Monthly Archives: April 2011

Royal transport modes

Posted on April 30, 2011 by

In a tenuous connection with the Royal wedding weekend, here is a picture of the Dutch royal family, recklessly endangering their offspring by not cladding them in high-visibility vests and helmets. By contrast, here is a picture of Prince Charles … Continue reading →

Posted in Helmets, Road safety, The Netherlands | Leave a comment

Elderly driver causes crash, wishes to stop driving – magistrates allow her to continue

Posted on April 29, 2011 by

From the local paper, the West Sussex County Times, 14th April 2011 (this story is not available online) – An 85-year-old driver has admitted she was to blame for a crash which left three people injured near Cowfold. Margaret Sharpus, … Continue reading →

Posted in Dangerous driving, Driving ban, The judiciary | Leave a comment

Anatomy of the death of a cyclist – William Honour

Posted on April 27, 2011 by

I mentioned in yesterday’s post on Cyclecraft that I generally avoid dual carriageways (along with single-carriageway trunk A-roads) as much as I possibly can. I don’t think this is irrational. The relative approach speeds of vehicles behind me, and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Cyclecraft, Cycling policy, Dangerous driving, Road safety, The judiciary, Transport policy | 13 Comments

John Franklin and Cyclecraft – Cycle safely by turning yourself into Mark Cavendish

Posted on April 26, 2011 by

Next month I am planning to take some Bikeability Level 2 classes. My main motivation is not really the training itself because I feel, perhaps hubristically, that I am a competent ‘vehicular’ cyclist, fully versed in the speed and positioning … Continue reading →

Posted in Cyclecraft, Cycling policy, Cycling renaissance, Infrastructure, John Franklin, Road safety | 34 Comments

Horsham District Council does not care about cycling

Posted on April 18, 2011 by

If you search for “Cycling” on the Horsham District Council site, you will find that it is classified as a “Sporting Activity“ under “Leisure and Tourism.” That serves as useful background for what follows. In 2008, Horsham District Council, along with the … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Dangerous lunatics

Posted on April 18, 2011 by

Here are some dangerous lunatics, taking to our streets with a reckless disregard for their own safety. Oops, sorry, hang on a minute! That wasn’t the photo I meant to post. Here it is. Look at these maniacs. Not a … Continue reading →

Posted in Cycling policy, Helmets, Road safety | Leave a comment

Car crime vs. knife crime

Posted on April 17, 2011 by

‘Knife crime’ is, in common usage, the act of threatening , injuring or killing someone with a knife. ‘Car crime’ is, in common usage, the act of threatening , injuring or killing someone with a car stealing a car. The driver in … Continue reading →

Posted in Cycling policy, Dangerous driving | 1 Comment

Has Terence Fowler received a driving ban?

Posted on April 15, 2011 by

The jailing of Terence Fowler, the car thief who drove across a level crossing moments before a train passed, as well as hitting speeds of 80 to 90 mph on suburban streets, has hit the headlines today, I suspect largely … Continue reading →

Posted in Dangerous driving, Driving ban, The judiciary | 3 Comments

The Tanbridge Retail Park, Horsham – when urban planning goes wrong

Posted on April 13, 2011 by

The ‘A’ arrow on the map below marks the location of the Tanbridge Retail Park in Horsham. It was constructed in the early 1990s, alongside a new section of dual carriageway that had been blasted through part of the town, … Continue reading →

Posted in Car dependence, Cycle Stands, Horsham, Infrastructure, Town planning, Walking | Leave a comment

“Where cycle lanes are less than 1.5 metres in width, it is because the road is too narrow to introduce a wider lane.”

Posted on April 7, 2011 by

On 22nd May 2010, Everton Smith was killed while riding his bicycle northbound along Vauxhall Bridge Road. The cycle lane he was travelling in was 1.2 metres wide, a good deal less than the 1.5 metre minimum stipulated by the … Continue reading →

Posted in Boris Johnson, Cycle Superhighways, Infrastructure, London, Transport for London, Transport policy | 2 Comments