Again the government is petrified of upsetting these law breakers.Oh and whatever happened to the signs "No Cycling" on Hove seafront.It is like a racing track with the elderly and children petrified of being knocked down.

Joshiman wrote:
A friend of mine's young daughter was knocked down by a cyclist on Sydney street last week.No offence committed because Cyclists rule our roads and Pavements.They can do no wrong.Of course it was the Cyclists fault.The poor girl spent 4 hours in A&E .Cyclists should be treated the same as motorcyclists and car drivers with insurance/road taxes and penalties.Again the government is petrified of upsetting these law breakers.Oh and whatever happened to the signs "No Cycling" on Hove seafront.It is like a racing track with the elderly and children petrified of being knocked down.

Did this happen on the pavement or road? People walking down Sydney St seem to think the road is pedestrianised and they've got right of way.

Bring on more lawsuits.... then the blocking Labour and Greens will realise that they are going to cost taxpayers more in compensation claims than it would cost to take the cycle lane out.

Are Labour/Greens going to block EVERYTHING in the city from now on?

General Woundwort wrote:

Sean Jenkins wrote:
Perhaps cyclists should use their common sense.

If motorists slowed down a bit and understood by law us cyclists have as much right to be on the roads as them and not try to do dangerous overtaking manoeuvres for the sake of a few seconds we may not need as many cycle lanes, and as a point cyclists should never cycle in the gutter, always cycle in the middle of your side of the road and if car drivers have to wait a few seconds before they can overtake safely then so be it.

If cyclists don't like being overtaken by cars they shouldn't be on the road.

I cycle along the seafront morning and evening. Morning is fine as there's not many people around. In the evening it's actually safer to cycle on the road than the cycle path as they cycle paths are full of people wandering. And 'sean' it's not that we don't like being overtaken by decent drivers, it's the t055ers who pass so close that we become hood ornaments that we don't appreciate.

I cycle along the seafront morning and evening. Morning is fine as there's not many people around. In the evening it's actually safer to cycle on the road than the cycle path as they cycle paths are full of people wandering. And 'sean' it's not that we don't like being overtaken by decent drivers, it's the t055ers who pass so close that we become hood ornaments that we don't appreciate.

I found the safety report:
http://marymears.fil
es.wordpress.com/201
1/03/090715-the-driv
e-rsa-st31.pdf

The problem is that the justification for many of the problems are identified are based on supposition or anecdotal evidence.

A good number of their recommended fixes amount to, 'paint the bollards a different colour'.

There is no real data in here - what were the yearly accident rates before the changes and what are they now? There's not much in the way of hard evidence to back up the claims in this report and should be treated accordingly rather than as an authoritative source.

I suspect that it's actually no more dangerous than most other cycle paths, similar examples of which exist all over France and mainland Europe.

mr_gee - their main recommendation, repeated at least three times, is to remove the splitter islands in their entirety and relocate the cycle lane to the offside of the car parking bays.

This will then make these cycle lanes like the others in Brighton, give cyclists and motorists more visibility of each other, and remove the bollards entirely (what were they thinking of when the decided to put obscuring ironmongery between two lanes of traffic travelling in the same direction!)

The report is a standard safety report, and it's meant to analyse and address design flaws.

I'd go with the report - that design is atrocious. A five figure compensation sum is going to be peanuts when (not if) a cyclist suffers life-changing injuries or death as a result of it.

Anyone got a bike I can borrow? A five figure amount of money would supplement my pension for a while.

Whose idea was it.Why it was the last Labour Council!!! who are now sending out election leaflets printing that they stopped the Tory built cycle lanes being removed.Sorry Tory built???We are not that stupid believing your every word.Maybe some are.Maybe that is what you are relying on.Voters who dont know a lot about politics.

If you come down wilbury avenue to join the drive, turning right here is a real nightmare. The pavement and the cycle lane protrude quite a bit and the very small bollard make turning here quite dangerous. A normal cycle lane is far better as they are not kerbed either side. It must be quite awkward for cyclists to ride safely within the confines of this kerbed narrow strip of a cycle lane as well.

MzEden wrote:
I cycle along the seafront morning and evening. Morning is fine as there's not many people around. In the evening it's actually safer to cycle on the road than the cycle path as they cycle paths are full of people wandering. And 'sean' it's not that we don't like being overtaken by decent drivers, it's the t055ers who pass so close that we become hood ornaments that we don't appreciate.

Sorry but if it's a choice of turning you into strawberry jam or crossing over the white line and hitting a large lorry the get out the cream and scones.

I suppose I'm grouchy because my commute is on a lot of rural roads and I don't appreciate cyclists who are out for a pootle in the rush hour, blocking up every one who's trying to get to work. Waiting until we are out of the way seems beyound their wit.

Granny wrote:
Anyone got a bike I can borrow? A five figure amount of money would supplement my pension for a while.

Make it a tandem - I'll ride with Granny!!

Number Six wrote:

MzEden wrote:
I cycle along the seafront morning and evening. Morning is fine as there's not many people around. In the evening it's actually safer to cycle on the road than the cycle path as they cycle paths are full of people wandering. And 'sean' it's not that we don't like being overtaken by decent drivers, it's the t055ers who pass so close that we become hood ornaments that we don't appreciate.

Sorry but if it's a choice of turning you into strawberry jam or crossing over the white line and hitting a large lorry the get out the cream and scones.

I suppose I'm grouchy because my commute is on a lot of rural roads and I don't appreciate cyclists who are out for a pootle in the rush hour, blocking up every one who's trying to get to work. Waiting until we are out of the way seems beyound their wit.

You seem to be just the sort of person I was talking about, just slow down until it's safe to overtake properly.... a lot of us cyclists commute to work along rural roads, a friend of mine commutes 20 miles a day to and from work and people with your attitude don't make it pleasant.

General Woundwort wrote:

Number Six wrote:

MzEden wrote:
I cycle along the seafront morning and evening. Morning is fine as there's not many people around. In the evening it's actually safer to cycle on the road than the cycle path as they cycle paths are full of people wandering. And 'sean' it's not that we don't like being overtaken by decent drivers, it's the t055ers who pass so close that we become hood ornaments that we don't appreciate.

Sorry but if it's a choice of turning you into strawberry jam or crossing over the white line and hitting a large lorry the get out the cream and scones.

I suppose I'm grouchy because my commute is on a lot of rural roads and I don't appreciate cyclists who are out for a pootle in the rush hour, blocking up every one who's trying to get to work. Waiting until we are out of the way seems beyound their wit.

You seem to be just the sort of person I was talking about, just slow down until it's safe to overtake properly.... a lot of us cyclists commute to work along rural roads, a friend of mine commutes 20 miles a day to and from work and people with your attitude don't make it pleasant.

I can tolerate people who are commuting to work. But I have to go along Ditchling Beacon everyday to work and back and it is full of wannabe Chris Bordmans' in their lycra superhero outfits clogging up the road often two abreast. Idiots.

General Woundwort wrote:

Number Six wrote:

MzEden wrote: I cycle along the seafront morning and evening. Morning is fine as there's not many people around. In the evening it's actually safer to cycle on the road than the cycle path as they cycle paths are full of people wandering. And 'sean' it's not that we don't like being overtaken by decent drivers, it's the t055ers who pass so close that we become hood ornaments that we don't appreciate.

Sorry but if it's a choice of turning you into strawberry jam or crossing over the white line and hitting a large lorry the get out the cream and scones. I suppose I'm grouchy because my commute is on a lot of rural roads and I don't appreciate cyclists who are out for a pootle in the rush hour, blocking up every one who's trying to get to work. Waiting until we are out of the way seems beyound their wit.

You seem to be just the sort of person I was talking about, just slow down until it's safe to overtake properly.... a lot of us cyclists commute to work along rural roads, a friend of mine commutes 20 miles a day to and from work and people with your attitude don't make it pleasant.

I really could not care less whether or not your journey is pleasant. Pleasant is irrelevant. My only interest is getting to work as quickly as possible and cyclists causing traffic queues do not help.

I could have written Sean Jenkins post myself

Number Six wrote:

General Woundwort wrote:

Number Six wrote:

MzEden wrote: I cycle along the seafront morning and evening. Morning is fine as there's not many people around. In the evening it's actually safer to cycle on the road than the cycle path as they cycle paths are full of people wandering. And 'sean' it's not that we don't like being overtaken by decent drivers, it's the t055ers who pass so close that we become hood ornaments that we don't appreciate.

Sorry but if it's a choice of turning you into strawberry jam or crossing over the white line and hitting a large lorry the get out the cream and scones. I suppose I'm grouchy because my commute is on a lot of rural roads and I don't appreciate cyclists who are out for a pootle in the rush hour, blocking up every one who's trying to get to work. Waiting until we are out of the way seems beyound their wit.

You seem to be just the sort of person I was talking about, just slow down until it's safe to overtake properly.... a lot of us cyclists commute to work along rural roads, a friend of mine commutes 20 miles a day to and from work and people with your attitude don't make it pleasant.

I really could not care less whether or not your journey is pleasant. Pleasant is irrelevant. My only interest is getting to work as quickly as possible and cyclists causing traffic queues do not help.

I could have written Sean Jenkins post myself

All I have to say is you are a selfish moron and you are what is wrong with society today, people like you make me sick, I would sincerely love to punch your lights out.....

Sean Jenkins wrote:

General Woundwort wrote:

Number Six wrote:

MzEden wrote:
I cycle along the seafront morning and evening. Morning is fine as there's not many people around. In the evening it's actually safer to cycle on the road than the cycle path as they cycle paths are full of people wandering. And 'sean' it's not that we don't like being overtaken by decent drivers, it's the t055ers who pass so close that we become hood ornaments that we don't appreciate.

Sorry but if it's a choice of turning you into strawberry jam or crossing over the white line and hitting a large lorry the get out the cream and scones.

I suppose I'm grouchy because my commute is on a lot of rural roads and I don't appreciate cyclists who are out for a pootle in the rush hour, blocking up every one who's trying to get to work. Waiting until we are out of the way seems beyound their wit.

You seem to be just the sort of person I was talking about, just slow down until it's safe to overtake properly.... a lot of us cyclists commute to work along rural roads, a friend of mine commutes 20 miles a day to and from work and people with your attitude don't make it pleasant.

I can tolerate people who are commuting to work. But I have to go along Ditchling Beacon everyday to work and back and it is full of wannabe Chris Bordmans' in their lycra superhero outfits clogging up the road often two abreast. Idiots.

I do know what you mean about the Chris Boardman types, however legally we are allowed to cycle two abreast and it is often safer to do so, that being said I am a sensible cyclist that doesn't hate all motorists and I am happy to pull over if the driver behind me is a little patient and doesn't sit on my rear wheel and I do obey the law, I stop at ALL red lights, don't go down one way streets etc and at night I'm lit up like a Christmas tree, if you are the type of motorist that gives the required space when overtaking then thank you it is appreciated.

General Woundwort wrote:

Number Six wrote:

General Woundwort wrote:

Number Six wrote:

MzEden wrote: I cycle along the seafront morning and evening. Morning is fine as there's not many people around. In the evening it's actually safer to cycle on the road than the cycle path as they cycle paths are full of people wandering. And 'sean' it's not that we don't like being overtaken by decent drivers, it's the t055ers who pass so close that we become hood ornaments that we don't appreciate.

Sorry but if it's a choice of turning you into strawberry jam or crossing over the white line and hitting a large lorry the get out the cream and scones. I suppose I'm grouchy because my commute is on a lot of rural roads and I don't appreciate cyclists who are out for a pootle in the rush hour, blocking up every one who's trying to get to work. Waiting until we are out of the way seems beyound their wit.

You seem to be just the sort of person I was talking about, just slow down until it's safe to overtake properly.... a lot of us cyclists commute to work along rural roads, a friend of mine commutes 20 miles a day to and from work and people with your attitude don't make it pleasant.

I really could not care less whether or not your journey is pleasant. Pleasant is irrelevant. My only interest is getting to work as quickly as possible and cyclists causing traffic queues do not help. I could have written Sean Jenkins post myself

All I have to say is you are a selfish moron and you are what is wrong with society today, people like you make me sick, I would sincerely love to punch your lights out.....

You crave mindless violence. You resort to insulting behaviour. You clearly cannot cope with people who have the nerve to disagree with you. I suggest therefore that is people like you who are what is wrong with society. Before you go around "punching someone's lights out" you may wish to reflect that a cyclist has already done that, with horrifying consequences

Number Six wrote:

General Woundwort wrote:

Number Six wrote:

General Woundwort wrote:

Number Six wrote:

MzEden wrote: I cycle along the seafront morning and evening. Morning is fine as there's not many people around. In the evening it's actually safer to cycle on the road than the cycle path as they cycle paths are full of people wandering. And 'sean' it's not that we don't like being overtaken by decent drivers, it's the t055ers who pass so close that we become hood ornaments that we don't appreciate.

Sorry but if it's a choice of turning you into strawberry jam or crossing over the white line and hitting a large lorry the get out the cream and scones. I suppose I'm grouchy because my commute is on a lot of rural roads and I don't appreciate cyclists who are out for a pootle in the rush hour, blocking up every one who's trying to get to work. Waiting until we are out of the way seems beyound their wit.

You seem to be just the sort of person I was talking about, just slow down until it's safe to overtake properly.... a lot of us cyclists commute to work along rural roads, a friend of mine commutes 20 miles a day to and from work and people with your attitude don't make it pleasant.

I really could not care less whether or not your journey is pleasant. Pleasant is irrelevant. My only interest is getting to work as quickly as possible and cyclists causing traffic queues do not help. I could have written Sean Jenkins post myself

All I have to say is you are a selfish moron and you are what is wrong with society today, people like you make me sick, I would sincerely love to punch your lights out.....

You crave mindless violence. You resort to insulting behaviour. You clearly cannot cope with people who have the nerve to disagree with you. I suggest therefore that is people like you who are what is wrong with society. Before you go around "punching someone's lights out" you may wish to reflect that a cyclist has already done that, with horrifying consequences

I think you have double standards, it was you that first said you would quite happily turn me into strawberry jam (squash me with your car), so it's O.K. for you to threaten me with you car but not for me to give you a smack in the head with my fist...... moron, I suggest it is you that may wish to reflect on what you say as a great number of cyclists die on the roads each year no doubt a few to motorists with the same attitude as yourself.

General Woundwort wrote:

Number Six wrote:

General Woundwort wrote:

Number Six wrote:

General Woundwort wrote:

Number Six wrote:

MzEden wrote: I cycle along the seafront morning and evening. Morning is fine as there's not many people around. In the evening it's actually safer to cycle on the road than the cycle path as they cycle paths are full of people wandering. And 'sean' it's not that we don't like being overtaken by decent drivers, it's the t055ers who pass so close that we become hood ornaments that we don't appreciate.

Sorry but if it's a choice of turning you into strawberry jam or crossing over the white line and hitting a large lorry the get out the cream and scones. I suppose I'm grouchy because my commute is on a lot of rural roads and I don't appreciate cyclists who are out for a pootle in the rush hour, blocking up every one who's trying to get to work. Waiting until we are out of the way seems beyound their wit.

You seem to be just the sort of person I was talking about, just slow down until it's safe to overtake properly.... a lot of us cyclists commute to work along rural roads, a friend of mine commutes 20 miles a day to and from work and people with your attitude don't make it pleasant.

I really could not care less whether or not your journey is pleasant. Pleasant is irrelevant. My only interest is getting to work as quickly as possible and cyclists causing traffic queues do not help. I could have written Sean Jenkins post myself

All I have to say is you are a selfish moron and you are what is wrong with society today, people like you make me sick, I would sincerely love to punch your lights out.....

You crave mindless violence. You resort to insulting behaviour. You clearly cannot cope with people who have the nerve to disagree with you. I suggest therefore that is people like you who are what is wrong with society. Before you go around "punching someone's lights out" you may wish to reflect that a cyclist has already done that, with horrifying consequences

I think you have double standards, it was you that first said you would quite happily turn me into strawberry jam (squash me with your car), so it's O.K. for you to threaten me with you car but not for me to give you a smack in the head with my fist...... moron, I suggest it is you that may wish to reflect on what you say as a great number of cyclists die on the roads each year no doubt a few to motorists with the same attitude as yourself.

Read the original post again, and learn. Nowhere did I say that I would quite happily do anything. I didn't use the phrase "quite happily". What I said was that if it came to a choice between hitting you and piling into oncoming traffic then self-preservation would take over. Since you appear to be jumping to more that a few conclusions let me point out that in my sixty years I have never hit another individual, either with my car, my bike and certainly not with my fists, which idea I find abhorrent. Well, there was that time when I was eleven years old but I've grown up since then.

You will notice that I have not stooped to name calling.

Number Six wrote:

General Woundwort wrote:

Number Six wrote:

General Woundwort wrote:

Number Six wrote:

General Woundwort wrote:

Number Six wrote:

MzEden wrote: I cycle along the seafront morning and evening. Morning is fine as there's not many people around. In the evening it's actually safer to cycle on the road than the cycle path as they cycle paths are full of people wandering. And 'sean' it's not that we don't like being overtaken by decent drivers, it's the t055ers who pass so close that we become hood ornaments that we don't appreciate.

Sorry but if it's a choice of turning you into strawberry jam or crossing over the white line and hitting a large lorry the get out the cream and scones. I suppose I'm grouchy because my commute is on a lot of rural roads and I don't appreciate cyclists who are out for a pootle in the rush hour, blocking up every one who's trying to get to work. Waiting until we are out of the way seems beyound their wit.

You seem to be just the sort of person I was talking about, just slow down until it's safe to overtake properly.... a lot of us cyclists commute to work along rural roads, a friend of mine commutes 20 miles a day to and from work and people with your attitude don't make it pleasant.

I really could not care less whether or not your journey is pleasant. Pleasant is irrelevant. My only interest is getting to work as quickly as possible and cyclists causing traffic queues do not help. I could have written Sean Jenkins post myself

All I have to say is you are a selfish moron and you are what is wrong with society today, people like you make me sick, I would sincerely love to punch your lights out.....

You crave mindless violence. You resort to insulting behaviour. You clearly cannot cope with people who have the nerve to disagree with you. I suggest therefore that is people like you who are what is wrong with society. Before you go around "punching someone's lights out" you may wish to reflect that a cyclist has already done that, with horrifying consequences

I think you have double standards, it was you that first said you would quite happily turn me into strawberry jam (squash me with your car), so it's O.K. for you to threaten me with you car but not for me to give you a smack in the head with my fist...... moron, I suggest it is you that may wish to reflect on what you say as a great number of cyclists die on the roads each year no doubt a few to motorists with the same attitude as yourself.

Read the original post again, and learn. Nowhere did I say that I would quite happily do anything. I didn't use the phrase "quite happily". What I said was that if it came to a choice between hitting you and piling into oncoming traffic then self-preservation would take over. Since you appear to be jumping to more that a few conclusions let me point out that in my sixty years I have never hit another individual, either with my car, my bike and certainly not with my fists, which idea I find abhorrent. Well, there was that time when I was eleven years old but I've grown up since then.

You will notice that I have not stooped to name calling.

Well you don't have to cross over the white line until the road is clear, slow down, be patient wait until it's safe to overtake and no one gets hurt, the simple fact is us cyclists have just as much right to be on the road as anyone else and if a motorist can't wait a few minutes and is too inpatient then I suggest they shouldn't be on the roads as clearly they are a danger to themselves and others.