Forum Topic

Vigil to mark the death of Dean Lawson Jones

Following the death of Dean Lawson Jones on West Hill earlier this month, there's a vigil to mark this tragic event and to appeal for safety for cycling in Putney. It's at the junction of West Hill and Lytton Grove, from 1:30 pm on Saturday, 23rd November. All are welcome.

Richard Carter ● 39d24 Comments

Sometimes you will find a bicycle painted white marking the spot where a cyclist lost their life as a memorial.  Maybe you have seen one.  They are known as 'ghost bikes'.  They can be found all over the world.

Philippa Bond ● 25d

Well said too Ivonne. Let’s not let the wokists close our roads to car traffic.

Graham Earl ● 27d

https://www.putneysw15.com/default.asp?section=info&page=conaccident046c.htm

Philippa Bond ● 28d

You are not going to reduce these deaths and make the roads safer for everyone if you don't talk about them.

Philippa Bond ● 34d

See you have been arguing on Next Door Richard, somebody else thinks it's wrong.

Barbara Stevens ● 34d

I do think language matters.  "End Road Deaths"  "Make it Safe to cycle in Putney"We should make cycling safer and reduce lorry & bus deaths to as low as possible.Sadly we can not eliminate all risk.As part of the reducing risks: better junctions & crossings are needed, more awareness for those driving vehicles and less risk taking by cyclists.Some risks are also subjective. I stopped cycling on some quite streets due to a couple of near encounters and the streets reportedly being targeted by muggers.My most dangerous experiences of cycling have been on quite roads with no traffic which enabled the vehicles to drive at very high dangerous speed.

Ed Robinson ● 35d

Hi Sue, actually found this picture Richard has put on here on Next Door, I have seen a Charles Lister in comments thinks, Wandsworth Council should not have used the young man's death to promote their cause.

Barbara Stevens ● 35d

Well said Ivonne, to this and your original post.

Sue Hammond ● 35d

Incorrect, Richard.The post you refer to is in connection with the second post of this thread, namely that cyclists get proper road education and training.  If you care to look this up, you will notice that European countries have compulsory education and training for cyclists from the age of 8 (I think) to 18.  May I also point out that the vigil on Saturday has other matters added, namely end lorry danger (?), safe main roads and LTNs.  The last one is an underhand way of trying to reintroduce LTN, the kind that was so vehemently opposed by people who endured them.

Ivonne Holliday ● 35d

Also Richard the picture you have put on here only one part of it is real.  The FATAL COLLISION, I'm afraid the rest in the red circle is just to boost cycling and make it safe for cyclists.  Also picking on Ivonne regarding the posts Ivonne is putting on here, it was myself who actually put the first post on here regarding a problem at West Hill, with it being shut to traffic, then Sue found the post on Next Door, so we all then had an idea of what happened.  So Richard, did you know the young man or are you just continuing the posts because it is about bikes.

Barbara Stevens ● 35d

That is why I do not think they should have all these higher bikes. People just jump on them, they might be to large for the person, the person wobbles all down the road, not being able to control the bike. Nattering to one of their mates as their cycling, a crowd of them all together.  Or nattering on their mobiles. They get dumped anywhere, in the middle of anywhere for somebody blind to fall over.  As for the young man it's very sad and for his family and friends.

Barbara Stevens ● 35d

Ivonne, if you're going to continue complaining about a totally unrelated incident, why don't you start your own thread about it. This thread concerns the vigil on Saturday, and was intended solely to notify people about it. I had hoped (in vain) that it wouldn't descend into the usual anti-cyclist stuff so common on here.

Richard Carter ● 36d

Yes, the cyclist was undertaking on the nearside side.  While there is a cycling lance virtually till the junction with LRR, I cannot understand why - if I was indicating I was turning left and my husband was also indicating with his arm to ensure cyclists saw the indicating light, why would this cyclist bash my husband's arm?  He was trying to be helpful to all.....

Ivonne Holliday ● 36d

Sorry, I was not clear. I was asking about your account of the cyclist overtaking you on Putney High Street.

David Ainsworth ● 36d

We are all waiting to hear from the police enquiry.  From witnesses reports, it would appear to be the case.  But we must wait to hear the results of the enquiry.

Ivonne Holliday ● 36d

I take it that the cyclist was overtaking on the nearside?

David Ainsworth ● 36d

Jonathan,I am not saying that drivers are saints by any stretch of the imagination.  Just stay two minutes on the road I live on and you will have enough evidence to demand greater enforcement of the 20mph road, unsuccessfully I may add.But cyclists are no saints either.  Many, not all, believe they are God's gift to mankind and you should make way to their racing watching their Strava app on their phone to make sure they are on the winning slot for racing time.Respect has gone out of the window - and drivers are not really the greatest culprits.  Everybody must take responsibility for their safety and not expect everybody else to be their god fairies!

Ivonne Holliday ● 36d

Andy I’m a cyclist occasionally but I ain’t no saint!  Drivers ain’t no saints either of course but can be a danger to cyclists with just a moment’s inattention.

Jonathan Callaway ● 36d

Dont tell Carter, cyclists are saints @!

Andy Pike ● 36d

Philippa,When I talk about education and training, I am not talking about 11 year olds, I am talking about anybody on a bicycle requiring compulsory education and training as well as official certification that they have successfully completed it, meaning they must have an equivalent to a driving licence.This will be very unpopular with many but it true to say that the safety of cyclists and pedestrians fall on the cyclists and pedestrians as well.  Of course drivers must be very careful, but EVERYBODY must understand that safety is everybody's responsibility, not only drivers.As an example, I was driving down Putney High Street and, by Wagamama, started indicating I was turning left onto Lower Richmond Road; I had seen a cyclist coming up by Lacy Road.  My husband put his hand out indicating this only to have it bashed by a cyclist who was racing down the High Street and who thought it was his right to go first. No, no, no!!!

Ivonne Holliday ● 36d

None of us know the exact circumstances.A lot of work has been done to try and reduce tragedies of this sort but like everything it needs to be continuous and continually updated.The new Highway Code also needs to be taken on board by all road users and many road users of all sorts still seem to be unaware or not taking it into account.  It is really great that cycling proficiency is back however there was a period when there was no cycling proficiency in schools. More recently all the Councils have been offering free cycling lessons for quite a while which could no doubt do with being advertised more but with so many different media in use and constant bombardment by advertising it must become harder to get the necessary attention.

Philippa Bond ● 38d

Hello Jonathan,Yes, most commercial lorries do have cameras but am not too sure in the case of this lorry which I believe was a water tanker. ??While the onus may be on lorry drivers to take account the blind spots all large vehicles have (and smaller one too by the way), not many have your approach of keeping well away from large vehicles.  I have witness two similar accidents in town, at a roundabout when the lorry was indicating it was turning left but the cyclist decided to undertake anyway hoping, I imagine, it would be faster than the lorry turning left. Seeing the accident was horrific and I was very cross with the cyclist's stupidity at the time...

Ivonne Holliday ● 38d

Many lorries es now have audible warnings when they are turning.  Also, I believe new rules on reducing blind spots is due soon, but only applying to new lorries. The gold standard, all too rare, is onboard cameras that give lorry drivers a full view around their vehicles. When I’m cycling I generally try to keep well away from large vehicles. These tragedies are a reminder of just how vulnerable cyclists are on our busy roads. And indeed quiet side roads where too many drivers forget or ignore the new rule not to pass closer than 1.5 metres. I don’t think any of us know enough about the exact circumstances here but there is in my view a clear onus on lorry drivers to take into account the blind spots all large vehicles have. As for cycling proficiency training I believe most schools provide it. My 10 year old grandson has had it.

Jonathan Callaway ● 38d

Thank you, Richard, for letting us know.I would like to add that it should also be requested that all cyclists receive proper road education and training. This will help in no small measure to teach them how to predict danger ahead in addition to relevant rules and regulations of the road. The sign is suggesting that it was the lorry driver's fault.  I would further suggest we wait to hear the result of the enquiry.  Witnesses stated that the lorry was indicating it was turning left.

Ivonne Holliday ● 38d