Bristol mayor George Ferguson hints at plans to ban lorries with no protection for cyclists and pedestrians from the city
By RachelGardner | Posted: January 31, 2014
Is George Ferguson going to follow in Boris Johnson’s lead and ban lorries without safety equipment from the city?
BRISTOL mayor George Ferguson may be about to follow in the lead of London mayor Boris Johnson and ban lorries without safety equipment to protect cyclists and pedestrians travelling through the city.
The news broke yesterday that Transport for London (TfL) and local authorities have joined forces to agree a new traffic regulation which will come into force by the end of the year.
The proposed ban will require every vehicle over 3.5 tonnes to be fitted with side guards to protect cyclists from being dragged under wheels, as well as mirrors to improve a driver’s view of cyclists and pedestrians.
And today a cyclist on Twitter asked Mr Ferguson if he was considering the same legislation.
Mr Ferguson replied that he was “on the case”.
The new regulation in London will be enforced by CCTV cameras and on-street checks.
Mr Johnson said a hefty charge would be levied against those not complying it.
London’s transport commissioner Sir Peter Hendy told The Guardian: "London has long led the way in working with the freight industry to drive up standards, especially in terms of greater road safety, better driver training and reduced vehicle emissions.
“TfL will work with the London boroughs to deliver this proposed Safer Lorry Scheme and further demonstrate our commitment to safer roads for all.”
Heavy goods vehicles have been involved in a number of fatal accidents with cyclists in recent years in London. There were 14 cyclist deaths in London last year, nine involving HGVs.
Bristol’s a S H Y T place to drive through any how, no thought of proper traffic management… I don’t even like driving through town in the car let alone in the truck…
Instead of declining to deliver to these places as they should, the onus will be placed firmly you know where! And our employers will no doubt expect us to pay for the mods to the vehicles we drive on their behalf.
London and Bristol, how about prosecuting cyclists that race down the middle of traffic and across red lights, also on the pavements, the list is endless, force anyone who uses a cycle to carry third party insurance or face a penalty in law, I did have a vehicle scratched by one moron who rode into it and then jumped on his bike and buggered off leaving me with a bill for a £200 repair - Boris is a chump as we all know, now it looks like the geezer in Bristol wants to be in on his club too …
Absolutely ridiculous, why dont the people on this planet realise that the cyclist contributes F/A to the economy, and without trucks and drivers, the planet would be flucked, so when is the wonderful RHA going to tell the government, that we have been squeezed far enough, and if these boroughs do not stop playing games, then the economy will dry up.
And fellow drivers, as well as companies refusing to enter these boroughs, without the assurance of an extra levy being implemented due to the fine/s, then maybe the drivers will also refuse to drive there, as in a lot of instances, the driver is liable for the fines out of his/her pocket.
Don’t matter what you fit to a truck in the way of safety equip, push bikes and trucks just don’t mix!
If more bike riders were prosecuted when thier stupidity resulted in an accident then maybe message would start to get home.
The proposed ban will require every vehicle over 3.5 tonnes to be fitted with side guards to protect cyclists from being dragged under wheels, as well as mirrors to improve a driver’s view of cyclists and pedestrians.
How many more mirrors do we need, every additional one creates a blind spot and by the time you have checked them all ( six at present) before pulling away the situation has changed.
brados:
London and Bristol, how about prosecuting cyclists that race down the middle of traffic and across red lights, also on the pavements, the list is endless, force anyone who uses a cycle to carry third party insurance or face a penalty in law, I did have a vehicle scratched by one moron who rode into it and then jumped on his bike and buggered off leaving me with a bill for a £200 repair - Boris is a chump as we all know, now it looks like the geezer in Bristol wants to be in on his club too …
I was in Copenhagen 2 weeks ago and they got this cycling off to an art, cycle lanes seperated by a small kerb from the road and the pavement and they obey all traffic lights not like here where they go through red and you’ll never see them on the pavement either, we hired a bike and considering it was a capital city i felt really safe.
brados:
London and Bristol, how about prosecuting cyclists that race down the middle of traffic and across red lights, also on the pavements, the list is endless, force anyone who uses a cycle to carry third party insurance or face a penalty in law, I did have a vehicle scratched by one moron who rode into it and then jumped on his bike and buggered off leaving me with a bill for a £200 repair - Boris is a chump as we all know, now it looks like the geezer in Bristol wants to be in on his club too …
I was in Copenhagen 2 weeks ago and they got this cycling off to an art, cycle lanes seperated by a small kerb from the road and the pavement and they obey all traffic lights not like here where they go through red and you’ll never see them on the pavement either, we hired a bike and considering it was a capital city i felt really safe.
Blah blah blah, same ■■■■ different day. It’s not fair, us truckers never break any rules & we are the ones getting stiffed boo hoo. Get over yourselves.
Slackbladder:
Blah blah blah, same [zb] different day. It’s not fair, us truckers never break any rules & we are the ones getting stiffed boo hoo. Get over yourselves.
Has school finished for the day. Your quite an idiot it is not just about LORRIES there are car drivers, bus drivers other cyclists, and pedestrians also, if you want more proof how stupid and dangerous cyclists are go on you tube and type in silly cyclists.
Dafman:
Has school finished for the day. Your quite an idiot it is not just about LORRIES there are car drivers, bus drivers other cyclists, and pedestrians also, if you want more proof how stupid and dangerous cyclists are go on you tube and type in silly cyclists.
In fairness, not all of us are like that. I imagine (life is too short to check) that there are a good few videos of truck drivers performing dodgy manoevres on Youtube if you go looking for them. I grant you that some cyclists perform some pretty hairy illegal manoevres out there, but not all of us do that.
Cyclists are generally dangerous only to themselves when they’re riding inconsiderately … trucks and cars on the other hand can be really dangerous to anyone and everyone when driven badly. Given that the truck driver can cause the most carnage, and is the one bringing the danger to the road environment, it’s only right that s/he should carry a greater share of responsibility for looking out or other road users.
Dafman:
Has school finished for the day. Your quite an idiot it is not just about LORRIES there are car drivers, bus drivers other cyclists, and pedestrians also, if you want more proof how stupid and dangerous cyclists are go on you tube and type in silly cyclists.
In fairness, not all of us are like that. I imagine (life is too short to check) that there are a good few videos of truck drivers performing dodgy manoevres on Youtube if you go looking for them. I grant you that some cyclists perform some pretty hairy illegal manoevres out there, but not all of us do that.
Cyclists are generally dangerous only to themselves when they’re riding inconsiderately … trucks and cars on the other hand can be really dangerous to anyone and everyone when driven badly. Given that the truck driver can cause the most carnage, and is the one bringing the danger to the road environment, it’s only right that s/he should carry a greater share of responsibility for looking out or other road users.
I agree with that 100%, trouble is on this forum too many think their only responsibility is to get the job done regardless of other road users. I’ve never said on here that cyclists are never to blame for causing problems on the roads, but you try & get a non cycling trucker to even admit that some accidents & deaths are the truckers fault, no chance. They are quite happy to post video of drivers acting like complete f- wits, but one mention of cyclists and they start foaming at the mouth & wanting them off the roads.
brados:
London and Bristol, how about prosecuting cyclists that race down the middle of traffic and across red lights, also on the pavements, the list is endless, force anyone who uses a cycle to carry third party insurance or face a penalty in law, I did have a vehicle scratched by one moron who rode into it and then jumped on his bike and buggered off leaving me with a bill for a £200 repair - Boris is a chump as we all know, now it looks like the geezer in Bristol wants to be in on his club too …
I was in Copenhagen 2 weeks ago and they got this cycling off to an art, cycle lanes seperated by a small kerb from the road and the pavement and they obey all traffic lights not like here where they go through red and you’ll never see them on the pavement either, we hired a bike and considering it was a capital city i felt really safe.
This is it. Safe cycling in cities & towns ultimately comes down to infrastructure and adapting our highways so that cyclists are segregated from other traffic on fit for purpose cycle tracks. This is what has to be done if these MP’s want to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Amsterdam & have widespread cycling. So get to work.
Trucks & bikes just will never mix on busy urban roads & both are necessary. That is the inconvenient truth. Enforcing legislation on truck mirrors is not going to make much difference, it does little more than make Joe Public think their MP’s are doing something by having “bans” on dirty big horrible death-trap lorries.
Slackbladder:
Blah blah blah, same [zb] different day. It’s not fair, us truckers never break any rules & we are the ones getting stiffed boo hoo. Get over yourselves.
There was one cyclist near Thame today that looked, saw me approaching yet thought the give way signs didn’t apply and rode straight out infront of me. I could’ve blown the horn, yelled obscenities out of the passenger window but for all I know, he could’ve been one of those tools with a helmet-cam, ready to YouTube a “dangerous, inconsiderate juggernaut driver.”
FWIW, I never had a problem in Bristol with cyclists; I actually liked delivering there.
Bristol mayor George Ferguson hints at plans to ban lorries with no protection for cyclists and pedestrians from the city
By RachelGardner | Posted: January 31, 2014
Is George Ferguson going to follow in Boris Johnson’s lead and ban lorries without safety equipment from the city?
BRISTOL mayor George Ferguson may be about to follow in the lead of London mayor Boris Johnson and ban lorries without safety equipment to protect cyclists and pedestrians travelling through the city.
The news broke yesterday that Transport for London (TfL) and local authorities have joined forces to agree a new traffic regulation which will come into force by the end of the year.
The proposed ban will require every vehicle over 3.5 tonnes to be fitted with side guards to protect cyclists from being dragged under wheels, as well as mirrors to improve a driver’s view of cyclists and pedestrians.
And today a cyclist on Twitter asked Mr Ferguson if he was considering the same legislation.
Mr Ferguson replied that he was “on the case”.
The new regulation in London will be enforced by CCTV cameras and on-street checks.
Mr Johnson said a hefty charge would be levied against those not complying it.
London’s transport commissioner Sir Peter Hendy told The Guardian: "London has long led the way in working with the freight industry to drive up standards, especially in terms of greater road safety, better driver training and reduced vehicle emissions.
“TfL will work with the London boroughs to deliver this proposed Safer Lorry Scheme and further demonstrate our commitment to safer roads for all.”
Heavy goods vehicles have been involved in a number of fatal accidents with cyclists in recent years in London. There were 14 cyclist deaths in London last year, nine involving HGVs.
Bristol’s a S H Y T place to drive through any how, no thought of proper traffic management… I don’t even like driving through town in the car let alone in the truck…
And guess where Hendy lives■■? …Bath …another town that doesn’t like lorries. see comment no 6 in this rather interesting link about his shenanigans.
brados:
London and Bristol, how about prosecuting cyclists that race down the middle of traffic and across red lights, also on the pavements, the list is endless, force anyone who uses a cycle to carry third party insurance or face a penalty in law, I did have a vehicle scratched by one moron who rode into it and then jumped on his bike and buggered off leaving me with a bill for a £200 repair - Boris is a chump as we all know, now it looks like the geezer in Bristol wants to be in on his club too …
I was in Copenhagen 2 weeks ago and they got this cycling off to an art, cycle lanes seperated by a small kerb from the road and the pavement and they obey all traffic lights not like here where they go through red and you’ll never see them on the pavement either, we hired a bike and considering it was a capital city i felt really safe.
The difference is that in Copenhagen the cyclist is God. Attack them at your peril.
