Cyclist down in Clapham

DonDaddyD
DonDaddyD Posts: 12,689
edited May 2009 in Commuting chat
During this Morning's commute about 8.30 along Clapham Common, on the other side of the road heading towards Balham I saw a cyclist dressed in all black with a black rucksack layed faced down on the floor. They were being attended to by a police officer. School kids were standing around. Their bike was behind them and an empty bus with hazard lights on was stopped behind the bike.

I couldn't tell if they were male or female, they looked female from where I was. I don't know what actually happened but they looked injured and unconcious.

I hope they are alright.

My heart is with them!
Food Chain number = 4

A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game

Comments

  • bigmat
    bigmat Posts: 5,134
    That's where I came off (on the other side of the road) last week. I really hope the person is OK.
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/41991871@N ... otostream/
  • posterboyj
    posterboyj Posts: 17
    Hope the person is ok, I saw where the police and bus were......
  • Stuey01
    Stuey01 Posts: 1,273
    I come through there, what time was this?

    Thoughts are with them.
    Not climber, not sprinter, not rouleur
  • DonDaddyD
    DonDaddyD Posts: 12,689
    I hate that stretch of road, two lanes either side of the road yet cars still feel it necessary to zoom past, especially the bit approaching Clapham South where the lane merges into one. I think the trouble is that there is so much traffic (traffic lights) on Clapham High street and the other side by Clapham South, once out of those two bottle necks motorists simply gun it down the common with total disregard for cyclists.

    Stuey01, I passed the incident at 8.30-8.40am.
    Food Chain number = 4

    A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game
  • bigmat
    bigmat Posts: 5,134
    I know a good short cut for days when I can't be bothered cycling through the Balham / Clapham traffic - coming from Tooting, turn right onto Ritherdon road, left onto Bedford Hill, right onto Rossiter and then left onto Cavendish road, at the top of the hill right onto Abbeville road then at the top you turn right to a brief stretch of Clapham Park Road then left onto Bedford Road, comes out at Clapham North. Its 3 or 4 minutes slower but less chance of getting stuck in traffic / cut up at speed.
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/41991871@N ... otostream/
  • Stuey01
    Stuey01 Posts: 1,273
    I was early this morning so got through before it happened.

    It is nasty along there. I bear off at Clapham South onto nightingale lane, coming through the single lane section at the lights whilst indicating right to move over to the turn, I had my first near miss in months when some S.O.B decided that he absolutely must try to gun it through the tiny gap and join the queue of traffic seconds earlier. Cue locked brakes and screeching tyres as he realises he can't make it, shouting of obscenities in both directions and me giving him the finger as he speeds off to join his queue.

    Clapham High St in particular is appallingly bad for traffic. Silver lining I suppose is that it is all so snarled up it is at least moving very slowly.
    Not climber, not sprinter, not rouleur
  • artaxerxes
    artaxerxes Posts: 612
    Yeah that stretch of road on the south side of Clapham Common was like a drag race strip following the traffic jammed frustrations of Clapham High Street.

    Used to live on Cavendish Road opposite the Prince of Wales and round the corner from the Duke of Devonshire (a good pub before the aspirational refurb).
  • nitesight
    nitesight Posts: 119
    I used to live in Mitcham 10 years ago and would commute on my ol Raleigh mountain bike through there and the surrounding boroughs/areas. I'm now in Norfolk and go back from time to time but on four wheels. Driving through there is bad enough, so many people just don't look for or regard cyclists at all. I have to say I thought I was a ruffty tuffty commuter back in the day, took off the odd wing mirror in retribution as it was bad for us then....but now? It's just plain crazy.

    Hope she's up and about already telling her war stories like we are.

    Ride careful, ride wise and ride another day.
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    Used to commute that way to/from Tooting Broadway in 2002. Always thought it was a bit hairy. Hats off to you chaps who run the gauntlet on that route.

    Hope the cyclist is ok.
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • Bassjunkieuk
    Bassjunkieuk Posts: 4,232
    Just hope the guy is OK! I do use it occasionally if I'm heading towards a site that means crossing the river at Vauxhall Bridge and it's always a bit of "fun" negotiating it! Coming from where I am tho I have the choice between the A23 through Streatham/Brixton or the A24 through Balham/Clapham and I choose the later as the road is *slightly* better quality, so whilst I have the same class of drivers I get a smoother ride............my choice of route has nothing to do with the fact that more SCRer's use that road :wink:
    Who's the daddy?
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