Accident Balham near Tooting Bec station

DonDaddyD

Passed it between 6.30 - 7.00pm yesterday night.

Cyclist red jersey being attended to by an ambluance team. Looked pretty bad to be honest.

Hope he was alright, hope it was no one here.

rjsterry

Didn't spot anything when I went through half an hour later.

gaz545

I went past at about 6.20pm. No ambulance but lots of people in the road letting cyclists/taxis/buses in the bus lane know that they had to move. As the cyclist was half lying in the bus lane and half in the side road (totterdown street i think).
Cyclist wasn't moving, looked concious and had a bag under their head for support.
Looking at the position of him i suspect that a car turned across his path through traffic.

Flyingbogey

I went through there at about 20 past 7, no sign of any accident. Hope thats because it wasn't that serious, they tend to spend longer at the roadside when its a bad one.

L80PJE

Hi,

I was the cyclist.

I just searched google to see if the incident was reported and found this forum so thought I should reply.

Yes, the lady driver just turned in front of my path. I tried to go round her but I couldnt avoid her. I think I hit her head on towards her rear, i was doing around 18-20mph.

I tried to get up but people told me not to move. A GP was close by and once i said my neck hurt, he very very kindly kept the weight off my neck for the 35mins it took for the ambulance to show. After quite a few x-rays there was no sign of injury to my neck and back but I have a broken hand.

It would have been a very different story had I of not been wearing my helmet. Its cracked in about 4 places, has some shattering in one spot and grazed on the top if it. Its one of the top met helmets - atmos / ionis i think.

The MET police are struggling to find any details of the accident (frustrating) and I do not have any details. They believe the driver was arrested though. When I was lying on the floor I heard someone say "i cannot believe you were not going to stop".

I do a lot of weekend cycling and commuting (2 to 4 times a week from dorking to central london) and know what dangers to look out for and how to avoid them. This was the first time that I litererally could not have avoided the accident unless I was not on the road at all.

Origamist

@L80PJE - glad to hear that you're relatively OK.

There are cameras near Tooting Bec station so it might be worth checking with TFL.

There are some busy side roads at the bottom of Balham High Road that are used to cut the corner/lights at Tooting Bec tube (Streathbourne, Drakefield, Louisville etc) is this where you got hit?

Hope you heal up well and the Met get their act in order. I'd take legal advice too.

With a bit of luck, a witness might spot this thread...

DonDaddyD

L80PJE wrote:

Hi,

I was the cyclist.

I just searched google to see if the incident was reported and found this forum so thought I should reply.

Yes, the lady driver just turned in front of my path. I tried to go round her but I couldnt avoid her. I think I hit her head on towards her rear, i was doing around 18-20mph.

I tried to get up but people told me not to move. A GP was close by and once i said my neck hurt, he very very kindly kept the weight off my neck for the 35mins it took for the ambulance to show. After quite a few x-rays there was no sign of injury to my neck and back but I have a broken hand.

It would have been a very different story had I of not been wearing my helmet. Its cracked in about 4 places, has some shattering in one spot and grazed on the top if it. Its one of the top met helmets - atmos / ionis i think.

The MET police are struggling to find any details of the accident (frustrating) and I do not have any details. They believe the driver was arrested though. When I was lying on the floor I heard someone say "i cannot believe you were not going to stop".

I do a lot of weekend cycling and commuting (2 to 4 times a week from dorking to central london) and know what dangers to look out for and how to avoid them. This was the first time that I litererally could not have avoided the accident unless I was not on the road at all.

Glad to hear you're OK.

I +1 everything Origamist has said.

CyclingBantam

Hope you recover quickly.

It would be great if you could let us know what happens in future via this thread.

Ben

notsoblue

Speedy recovery mate, its awful to hear about events like these because they could happen to any of us really.

Did the driver not stop?

Wrath Rob

+1 for the quick recovery.

On the plus side, you've now found this forum and the home of SCR

rjsterry

Origamist wrote:

@L80PJE - glad to hear that you're relatively OK.

There are cameras near Tooting Bec station so it might be worth checking with TFL.

There are some busy side roads at the bottom of Balham High Road that are used to cut the corner/lights at Tooting Bec tube (Streathbourne, Drakefield, Louisville etc) is this where you got hit?

Hope you heal up well and the Met get their act in order. I'd take legal advice too.

With a bit of luck, a witness might spot this thread...

And another +1. Good to hear you're not too badly bashed up and hope you/the Met have some success in sorting it out with the driver.

Chapeau on the commute as well - Dorking to central London is a fair distance to be doing twice a day on top of work.

L80PJE

Thanks for all the support.

she wasnt going to stop but i think a witness made her. she then wanted to leave before the police got there.

the criminal justice tranport are dealing with it. apparently they have located the officer who dealt with it. I also have one witnesses details. he was cycling behind me and very kindly hung around. He got my number and text that evening,

I have already started the legal advice route!

dorking 2 picadilly is a fair trek but i was meant to be doing the etap - can't see that happening now.

I think the moral of the story is to wear a helmet!

rjsterry

L80PJE wrote:

Thanks for all the support.

she wasnt going to stop but i think a witness made her. she then wanted to leave before the police got there.

the criminal justice tranport are dealing with it. apparently they have located the officer who dealt with it. I also have one witnesses details. he was cycling behind me and very kindly hung around. He got my number and text that evening,

I have already started the legal advice route!

dorking 2 picadilly is a fair trek but i was meant to be doing the etap - can't see that happening now.

I think the moral of the story is to wear a helmet!

Shhhhhh, you'll set Buns (aka WGWarburton) off again. Have a quick search for Helmet threads on here and you'll see what I mean.

Kieran_Burns

L80PJE wrote:

Thanks for all the support.

she wasnt going to stop but i think a witness made her. she then wanted to leave before the police got there.

the criminal justice tranport are dealing with it. apparently they have located the officer who dealt with it. I also have one witnesses details. he was cycling behind me and very kindly hung around. He got my number and text that evening,

I have already started the legal advice route!

dorking 2 picadilly is a fair trek but i was meant to be doing the etap - can't see that happening now.

I think the moral of the story is to wear a helmet!

What a delightful person :?

EKE_38BPM

+1 for a speedy recovery.

I was left hooked and I think the driver would have tried to drive away if it wasn't for the fact that I was lying in the road in front of her car.
Hit and run drivers are scum.

When I was a kid I was in the car with my dad and saw a woman hit an elderly man and drive off. I've never seen my old man drive so fast as he gave chase and forced her to return to the scene of the collision.
Elderly ped had a broken hip but I can't remember the outcome for the driver.

bdave262000

Glad to hear your up on your feet fella, hope your back in the saddle soon.

The Rookie

GWS....

As for the driver - unforgiveable, and thank the lord for the Helmet!

Simon

EKE_38BPM

The Beginner wrote:

GWS....

As for the driver - unforgiveable, and thank the lord for the Helmet!

Simon

No, thank the OP's decision to wear one. The Lord does the big things like tsunamis and earthquakes.

Clare_M

Glad you are OK, sounds like it could have been worse. Yes, helmets are essential

I almost got taken out going straight across at a roundabout today by someone wanting to turn left on it. Held my lane, but she still decided to come across the front of me.

jzed

L80PJE wrote:

but i was meant to be doing the etap - can't see that happening now.

Glad you're sort of ok - don't give up on the etape its about 10 weeks away isn't it - turbo sessions to keep up fitness?

I've seen a chap cycling round Richmond Park one handed - think CJCP said the chap looked like he had a broken collar bone. Me I'd stick to the turbo.

kelsen

I saw a one-legged roadie along London Bridge, so MTFU!

(GWS)

sketchley

EKE_38BPM wrote:

The Beginner wrote:

GWS....

As for the driver - unforgiveable, and thank the lord for the Helmet!

Simon

No, thank the OP's decision to wear one. The Lord does the big things like tsunamis and earthquakes.

No that's tectonic plate movement.

kelsen

Sketchley wrote:

EKE_38BPM wrote:

The Beginner wrote:

GWS....

As for the driver - unforgiveable, and thank the lord for the Helmet!

Simon

No, thank the OP's decision to wear one. The Lord does the big things like tsunamis and earthquakes.

No that's tectonic plate movement.

Yeah, but who nudged the plate...

L80PJE

Good point about turbo training but I do hate them. I'm seeing a private consultant tomorrow so will see what's going to happen to the hand.

Etap is on 9 July - a lot of turboing to compare to the 200+ miles I would have been doing on the road.

jonginge

L80PJE wrote:

Good point about turbo training but I do hate them. I'm seeing a private consultant tomorrow so will see what's going to happen to the hand.

Etap is on 9 July - a lot of turboing to compare to the 200+ miles I would have been doing on the road.

Quality vs quantity.

The alpine Etape? You need to be able to climb for 90 mins then descend to the foot of the next mountain and repeat. Turbo sessions will do you quite well. (The course is similar to the marmotte but without the first mountain)

saladdays

Firstly, get well soon.

Secondly, some drivers are scum.

Thirdly, where did the accident happen? Directon of travel of you and the car? The reason is that I commute in London and used to live in Balham.

frankieh

Not actually sure how or even if it works but this place is supposed to be good.
http://www.physioclinic.net/index.html

Hope you get better and do the Etape!

Bassjunkieuk

Glad your relatively OK and wish you a speedy recovery, as another rider who uses CS7 I'm all too aware of the dangers along there and have VERY nearly been taken out a few times myself!!

JonGinge wrote:

L80PJE wrote:

Good point about turbo training but I do hate them. I'm seeing a private consultant tomorrow so will see what's going to happen to the hand.

Etap is on 9 July - a lot of turboing to compare to the 200+ miles I would have been doing on the road.

Quality vs quantity.

The alpine Etape? You need to be able to climb for 90 mins then descend to the foot of the next mountain and repeat. Turbo sessions will do you quite well. (The course is similar to the marmotte but without the first mountain)

As for this advice I'd take it as gospel, this man can climb so if he says it works IT WILL :-)

mtb-idle

+1 also glad to hear you are okay.

I too passed shortly after it must have happened. a nice gent was in the road directing traffic around the scene including the bus I was behind.

I couldnt see until i had passed but I saw you lying there in your red top and gave a silent prayer.

I didn't stop as there were 5 or 6 pedestrians already assisting you including the doc supporting your neck. I didn't think that one more person hanging around would be any help especially as i hadn't witnessed the incident.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

cyclingpast

Glad to hear you're ok, I had a bad one in November which put me in intensive care; my advice is to get back on the bike as soon as you can, a colleague of mine went over her handlebars a couple of years ago and hasn't been back on since, she says she probably never will now. If you're not up to going back on the road too soon, get on a turbo or, as I did, on a track!

Good luck with the recovery

SC

SmellTheGlove

Speedy recovery L80, hope justice is finally done.