Boxer Gary Mason dies in cycling collision

Dunkindiver

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-12135980

Pross

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=12750256

Very sad news. Maybe it will help raise awareness of what cyclists have to contend with on the roads though.

Tom Butcher

Sad indeed, what can you say that hasn't been said hundreds of times before, sympathy to his friends and family.

Le Commentateur

http://www.surreycomet.co.uk/news/sutto ... n/?ref=rss

Looks like slightly awkward staggered junction there.

paulbox

Very sad, he was a good guy.

northernneil

i just heard this on the radio, very bad news

Chip \'oyler

No doubt the driver will get a slap on the wrist :evil:

Stewie Griffin

Chip \'oyler wrote:

No doubt the driver will get a slap on the wrist :evil:

Or counselling to help him deal with the trauma.

shm_uk

Pross wrote:

Maybe it will help raise awareness of what cyclists have to contend with on the roads though.

Sadly, I don't think it will...

Karl2010

Not good. F**king arse hole sh1te drivers. F**king pi$$ me off!!

sonny73

Very sad news, RIP Gary Mason.

Pross

Karl2010 wrote:

Not good. F**king ars* hole sh1te drivers. F**king pi$$ me off!!

The driver has be charged on SUSPICION of causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving. None of us know the exact circumstances and should avoid comments like that until the facts are made known in court. The sentencing guidlines for this offence can be read in full detail here http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/s_to_u/sentencing_manual/causing_death_by_careless_or_inconsiderate_driving/

Certainly not condoning bad driving and my feeling is that the sentencing is too light but I really hope I never end up in court with some people here on the jury as people like to make a decision before knowing any facts!

StefanP

Not good at all. I know the area very well aswell...

my Condolences

OnlyMe

Google Street View shows a central lane narrower than vehicles !
http://tinyurl.com/3x37mtv

If coming south on Woodcote Road, the previous junction at a school has a central refuge and bulged kerbs both sides which squeeze traffic. There is also a bus lane end, encouraging cyclists to use the footpath across the green, rather than fight into a narrowed lane.
Rejoining the road gives low priority.
http://tinyurl.com/2utr92s

I'm not local, just thinking how it happens, and to avoid it ...

http://tinyurl.com/35f2gg6
odd comments ... cyclists and roads do not mix ...Cyclists have to be so careful

OnlyMe

Arrested is not the same as charged. Questioned and bailed until March.
https://www.askthe.police.uk/content/Q182.htm

Poor weather, darkness and lights, and poor vision may also be factors.

There is a 30 min 'twilight zone' around dawn and dusk when vision is impaired, but lights aren't bright enough - I tend to avoid cycling then.

Frank the tank

R.I.P. Gary Mason, always came over as a nice bloke, real shame.

WVM gains another victim. :evil:

cornerblock

Just heard the sad sad news, my deepest condolences to Gary's family. When any cyclist dies it makes us all feel how vulnerable we are. As has been said, we know nothing about the details of this tragedy, so people should hold up on the Judge & Jury rhetoric. Maybe the reason some of us are so quick to condemn is because we know that it could be us and our fear turns to anger straight away. All I know is, is that a man has been taken away from his family and all his loved ones too soon, and my heart goes out to them. RIP Gary Mason, you did South London and Jamaica proud.

giant_man

Pross wrote:

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=12750256

Very sad news. Maybe it will help raise awareness of what cyclists have to contend with on the roads though.

Why - because he was famous? So what about the 'normal' riders amongst us that get killed in multiple numbers on our ridiculous roads? Why would this be any different?

Gary Mason was a geniuinely nice guy and a great athlete - RIP Gary .....

stevewj

http://www.surreycomet.co.uk/news/sutto ... cle_crash/

7.11 am with no lights ????????????

AndyF16

giant mancp wrote:

Pross wrote:

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=12750256

Very sad news. Maybe it will help raise awareness of what cyclists have to contend with on the roads though.

Why - because he was famous? .....

Basically, yes! Whether you like it or not, his sad death will definitely raise awareness much more than the same fate befalling a Joe Nobody like me or you, God forbid. RIP

redvee

stevewj wrote:

7.11 am with no lights ????????????

I was thinking the same. I can't see no evidence of lights on the bike or on the road in the aftermath of this horrible accident.

Mettan

What a strange country we live in - the state sees cyclists as "vehicles" - I suppose pedestrains are "vehicles" too :?

Lucky Douglas

stevewj wrote:

http://www.surreycomet.co.uk/news/sutton/8777362.UPDATE__Former_boxing_champ_killed_in_cycle_crash/

7.11 am with no lights ????????????

Even earlier 6:15. Wonder if it's true.........

Fastlad

Sad news indeed. Apparently, onlookers reported as saying that Gary was wearing dark clothing and wasn't wearing a helmet. Compound that with the fact that Police report he had no lights, it lookis like it was an accident waiting to happen. I'm sick of seeing cyclist with dark clothes and poor/no lights. I've even put my passenger window down at traffic lights and let the cyclist know that he was difficult to see! :shock:

tebbit

One of the problems of driving a car is that people treat it is an extension of their home and consider themselves safe, with a reduced awareness of what is happening around them, couple this with increased safety in cars and the world suddenly becomes a much more dangerous place for the rest of us. After riding bikes and motorbikes for years I like to think I have a raised awareness of the issues, however when driving I also find myself sinking into the "safety zone" and it does shock me, without the experience of vulnerability I doubt if I would know how dangerous a car is to other road users.

RIP Gary Mason

snailracer

redvee wrote:

stevewj wrote:

7.11 am with no lights ????????????

I was thinking the same. I can't see no evidence of lights on the bike or on the road in the aftermath of this horrible accident.

If the photo is of the actual bike (ie not some generic press photo) then it does show flat pedals, which invariably have reflectors on them, which should be easily seen from the rear (assuming the motorist had his headlights on) but not from the front or side.

meanredspider

snailracer wrote:

show flat pedals, which invariably have reflectors on them

Neither set that I have (nor the ones fitted to my kids' BMXs) do, TBH. If you're relying on pedal refectors, you really are asking for trouble. Nothing makes me more angry about cyclists (or any other vehicle) than riding in the dark with no lights - just shows no consideration. I don't know the case here.

Very sad news.

snailracer

meanredspider wrote:

snailracer wrote:

show flat pedals, which invariably have reflectors on them

Neither set that I have (nor the ones fitted to my kids' BMXs) do, TBH. If you're relying on pedal refectors, you really are asking for trouble. Nothing makes me more angry about cyclists (or any other vehicle) than riding in the dark with no lights - just shows no consideration. I don't know the case here.

Very sad news.

I agree, lights are superior.
Reflectors still count, though, both on the road and if you go to court:
- Visible even if there is a question of your batteries being flat, or your light malfunctioning in the rain
- Motorists can't claim they thought you were a moped, which was why they rear-ended you at 30mph
- The absence of legally reflectors can be used the motorist's solicitor to show that you are not a law-abiding road user, a bad'un in other words.

Anonymous

I'm not going to pass judgement on who's fault it was. I, (as well of the rest of us) don't know the full facts.

But I do know that bit of road well. As both a cyclist and a motorist. It is a dodgy bit of road. It's a quite complex junction. There are a few manoeuvres where it's very hard to see other traffic coming at other directions.

It's also a 30mph limit, but quite a wide bit of road and after the frustrations of either coming through Wallington (bit of a bottle neck), or waiting at the frequent jams at the round-about in the opposite direction (another bottle neck), people tend to go much faster than they should down that part of road.

What ever the circumstances, it's very sad and hopefully it might draw attention to the fact that that bit of road needs to be redesigned.

Pross

giant mancp wrote:

Pross wrote:

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=12750256

Very sad news. Maybe it will help raise awareness of what cyclists have to contend with on the roads though.

Why - because he was famous? So what about the 'normal' riders amongst us that get killed in multiple numbers on our ridiculous roads? Why would this be any different?

Gary Mason was a geniuinely nice guy and a great athlete - RIP Gary .....

No, more because it has been high profile - cyclists getting killed on the road don't usually make national news stories (which unfortunately reflects the grim reality that it is too common to be news).

Unfortunately if the reports of the bike having no lights are true then it is likely that the publicity will instead lead to the "typical cyclist" type responses though.

It seems some people jumped to conclusions that the motorist was to blame for this accident with no evidence and it may be that this isn't the case.

antooony

RichardSwt wrote:

It's also a 30mph limit, but quite a wide bit of road and after the frustrations of either coming through Wallington (bit of a bottle neck), or waiting at the frequent jams at the round-about in the opposite direction (another bottle neck), people tend to go much faster than they should down that part of road.

The whole stretch of that road is awful, the 2 junctions there are dangerous and as you head towards the mini round-about its a very narrow road and littered with pot holes. I use this route quite often and dread it. The council would be better off putting 2 large roundabouts in place of the junctions, would not only slow down the speeding traffic but also make it a safer place to cycle and drive.

A sad loss to the community.