Ealing Cycling Campaign
Newsletter February 2006
It's very sad to report that a cyclist was killed in a collision with a lorry at the junction of Uxbridge Road and Steyne Road in Acton, on Thursday 2nd February. According to the Ealing Gazette, 32-year-old Patricia Dawn McMillan, an Australian law student, was hit by a B&Q lorry outside Acton Police station at 10.30 am. The tragedy has prompted local residents to raise concerns about the safety of the junction, which had recently been rebuilt. National media coverage focused on the dangers of listening to music while cycling. Channel 4 News and The Independent reported that Ms McMillan may have been listening to an iPod at the time of her death.
This
month's issue of London Cyclist highlighted the dangers of heavy goods
vehicles. Charlie Lloyd of the London Cycling Campaign's HGV working group
says that roughly half the cyclists killed in London each year are killed
by HGV's despite the fact that trucks make up only around 5% of traffic
in the capital. Cyclists are advised not to ride up the inside of moving
vehicles, and to take special care of lorries near junctions. Long vehicles
turning left often pull out to the right first to make room for the left
turn. Don't be fooled into cycling into the gap.
.
Police
are appealing for more information about the incident. Any witnesses are
asked to contact Sgt Harry Wilkinson from the North West London Collision
Investigation Unit on 020-8998 5319.
Ever thought about being a first aid cyclist? John Newman, National Development Projects Manager of the St. John Ambulance, revealed what it takes at our February meeting. St. John Ambulance started using cyclists six years ago although, as the first photo shows, the idea is not new.
.
Cyclists can often
travel faster through busy traffic than an ambulance, and have proved
their worth at big events where they can get through crowds more easily.
The bikes are custom made in North London, and are built to carry a hefty
load, including a defibrillator, and an oxygen cylinder. All volunteer
cyclists must meet National
Standard Level 3 (the highest level) of competence. But most of the
London riders have gone on to qualify as International Police Mountain
Bike Association Emergency Medical Service riders on a special training
course. John Newman explained that: "Although the Courses are very
professionally run, they are great fun as well. SJ A organises and pays
for its volunteers to train to meet these
competences so it gives them back something in recognition of their volunteering
service".
All St. John
Ambulance staff are volunteers. There are two types of cycle medics: the
Cycle First Aider - qualified in essential care skills; and the Cycle
Responder who has extra qualifications in using the defibrillator and
medical gases. If you don't wish to be a direct First Aider, St. John
Ambulance also offer opportunities for volunteer cycle maintenance technicians,
cycle trainers & training organisers, and administrators. For more
info contact: http://www.sja.org.uk/
Peter Mynors reports:
LCN+ 100 (South Ealing
to Isleworth). There is a strong majority of opinion from cyclists who
have been consulted, in favour of the route through Syon Park, in preference
to the route via Twickenham Road. However the deciding factor has been
that Syon Park who own the route are not keen to see the route through
the park upgraded to LCN+ status. The probable outcome will be that the
route through the park can be improved as a "spur" route using
LCN+ funding. The CRISP report still needs significant amendment to reflect
matters agreed at the review meeting, including the adoption of Windmill
Road as the crossing point over the A4
LCN+ 101 (Great West Road). I attended the site meeting and commented
on the draft CRISP report. The minutes of the site meeting (by Colin Buchanan
& Partners) were more comprehensive than similar minutes I have seen
for other site meetings. This is never going to be a particularly attractive
cycle route as it runs beneath the M4, but what they are proposing seems
reasonable.
LCN+ 48 (Sudbury Hill to South Ealing). I have commented on the draft CRISP report and attended the review meeing. The report needs updating to reflect what was agreed, but I have not yet seen the revised version. The main unfinished business is to determine the south end of the route, for which the consultants still seem to favour South Ealing Road over Junction Road. However no satisfactory layout has yet been produced by the consultants for the northbound cycle approach to the Popes Lane/South Ealing Road junction. We need to continue to press for a sensible solution here.
All
members are welcome at our meetings. We usually get together on the first
Wednesday of the month. Our
venue is downstairs at "Cafe Grove" on The Grove, W5.
If
you haven't been before you are very welcome.
P.S. The cafe does very good cheesecake and Polish beer.
