Cycling safety bid in memory of Hove teacher (From The Argus)
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Cycling safety bid in memory of Hove teacher
6:00pm Wednesday 15th February 2012 in News By Rebecca Evans
Jo Walters, who died on the A270
The family of a teacher who was hit by a truck as she rode to university will launch a “revolutionary” masterplan to make cycling safer in the city.
Newly qualified teacher Jo Walters, 28, of Westbourne Street, Hove, died after a moment’s indecision on the A270 cycle route between Brighton and the Falmer university campuses.
She lost control of her cycle and wobbled into the road in front of an oncoming truck as she tried to avoid another rider on July 13, 2010.
Her family have since set up a trust in her name – The Jo Walters Trust – and commissioned the report to try to improve safety on that stretch of the path.
Consultant engineer Peter Mynors, editor of London Cycling Design Standards, has recommended the path should be widened to prevent similar accidents in the future. He said cycling provision in Brighton and Hove is similar to other UK cities but is “woefully short” compared to European counterparts.
The route linking the city centre to the Falmer university campuses is 2.4 metres wide whereas current guidelines recommend shared cycle tracks should be at least three metres wide.
London Cycling Design Standards recommend up 4.5 metres wide – almost double the width.
The path is shared by pedestrians and cyclists and Mr Mynors said the lack of space can lead to dangerous “split second” manoeuvres.
He said: “(Jo) had a split second decision and it was the wrong one.
“She went into the carriageway and a truck was coming towards her.
“The driver had done everything conceivably possible to not hit her. But she did get hit and died."
He added: "If the path had been wide enough for two cyclists to pass then there would not have been a decision to make.”
Mr Mynors said more money needs to be spent nationally on cycling provision to bring it up to European standards.
The council said it has worked “very closely” with Mr Mynors and the trust through the Local Sustainable Transport Fund project that focuses on the Lewes Road corridor and is taking on board some of the recommendations.
The council will consult on proposals for Lewes Road in April and the masterplan will form part of the consultation proposals.
The council added the section of path where Miss Walters died is the responsibility of the Highways Agency.
Comments(7)
dommer2000
says...
9:28am Thu 16 Feb 12
But surely 2.4m is plenty for two cycles to pass each other? I find it hard to imagine a 4.5m wide cycle lane - that's wide enough for two cars to pass!"
What an ill-informed comment Dirk Gently made.
I cycle that particular stretch of cycle path every day, and it isn't even 2.4m wide in places - a lot of it is about 1m of pavement and the rest is muddy, slippery grass verge. This is currently shared by two-way cycle traffic and pedestrians. And try doing that at night, with the glare of the headlights of oncoming cars.
Dirk - why don't you keep your comments to yourself until you know what you are talking about.
Dirk Gently
says...
10:15am Thu 16 Feb 12
From your comment it sounds like the problem is the quality of the surface and the fact that it's only 1m wide in places, and that does sound much too narrow.
dh34
says...
10:39am Thu 16 Feb 12
Dirk, I think you have a serious case of keyboard diarrhoea, and you really need to consider how upsetting your comments are before rattling away on a public site. Step away from the computer and go out for a bike ride, you are coming across as an inhumane muppet.
dh34
says...
10:41am Thu 16 Feb 12
Oolon Colluphid
says...
10:53am Thu 16 Feb 12
6b
When thinking about passing distances for two way cycle traffic you've got to remember that the combined approach speed is upwards of 30mph and either cyclist could wobble for any number of reasons.
With all the roadworks for the stadium I'm surprised no one took the opportunity to improve this stretch of path at the same time.
Maxwell's Ghost
says...
7:48pm Thu 16 Feb 12
Check out the Evans or Wiggle websites to see some of these vast beasts and if these slim lanes are near the road, there aint much space for manoevre.
Fercri Sakes says...
8:14pm Wed 15 Feb 12