Cyclist fatality in Bristol

TheBrogueadier

Some poor chap was hit and killed on the A370 just outside Bristol this morning,

I know we've got a fair contingent of Bristol folk around here..

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/homepage/Cyclist-killed-road-accident/article-546907-detail/article.html

I use that road for my longer evening rides and I've seen quite a few others out around there.. Foul stretch of road, and not a place I'd want to end up in.

attica

:shock:

I rode through there this morning wondering what was up with the traffic, by the looks of it he was actually heading onto the dual carriageway bit, I keep seeing cyclists along there and wonder why on Earth they don't duck down the cycle path and take the quieter, shorter route through LA.

My thoughts are with his nearest and dearest

shoppo33

Used that section of road once myself and never again, there is a cycle path option through Long Ashton and although longer much safer. Let’s hope that some good come can come from of this tragedy and road safety is dramatically improved on the A370. I also risk my life every day on a different section of this road and driver awareness of other road users is none existent.

attica

Which bit Shoppo? I get on at Claverham and ride through to that cycle path, then the quieter LA road, which I'm sure is actually shorter, just slower too.

snakehips

Very sad to hear. I know a couple of Bristol cycle commuters but happily for me (and them) they don't fit the profile of this poor guy

shoppo33

From Congresbury to WSM. Had some very close calls before as well as some outrageous road rage incidents. For about a month I was pestered by a white van who through all sorts out the window as well as once ran me of the road, never got his full number plate.

spen666

its sad, and somewhat ironic coming on the 1st working day after cycling got recognition beyond all expectation at the SPOTY Awards last night.

Shame those acolades did not registedr with minds of motorists



BTW- I am not blaming motorists for this accident. I have no knowledge of the circumstances of this accident

gert_lush

Thats really sad news, I dont use the 370 on my commute, and try not to use it where it meets town on other rides, but am always on it around flax bourtin and congresbury area when out on roadie rides. you do have to bit a bit wary where you position yourself when on the dual carriageway part as its easy to suddenly find yourself in a mass of cars and chaos.

attica

gert_lush wrote:

you do have to bit a bit wary where you position yourself when on the dual carriageway part as its easy to suddenly find yourself in a mass of cars and chaos.

FFS, go through long ashton, straight across the two roundabouts (R then L) and along the path (through the club car park). This will avoid all of that Dual Carriageway nastiness.
Or If you're coming the other way, turn left onto the cycle path BEFORE the dual carriageway begins and follow your nose out through Long Ashton.

Riding on that dual carriageway is just asking for trouble.

redvee

Was told about this by a friend and checked online with my phone and with some relief found the deceased didn't fit the profile of any I know from here that ride in the area but a sad day for the family of the deceased.

Rydal

I knew this guy, his name was Paul and he was a top bloke. He leaves a young family who will miss him tremendously particularly at this time of year.

gert_lush

sorry to hear that Rydal, my sympathies

Jerol

I too knew Paul & can confirm he was a very experienced cyclist & he cycled that route every day, and had been doing so for a few years in all weather on his daily commute to work.
As we all know, the route can be a bit "hairy" but the bottom line is that it is well lit and is a straight stretch of road .......
He had the usual kit (lights etc).
I think we need to be asking why a car did not see a cyclist in these circumstnaces?

God bless Paul

trevtherev

what a sad story...that A370 is one busy road...but then there are few roads that are not.I commute on the east side of Bristol and every evening I use the cycle track...it's always a relief to get on there having weaved around the traffic in the town centre..it's getting particularly busy around the Cabot Circus at the moment...as a cyclist not only do you need to be well lit etc but looking ahead all the time and anticipating what uncoming traffic is going to do. We have all had near misses bot to lose one of our fellow cyclists is deeply distressing.