Carbon Trace

Here’s an interesting article from the BBC asking if female bicyclists are in more danger than male bicyclists when encountering trucks at intersections (via How We Drive):

Many of the fatalities involving cyclists happen in collisions with a heavy goods vehicle (HGV). This year, seven of the eight people killed by lorries in London have been women.

Considering that women make only 28% of the UK’s cycling journeys, this seems extremely high.

There are no national figures but there’s little reason to think it is any different. In August, a 27-year-old woman died in Leeds after her bike was in collision with a lorry.

These deaths could be attributed to a tragic anomaly, but some cycling campaigners are concerned whether there is something about how women cycle which puts them at greater risk from lorries.

…

In 2007, an internal report for Transport for London concluded women cyclists are far more likely to be killed by lorries because, unlike men, they tend to obey red lights and wait at junctions in the driver’s blind spot.

This means that if the lorry turns left, the driver cannot see the cyclist as the vehicle cuts across the bike’s path.

The report said that male cyclists are generally quicker getting away from a red light – or, indeed, jump red lights – and so get out of the danger area.

Remember, their left is our right. But the situation is something I see regularly in Springfield: Bicyclists advancing to a light or stop sign on the right of a line of cars. If that lead vehicle is a truck, these bicyclists are nearly always stopped in the blind spot. If that truck turns right, the bicyclist is in great danger of a right-hook collision.

The problem is easily solved, IMO:

1. Avoid advancing on the right of a stopped line of traffic.

2. Take your proper place in traffic, i.e. in line behind the car in from of you.

3. Advance when allowed by traffic control.

This situation also illustrates why bicycle lanes that end at intersections are dangerous.

For the most part, you never want to be on the right side of a vehicle at an intersection unless you each have your own lane — that is a regualr traffic lane.

Technorati Tags: bicycle advocacy, bicycle safety, cycling