Forum Topic

Why is London (including Putney) suddenly full of suicidal cyclists

This is a very good article published by the Standard three days ago.https://www.standard.co.uk/comment/london-cyclists-dangerous-bikes-red-lights-accidents-pedestrians-b1199592.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawHNOKdleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHfH26W8pHGm4YUqnk78nf1uG2bjgYGkQa_Y1oyNXmsk0Ic_0UUhNuXRNYg_aem_SaDL3SrseE1S5TszaUDglQ

Ivonne Holliday ● 10d22 Comments

One of my first encounters with these e-scooters was when I was walking along the pavement beside a busy and noisy main road and the first I knew one was there was when there was a draught it was so close as it overtook me.  I nearly jumped out of my skin.

Philippa Bond ● 6d

'The cycling contraflow in Werter Road is clearly signposted; the fact that you didn't see it is entirely your own fault. Wake up!'Thank you for that comment Mr Empathy.

John Hawkes ● 7d

Lots of quotes to chose from but look no closer than water, NHS and hiding the extent of people on benefits.In 2002, Peter Mandelson, who had served in Blair's Cabinet, famously declared that "we are all Thatcherites now"https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2002/jun/10/labour.uk1Tony Blair: 'My job was to build on some Thatcher policies'https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-politics-22073434https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thatcherism

Ed Robinson ● 7d

Today I was walking along Norroy Rd to get to PHS.  As I reached PHS, an electric bike on the pavement whizzed just behind me as it sped down from URR.  As a pedestrian why should I have to look out for bikes and scooters on the pavement.?  I already check when I am in Chelverton Rd where it meets the start of Quill Lane.   Now it seems I will have to look right when I approach PHS from Norroy Rd.

Martine Guy ● 7d

In replying to criticism of cyclists' unruly behaviour on pavements (some pavements are dual use anyway so take care), I forgot to point out all the damage that is done to pavements not by cyclists but by cars, vans and lorries who drive over kerbs dislodging them and cracking paving stones causing multiple trip hazards for pedestrians.  Tripping on dislodged and rocking and cracked kerb and paving stones can cause life-changing damage from which pedestrians may never recover - or return from hospital.

Philippa Bond ● 7d

'Most of our cities and towns and villages were not built with cars in mind'.Possibly, but many of the smaller towns and villages were probably built when travel between them was much less necessary and prevalent.Not so much the case today and unless someone stumps up the money for frequent and regular bus services for these communities, then people will of necessity have to use a car.And if it is electric, and Li'l Ed decarbonises the grid surely there will be a reduction in pollution.Don't know what Paris ahs done to get your commendation.However you probably run a bigger risk of being murdered by an illegal immigrant !

John Hawkes ● 8d

You seem to have completely missed that this is a worldwide effort - or more likely you are just trying to start an argument.  Just look at Paris and what is happening there.  Air pollution kills and the figures in many places have been considered illegal for very many years.  This article (dated 2022) is just one of many:https://theconversation.com/12-best-ways-to-get-cars-out-of-cities-ranked-by-new-research-180642It's obviously important that public transport needs to be more accessible to all so that more people who need that transport can use it. Most of our cities and towns and villages were not built with cars in mind and there is definitely not enough room for each adult to travel in their own personal box wherever they want to go and as more and more large homes are divided into flats our roads have too often become car parks.  Bicycle hangers take up far less space!Active travel can keep us fitter, keeps the air we all breathe cleaner and leaves the roads free for those who really need them.I noticed the bank of red Santander bikes in Putney as I travelled by bus up the High Street the other day.  It is now many years since Mayor Boris Johnson installed the first blue Boris bikes in London (they were actually instigated by  Mayor Livingstone and only installed by BJ as Mayor).  It's good to see them spreading out further.  They obviously cause less of a problem as they have to be returned to docking stations.  A main reason for the popularity of hire bikes is the cost and inconvenience of so much bicycle theft.https://www.sustrans.org.uk/our-blog/opinion/secure-cycle-parking-is-vital-to-getting-more-people-on-bikes/

Philippa Bond ● 8d

Neoliberalism and the freemarketeers.  The US wasn't then and isn't now anything to admire with so much of the population in gaol and returning to gaol again and again with no way and no help to get out of the clutches of the repetitive cycle; or lack of healthcare; or love of guns...  Why follow when we could have better?  And as for selling everything off...  we now reap those miserable consequences.If there hadn't been such a push to reduce regulation then we could have had many more cyclists who had achieved Cycling Proficiency at school and knew the Highway Code and Rules of the Road but instead we have ended up with so many people who just think they can do exactly what they want on the road or in the cinema or theatre or anywhere with no consideration for anyone but themselves.  Just seeking 'the cheapest' without greater perusal brings many problems.

Philippa Bond ● 9d

Well coming from Sainsbury's lunch time. I was just crossing and a cyclist had no intention of stopping on the crossing and because I was crossing because I could, he was going so fast he nearly went over his handlebars. Cyclists go down Chelverton Rd the wrong way, but there is no signing saying they can, so up yours Richard.

Barbara Stevens ● 9d

This current fetish for cycling is an offshoot of the Climate Change movement and a vision that London cyclists would save the planet by behaving in a publicly spirited way as do those in Amsterdam.Of course this proved not to be the case.In my observation those using Lime bikes and similar seem to be male youths of a certain type that have little regard for the wellbeing of others, be it in regard to where they cycle, usually on pavements and not roads and where they dump the bikes when they have finished with them, usually in the middle of pavements hindering the passage of pedestrians especially those pushing children in buggies."Pedestrians ? S*d off !" Being a crusty old curmudgeon, my consolation is that I might see one of these cyclists hit a tree or just fall off and suffer a minor injury.Nothing major - scuffed trainers, grazed knee, slightly twisted ankle.....

John Hawkes ● 9d

Michael, you talking about me or Richard. Richard loves cyclists, they can do no wrong. The same with West Hill accident, it wasn't the young mans own fault.

Barbara Stevens ● 9d

"But it doesn't stop the cyclist thinking they are in the right"Because in your particular example they are in the right.

Michael Brigo ● 9d

You really haven't got a very good answer Richard. My road is the same and we are fed up with cyclists coming at you at a speed. Don't tell me their is a sign, how stupid are you, there are signs everywhere. But it doesn't stop the cyclist thinking they are in the right. When you are in a vehicle in a narrow road and can't move out of the way. I only used Werter rd as an example.

Barbara Stevens ● 9d

The cycling contraflow in Werter Road is clearly signposted; the fact that you didn't see it is entirely your own fault. Wake up!

Richard Carter ● 9d

Who ever decided a cyclist can go the wrong way down a road needs their brain tested, seeing as the roads have been narrowed, and one way streets. They come so close they bang your wing mirror. I've got out of a vehicle in Sainsbury's Werter road, you look behind to see if anything is coming, then you get a cyclist, coming into Werter rd, from the High Street. This isn't just youngsters, it's everybody.  Things need to be changed.

Barbara Stevens ● 9d

“ By their own admission they have followed the Thatcher model.” can we see the source of that please. Just to stop me laughing in your face and all that.

Freddie Francis ● 9d

"Do you seriously think that all the problems today stem solely from Thatcher years?  What have the intervening governments done?"By their own admission they have followed the Thatcher model. I'm not sure we can count Brown in his own right. Most of his time was doing Blair's bidding.Looking at actions and outcomes gives a completely different picture to rhetoric and spin. Thatcher left many dependent upon state benefits that were off the unemployment figures. Blair did little to change this choosing to pay for them by importing Labour. Little has changed.Since Thatcher the country no longer owns hard assets as they have all been privatised as the middle classes drunken on greed made a few bob with little thought for detail or consequence.Instead people work but still need benefits to pay their rent. Student loans are for a life time. Even those that considered themselves middle class needed government help with their fuel bills.In short we are now Soviet Britain where huge numbers of people are dependent upon the state benefits and have little opportunity to escape the cycle.

Ed Robinson ● 10d

Hello Ed,You have confused me somewhat. What does Thatcher got to do with cyclists today?  Your comments:- Age:  when you are young you do not fear death. True. - Respect. There is little or no respect these days with other people. Back to Thatcher I'm afraid no society etc.  Back to Thatcher??- Last: because they can and have done many times without fear of consequences. No law enforcement. Thatcherites again I'm afraid, we just need police for important people. I am sorry, but Thatcher was very much a lady of law and order.  No law enforcement?  Cutting down on police numbers went back to Osborne days - 18 years after Thatcher resigned as a PM.Do you seriously think that all the problems today stem solely from Thatcher years?  What have the intervening governments done?  From Mayor to Blair + Brown followed by Cameron/Clegg, May, Johnson, Truss, Sunak and now Starmer?Nine PM after Thatcher, and it is all her fault?  Hmmmmm

Ivonne Holliday ● 10d

The article says homicidal. I sometimes think suicidal when they are riding a grand of bike without a light!Lots of men & women ride lime / forest bikes. The problem with riding your own bike is that it can get stolen or just a piece of it. That happens a few times the hire option becomes more convenient. The assisted peddling is a plus too. They are quite heavy but very nippy.I remember by grand parents cycling one had a tricycle back when cars were very uncommon.But back to the point. Three reasons:Age. We do not fear death and injury so much when we are young.Respect. There is little or no respect these days with other people. Back to Thatcher I'm afraid no society etc.Last: because they can and have done many times without fear of consequences. No law enforcement. Thatcherites again I'm afraid, we just need police for important people.

Ed Robinson ● 10d

I agree with both of you Richard and Martine.That is why I believe that education and training on the road is a must!I also believe that the hire bikes are a good idea, provided that the rider knows the rules of the road, something that seems to be lacking in many - but by no means all!

Ivonne Holliday ● 10d

I am a fed up pedestrian and my opinion is that some cyclists just do not want to stop for anything.  That’s it!  They want to go from A to B with as little braking as possible.

Martine Guy ● 10d

Unusually for an article about cyclists in London, it's actually quite a balanced piece: rightly critical of the lawbreakers but recognising that many of us are also furious at them because they reflect so badly on responsible cyclists.I think - and this isn't based on a rigorous study but just observation - that, because many of those who ride Forest/Lime bikes are young (mainly) men, and driving is increasingly less common in younger people, very many of them aren't aware of the rules of the road because, for example, they've never even seen the Highway Code. Of course it doesn't excuse the blatant lawbreaking, but it may partly explain it.

Richard Carter ● 10d