Updated: Cyclist airlifted to hospital following crash (From Echo)

I hope he has a speedy recovery.

Now, what is happening to make Southend a 'cycling town'?

I too wish this gentleman a speedy recovery.

This road is notorious for accidents as is West road and Albion Road. Interestingly these roads are very busy, do not have a cycle lane,speed cameras or speed restrictions.
Madness, complete and utter madness !!!

This is yet one more tragic accident too many on the supposedly cycle friendly roads of Southend. An urgent review is needed to look at cycle road safety before we read of further tragedies. Alarm bells need to be heeded. Lets hope and pray the patient makes a full recovery and thoughts go out to the family.

As someone who cycles around southend daily it is of no surprise that this accident has happened. Car Drivers reguarly clip me as i am cycling around the roads of southend, they seem to have no respect or knowledge of the space needed by cyclists.

It doesn't help that the whole seafront from southend to leigh is a no cycling zone. The sooner a cycle route is put along the seafront from southend to Leigh (and beyond to Benfleet) the safer all cyclsists will be. A cycle route along the A13 would also make it safer and easier for cyclists to get around.

I heard the helicopter yesterday whilst at home (I live very close to St Helens, & am a former pupil, but I digress), but was unaware it was the air ambulance. I do hope the gentleman makes a complete recovery.

There is a need for more provision for cyclists on our roads, but I would like to point out that the (seemingly) majority of cyclists in this area who ride on the pavement, often colliding with pedestrians (not to mention shouting abuse etc when people will not move out of their way) do not help themselves by indulging in this illegal activity.

And yes, I do cycle around Southend, using the cycle paths or roads at all times, unless I get off to walk.

...???... wrote:
As someone who cycles around southend daily it is of no surprise that this accident has happened. Car Drivers reguarly clip me as i am cycling around the roads of southend, they seem to have no respect or knowledge of the space needed by cyclists. It doesn't help that the whole seafront from southend to leigh is a no cycling zone. The sooner a cycle route is put along the seafront from southend to Leigh (and beyond to Benfleet) the safer all cyclsists will be. A cycle route along the A13 would also make it safer and easier for cyclists to get around.

you cant do that much cycling both the seafront and the a13 have cycle lanes, with only a few parts that dont have them due to space constraints...

def not a no cycling zone

BD wrote:

...???... wrote: As someone who cycles around southend daily it is of no surprise that this accident has happened. Car Drivers reguarly clip me as i am cycling around the roads of southend, they seem to have no respect or knowledge of the space needed by cyclists. It doesn't help that the whole seafront from southend to leigh is a no cycling zone. The sooner a cycle route is put along the seafront from southend to Leigh (and beyond to Benfleet) the safer all cyclsists will be. A cycle route along the A13 would also make it safer and easier for cyclists to get around.

you cant do that much cycling both the seafront and the a13 have cycle lanes, with only a few parts that dont have them due to space constraints... def not a no cycling zone

I do a lot of cycling actually. You obviously do not, the A13 does not have cycle lanes along most of its route. The seafront is also a no cycling route between southend and leigh. Maybe you should get your facts right.

BD wrote:

...???... wrote:
As someone who cycles around southend daily it is of no surprise that this accident has happened. Car Drivers reguarly clip me as i am cycling around the roads of southend, they seem to have no respect or knowledge of the space needed by cyclists. It doesn't help that the whole seafront from southend to leigh is a no cycling zone. The sooner a cycle route is put along the seafront from southend to Leigh (and beyond to Benfleet) the safer all cyclsists will be. A cycle route along the A13 would also make it safer and easier for cyclists to get around.

you cant do that much cycling both the seafront and the a13 have cycle lanes, with only a few parts that dont have them due to space constraints...

def not a no cycling zone

There's a whole world of difference between a cycle lane marked out on the PAVEMENT (which is safe, and what most European countries manage to provide, with cyclists managing to keep to their bit and pedestrians to theirs) and one marked out on the ROAD, whcih is what you have between Southend and Chalkwell Shelter.

What's more, it runs between the parked cars and the road, so you often get doors thrown open in front of you.

And as for cycling from Chalkwell to Leigh - forget it. Road only, guv'nor

Cycle routes in Southend are poor and don't go where people want to use them - and that's just the very few that we have!

BD wrote:

...???... wrote:
As someone who cycles around southend daily it is of no surprise that this accident has happened. Car Drivers reguarly clip me as i am cycling around the roads of southend, they seem to have no respect or knowledge of the space needed by cyclists. It doesn't help that the whole seafront from southend to leigh is a no cycling zone. The sooner a cycle route is put along the seafront from southend to Leigh (and beyond to Benfleet) the safer all cyclsists will be. A cycle route along the A13 would also make it safer and easier for cyclists to get around.

you cant do that much cycling both the seafront and the a13 have cycle lanes, with only a few parts that dont have them due to space constraints...

def not a no cycling zone

There's a whole world of difference between a cycle lane marked out on the PAVEMENT (which is safe, and what most European countries manage to provide, with cyclists managing to keep to their bit and pedestrians to theirs) and one marked out on the ROAD, whcih is what you have between Southend and Chalkwell Shelter.

What's more, it runs between the parked cars and the road, so you often get doors thrown open in front of you.

And as for cycling from Chalkwell to Leigh - forget it. Road only, guv'nor

Cycle routes in Southend are poor and don't go where people want to use them - and that's just the very few that we have!

BD wrote:

...???... wrote: As someone who cycles around southend daily it is of no surprise that this accident has happened. Car Drivers reguarly clip me as i am cycling around the roads of southend, they seem to have no respect or knowledge of the space needed by cyclists. It doesn't help that the whole seafront from southend to leigh is a no cycling zone. The sooner a cycle route is put along the seafront from southend to Leigh (and beyond to Benfleet) the safer all cyclsists will be. A cycle route along the A13 would also make it safer and easier for cyclists to get around.

you cant do that much cycling both the seafront and the a13 have cycle lanes, with only a few parts that dont have them due to space constraints... def not a no cycling zone

Maybe BD would like to check out the following link which clearly shows no cylce lane on the A13 and walking only (no cycling) between chalkwell and leigh.

www.southend.gov.uk/
resources/SouthendCy
cleMap.pdf

Sad state of affairs and I hope the cyclist makes a speedy recovery but the facts are that in todays traffic, there is no room for cyclists and cars/lorries/buses to mix. I make use of all the cycle paths possoble, use the back steets even if it means going the extra mile or so and cycle on the pavements at a walking pace when there are no pedestrians about - which these days is most of the time. Sorry to upset the anti-cycling pedestrians but it's the only way to get about by bike in this world of ridiculously fast cars(why so fast?) and 40 ton lorries.

I do a hell of a lot of cycling (currently around 300 miles a week) and use both the seafront and the a13, there is a marked cyclepath between southend and chalkwell and heading out of southend the gap between the pavements was originally built as a cycle path, although not a lot of good as you have to keep stopping for the turnings and bends.

I think its quite unreasonable to expect a cycle path along every road you want to use its not going to happen, what need to happen is to educate drivers properly (which just isnt going to happen) and to look out for cyclists, not look them straight in the eye and then pull out in front of them which is a daily occurence.

Ive been lucky enough to race & ride in many countries around the world as well as race up and down this country, and have to say southend is one of the worst places with regard to feeling safe on the roads, second in my mind only to london.

sjreynolds143 wrote:

BD wrote:

...???... wrote:
As someone who cycles around southend daily it is of no surprise that this accident has happened. Car Drivers reguarly clip me as i am cycling around the roads of southend, they seem to have no respect or knowledge of the space needed by cyclists. It doesn't help that the whole seafront from southend to leigh is a no cycling zone. The sooner a cycle route is put along the seafront from southend to Leigh (and beyond to Benfleet) the safer all cyclsists will be. A cycle route along the A13 would also make it safer and easier for cyclists to get around.

you cant do that much cycling both the seafront and the a13 have cycle lanes, with only a few parts that dont have them due to space constraints...

def not a no cycling zone

There's a whole world of difference between a cycle lane marked out on the PAVEMENT (which is safe, and what most European countries manage to provide, with cyclists managing to keep to their bit and pedestrians to theirs) and one marked out on the ROAD, whcih is what you have between Southend and Chalkwell Shelter.

What's more, it runs between the parked cars and the road, so you often get doors thrown open in front of you.

And as for cycling from Chalkwell to Leigh - forget it. Road only, guv'nor

Cycle routes in Southend are poor and don't go where people want to use them - and that's just the very few that we have!

Southend is packed full of cycle routes, they are called 'roads'.

The most dangerous form of cycle path is the one which is painted on a pavement. They are not wide enough for cyclists to pass each other safely, and it is much more likely there will be cyclist/pedestrian collisions.
Ride confidently on the road, and not like a scared chicken, and you will find the roads are actually very safe to use. They are, after all, there for ALL forms of vehicular transport to use, motorcycles, cars, buses, trucks and BICYCLES.

perini wrote:
Time for the cyclists to get off the roads. They are far too slow and hold up traffic - and impatient drivers then do silly things. You can bleat all you want about having every right to be there etc. but at the end of the day you end up badly injured or dead! Go hug a tree if you want to save the planet or if you want to get fit..walk!

Save the planet? I cycle because it is cheap, easy transport, and generally gets me to work faster than driving. The only thing I ever see holding up traffic is the traffic. Cyclists filter through, and are not held up at all by the traffic.

The fact that I stay fit is just an added bonus.

As for impatient and dangerous drivers, that is something that needs to be addressed. Someone who does not understand that the roads are not just for cars should not be permitted to hold a drivers licence. The sooner the 20 mph urban speed limits are introduced the better. I would also introduce a five yearly retest for all drivers.

As well as being a cyclist I am also I driver, and these measures would not bother me in the least.

intresting winston before on a previous subject you said you drive to wickford everyday using the back roads in your car. as for taking driving tests every 5 years have you considered that this would never work how many people would need to take a test everyday just for licence renewal? As a cyclist,motorcyclist
,car driver and van driver i see things from many prospectives with the standard of cycling in the town very poor due to no legal test required for them to use the road.

and well done essex air ambulance once again to the rescue. lets hope goverment funding is given sometime.

southendmechanic wrote:
intresting winston before on a previous subject you said you drive to wickford everyday using the back roads in your car. as for taking driving tests every 5 years have you considered that this would never work how many people would need to take a test everyday just for licence renewal? As a cyclist,motorcyclist

,car driver and van driver i see things from many prospectives with the standard of cycling in the town very poor due to no legal test required for them to use the road.

In the summer, I cycle. It isn't a long ride.

Obviously there are those who would be opposed to being retested every five years, if they are not good drivers.

southendmechanic wrote:
intresting winston before on a previous subject you said you drive to wickford everyday using the back roads in your car. as for taking driving tests every 5 years have you considered that this would never work how many people would need to take a test everyday just for licence renewal? As a cyclist,motorcyclist

,car driver and van driver i see things from many prospectives with the standard of cycling in the town very poor due to no legal test required for them to use the road.

First of all I hope this cyclist is recovering from his injuries.

I agree with you the standard of cycling from some cyclists in Southend is poor.

But in my experience this tends to be teenagers who are not car drivers.

Unfortunately the standard of driving and levels of consideration to other road users generally is very poor in the Southend and Rochford areas.

It is a fact that where there is a collision with a cyclist it is usually the motor vehicle that is at fault. Often this is because drivers are impatient to overtake, do not allow enough room when overtaking and misjudge the speed of cyclists.

The fact remains that poor driving can result in serious injury and death to other road users and pedestrians.

Poor cycling usually only results in injury to the cyclist.

Winston Smith wrote:

sjreynolds143 wrote:

BD wrote:

...???... wrote:
As someone who cycles around southend daily it is of no surprise that this accident has happened. Car Drivers reguarly clip me as i am cycling around the roads of southend, they seem to have no respect or knowledge of the space needed by cyclists. It doesn't help that the whole seafront from southend to leigh is a no cycling zone. The sooner a cycle route is put along the seafront from southend to Leigh (and beyond to Benfleet) the safer all cyclsists will be. A cycle route along the A13 would also make it safer and easier for cyclists to get around.

you cant do that much cycling both the seafront and the a13 have cycle lanes, with only a few parts that dont have them due to space constraints...

def not a no cycling zone

There's a whole world of difference between a cycle lane marked out on the PAVEMENT (which is safe, and what most European countries manage to provide, with cyclists managing to keep to their bit and pedestrians to theirs) and one marked out on the ROAD, whcih is what you have between Southend and Chalkwell Shelter.

What's more, it runs between the parked cars and the road, so you often get doors thrown open in front of you.

And as for cycling from Chalkwell to Leigh - forget it. Road only, guv'nor

Cycle routes in Southend are poor and don't go where people want to use them - and that's just the very few that we have!

Southend is packed full of cycle routes, they are called 'roads'.

The most dangerous form of cycle path is the one which is painted on a pavement. They are not wide enough for cyclists to pass each other safely, and it is much more likely there will be cyclist/pedestrian collisions.
Ride confidently on the road, and not like a scared chicken, and you will find the roads are actually very safe to use. They are, after all, there for ALL forms of vehicular transport to use, motorcycles, cars, buses, trucks and BICYCLES.

Winston, I do so love people who make comments without any knowledge whatsoever. It's what makes being part of the Echo online community so much fun.

I didn't say that I don't ride on the roads - I do, a lot. But the point that I was making is that you could quite easily mark off part of the seafront pavement (say) as a cycle track. I spend a lot of time in Munich where there are cycle paths along many, if not most, pavements and I have never seen cycle/pedestrian collisions. These only occur when pedestrians can't be bothered to look around them, or where cyclists can't be bothered to slow down for the few pedestrians who have strayed onto the cycle tracks!

There's a world of difference, though, between me being buffeted by a car doing 40, or having one decide that yes it really can get past me at speed between the two rows of parked cars, and it happening to my 8 yr old son, who I wish to encourage to enjoy cycling. We need to have safer routes to cycle in Southend, and it's high time we had them.

PS - one day the Echo will allow me to quote only the relvant parts of the previous posts without having to have a ten foot high contribution! I live in hope!

sjreynolds143 wrote:

Winston Smith wrote:

sjreynolds143 wrote:

BD wrote:

...???... wrote:
As someone who cycles around southend daily it is of no surprise that this accident has happened. Car Drivers reguarly clip me as i am cycling around the roads of southend, they seem to have no respect or knowledge of the space needed by cyclists. It doesn't help that the whole seafront from southend to leigh is a no cycling zone. The sooner a cycle route is put along the seafront from southend to Leigh (and beyond to Benfleet) the safer all cyclsists will be. A cycle route along the A13 would also make it safer and easier for cyclists to get around.

you cant do that much cycling both the seafront and the a13 have cycle lanes, with only a few parts that dont have them due to space constraints...

def not a no cycling zone

There's a whole world of difference between a cycle lane marked out on the PAVEMENT (which is safe, and what most European countries manage to provide, with cyclists managing to keep to their bit and pedestrians to theirs) and one marked out on the ROAD, whcih is what you have between Southend and Chalkwell Shelter.

What's more, it runs between the parked cars and the road, so you often get doors thrown open in front of you.

And as for cycling from Chalkwell to Leigh - forget it. Road only, guv'nor

Cycle routes in Southend are poor and don't go where people want to use them - and that's just the very few that we have!

Southend is packed full of cycle routes, they are called 'roads'.

The most dangerous form of cycle path is the one which is painted on a pavement. They are not wide enough for cyclists to pass each other safely, and it is much more likely there will be cyclist/pedestrian collisions.
Ride confidently on the road, and not like a scared chicken, and you will find the roads are actually very safe to use. They are, after all, there for ALL forms of vehicular transport to use, motorcycles, cars, buses, trucks and BICYCLES.

Winston, I do so love people who make comments without any knowledge whatsoever. It's what makes being part of the Echo online community so much fun.

I didn't say that I don't ride on the roads - I do, a lot. But the point that I was making is that you could quite easily mark off part of the seafront pavement (say) as a cycle track. I spend a lot of time in Munich where there are cycle paths along many, if not most, pavements and I have never seen cycle/pedestrian collisions. These only occur when pedestrians can't be bothered to look around them, or where cyclists can't be bothered to slow down for the few pedestrians who have strayed onto the cycle tracks!

There's a world of difference, though, between me being buffeted by a car doing 40, or having one decide that yes it really can get past me at speed between the two rows of parked cars, and it happening to my 8 yr old son, who I wish to encourage to enjoy cycling. We need to have safer routes to cycle in Southend, and it's high time we had them.

I have plenty of knowledge of cycling thank you very much. I have been cycling for over forty years and have been a member of the CTC for all of it.

Pavement cycle paths ARE dangerous because, as you admit, pedestrians are more likely to step into them. If I am cycling at 22mph, which is my average speed, and someone steps in front of me, they are going to be hurt severely.
Pavement cycle paths may be suitable for weekend cyclists who crawl along at a walking pace, but for people who use their cycle as actual transport, to get somewhere, pavement cycle paths are next to useless.
The other major disadvantage of pavement cycle paths is you have to stop for EVERY side turning you come to, if you cycle in the road you don't because you have right of way.

This is why I always cycle in the road.

As I have said previously, use the primary road position (the centre of the lane) on non busy roads, where roads are busier use the secondary road position which is a minimum of 0.5m out from the kerb.
Ride with confidence, at least a car door's length out from the kerb so that drivers have to think about maneuvering around you, and you will be amazed how safe the roads actually are.

Winston,

I didn't mean that you don't know about cycling - I meant that you shouldn't be calling me a scared chicken without knowing where and how I cycle!

I take your point about side roads, although I still come back to the fact that other European countries manage it. Also, the safe cycling positions that you advocate, and which I already use incidentally, are still not suitable for an 8 year old, in my opinion