Police appeal after cyclist death in West Sussex this morning

andyduk wrote:

As someone that had been out riding with the person that was tragically killed, I can say that he was one of the safest cyclists around. The road he was on at the time is a rat run, used by people as a shortcut, and a number of locals refuse to access this route as cars drive far too fast along it.

I hope that for once the Police do their job properly, as its left my father and his close friends devastated to loose someone that they went out regularly riding with. I doubt many of them around the same age will want to get back on a bike soon.

This has to stop. Too many Cyclists are being killed in this manner. Someone has to either tighten the rules or look towards Holland and their approach..

I am not picking an argumant with your sentiment. I too have had cycling friends killed.

I have been cycling in a club since 1973 so I would like to pick a factual argument with you. I spend a lot of time trying to get people to do more cycling. The main barrier is a perception that it is dangerous. I keep telling people that it is not dangerous. A ball park figure for cycling deaths in the UK is around 100 per year. In 2013 it was 109.

When I started cycling in a club in1973 it was over 300 per year. And there were far fewer cars travelling far more slowly. When I was born it was over 600 per year with even fewer cars.

in 2013 there were 35 million vehicles registered in the UK and 109 cyclist deaths.

In 1973 there were just 19 million cars and 300 deaths.

Every fatality is a tragedy but as a means of transport in an increasingly busy environment cycling is safe and has been getting safer.

Don't stop cycling.

Quote .......

I have been cycling in a club since 1973 so I would like to pick a factual argument with you. I spend a lot of time trying to get people to do more cycling. The main barrier is a perception that it is dangerous. I keep telling people that it is not dangerous. A ball park figure for cycling deaths in the UK is around 100 per year. In 2013 it was 109.

When I started cycling in a club in1973 it was over 300 per year. And there were far fewer cars travelling far more slowly. When I was born it was over 600 per year with even fewer cars.

in 2013 there were 35 million vehicles registered in the UK and 109 cyclist deaths.

In 1973 there were just 19 million cars and 300 deaths.

Every fatality is a tragedy but as a means of transport in an increasingly busy environment cycling is safe and has been getting safer.

Don't stop cycling.[/quote]

Nice to see some facts, for a change.

oozaveared wrote:

The main barrier is a perception that it is dangerous. I keep telling people that it is not dangerous. A ball park figure for cycling deaths in the UK is around 100 per year. In 2013 it was 109.

When I started cycling in a club in1973 it was over 300 per year. And there were far fewer cars travelling far more slowly. When I was born it was over 600 per year with even fewer cars.

For all the good the internet brings and 24 hour news, one "bad" thing is we know. Is crime actually worse than it has been in the past or is it simply because of media we simply know about far more crime. Our close environment, the world that shapes our experiences isn't restricted to the street, or the family as it once would have been, It is instead the whole world.

mrchrispy wrote:

i think what he's saying is the police may collect every scrap of evidence available but the spineless twunts at the CPS will just go for the easy (stat friendly) option.

its safe to assume justice'lite will be served

Doesn't really matter, the 12 good men and true will think, what if i had been driving, and let him off anyway

I do hope justice is served, i guess i am getting jaded by the repeated failures of the legal system to deal with motoring offenceses.

mrchrispy wrote:

i think what he's saying is the police may collect every scrap of evidence available but the spineless twunts at the CPS will just go for the easy (stat friendly) option.

its safe to assume justice'lite will be served

I agree with the general sentiment but I think we'd also be furious with the CPS if they charged for a higher offence and failed to prove according to the criteria and the driver was acquitted. It's pretty much a stick or twist game for them.

They have two choices. They can charge a driver with something they can definitely prove and get a conviction for any day of the week and twice on a Sunday. OR they can roll the dice and charge for what they think the offence actually was but which would be much harder to prove.

The result in the first case is that the offender is found or pleads guilty is convicted and gets a sentence. Apart from the sentence that triggers all sorts of other consequences for them with regard to criiminal record, PNC and insurance.

The result in the second case is that they are found not guilty and none of that happens.

I do personally think that the CPS are too conservative in these matters but it doesn't stop me appreciating that the balance is tricky.

and yes sometimes a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.