Better design of HGVs is key to improving safety for cyclists

[Slick]

I've been a HGV class 1 driver for most of my working life..... cyclists consistently rode on the inside of my trailer when i'm stationary at traffic lights or anywhere where i have to stop in traffic. They've even rode along my nearside when i'm indicating left.
I've had them riding up my inside where there is so little room between my truck and the curb, these cyclists have one foot on the curb to get by.
The problem with a lot of cyclists, is that they have this absolute aversion to having to stop, they want to keep moving at all costs. These costs are often their life.

This was a number of years ago and would probably result in an instant fail now but I always remember getting a minor when sitting my Hgv test because a cyclist came up my inside and despite me seeing him, I pulled away anyway but did keep him in my mirror. An Hgv driver should never pull away until the cyclists are clear.

When i'm out cycling, i have far more issues with car drivers than i do trucks.... In fact i cant even remember ever having a close one with a truck. With cars, its almost a daily occurance.
So i dont have a problem with trucks when cycling at all..... But i understand them and how they are driven.

I wish I had your experience. It might be rare but I have had to send a film clip to one local operator who's drivers were obviously more intent of keeping the convoy going in close formation than mine or anyone else's safety.

 

[Smudge]

I wish I had your experience. It might be rare but I have had to send a film clip to one local operator who's drivers were obviously more intent of keeping the convoy going in close formation than mine or anyone else's safety.

Obviously you get some bad truck drivers, no sector of drivers & riders are all perfect. But i can only speak as i find, most of the conflict i have with other motorists when riding my bike is them overtaking me. Trucks have always given me a wide berth, whereas cars often drive too close or cut me up when the road narrows or when they come to an obstruction or want to change lane. IME truckers seem to be more aware of the vulnerability of cyclists than car drivers do. They are also more than aware of the huge implications to them if they seriously injure or kill a cyclist and they're found at fault.

 

[classic33]

[QUOTE 5450584, member: 9609"]it is a question of scale, I reckon in that box you could get quarter of a pallet of bog rolls 500 rolls. (70kg)

apparently average person uses a roll every 4.5 days
therefor London needs 1.8 million rolls per day
therefor just to keep the capital going in bog rolls there would need to be about 3,600 of these cycling trucks on London's roads.[/QUOTE]
You'd not do it then.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

[QUOTE 5450584, member: 9609"]it is a question of scale, I reckon in that box you could get quarter of a pallet of bog rolls 500 rolls. (70kg)

apparently average person uses a roll every 4.5 days
therefor London needs 1.8 million rolls per day
therefor just to keep the capital going in bog rolls there would need to be about 3,600 of these cycling trucks on London's roads.[/QUOTE]

That assumes one delivery per day. If the bikes make 12 deliveries per day it is only 300 bikes. Nothing in the scheme of things.

 

[classic33]

Taken 300kg on an unassisted. Weight shouldn't be as big an issue with e-assist.

 

[Deleted member 26715]

I think I may be having the same cultural difference here too, so before I specifically answer that, why do you think people with disabilities are putting themselves, and potentially others in danger by riding a bicycle?

That is done to what disability they have, there are some on here who don't believe I should ride a bike as I have no hearing in one ear.

 

[classic33]

That is done to what disability they have, there are some on here who don't believe I should ride a bike as I have no hearing in one ear.

Why should that stop you?

 

[classic33]

[QUOTE 5450755, member: 9609"]M25 into central london - I will let you have 4 deliveries tops, so 900 bikes, and remember this is just to get the capitals bog rolls in. For everything you would need 4.1 million of the things - they will soon be causing more chaos then the trucks ever did.[/QUOTE]
How many vans & lorries every day?

 

[Salty seadog]

The only areas a truck driver cannot see is directly behind the rear of the truck for a few feet and at the front within a couple of feet of the front grill.

You see a lot of trucks with a mirror outside above the windscreen facing down so that blind spot in front can now be seen.

 

[Slick]

You see a lot of trucks with a mirror outside above the windscreen facing down so that blind spot in front can now be seen.

It's been that way for a number of years now.

 

[Slick]

Obviously you get some bad truck drivers, no sector of drivers & riders are all perfect. But i can only speak as i find, most of the conflict i have with other motorists when riding my bike is them overtaking me. Trucks have always given me a wide berth, whereas cars often drive too close or cut me up when the road narrows or when they come to an obstruction or want to change lane. IME truckers seem to be more aware of the vulnerability of cyclists than car drivers do. They are also more than aware of the huge implications to them if they seriously injure or kill a cyclist and they're found at fault.

Yeah, I think that is mostly true for me too but as you have already noted there are exceptions to every rule and when you do come across these drivers, the possible consequences are huge.

 

[Smudge]

You see a lot of trucks with a mirror outside above the windscreen facing down so that blind spot in front can now be seen.

Some trucks have them, but they are few & far between on trucks..... They are far more common on coaches.
Of the multitude of trucks i've driven, none of them have had these mirrors. Plus its easy to see those few feet in front of the truck grill just by leaning forward to the screen or raising yourself up.

 

[Brandane]

Some trucks have them, but they are few & far between on trucks..... They are far more common on coaches.
Of the multitude of trucks i've driven, none of them have had these mirrors. Plus its easy to see those few feet in front of the truck grill just by leaning forward to the screen or raising yourself up.

I thought they were a legal requirement, and had been since about 2009? Class 6 mirrors I think they are called. Thanks to where they are fitted, they get ripped off every time a lorry goes through a truck wash. Secondly, if you're driving into the sun and have the sun blind lowered even a touch, they cover the mirror! Thirdly, again thanks to where they are, a few miles on gritted salted roads as we have at this time of year, and they are covered in road muck sprayed off the front nearside wheel. Yet another wonderful idea on paper which doesn't work in the real world.

 

[Smudge]

I thought they were a legal requirement, and had been since about 2009? Class 6 mirrors I think they are called. Thanks to where they are fitted, they get ripped off every time a lorry goes through a truck wash. Secondly, if you're driving into the sun and have the sun blind lowered even a touch, they cover the mirror! Thirdly, again thanks to where they are, a few miles on gritted salted roads as we have at this time of year, and they are covered in road muck sprayed off the front nearside wheel. Yet another wonderful idea on paper which doesn't work in the real world.

If they are a legal requirement now, then its a new one on me. Although, i've been retired a few years now.
I mainly did supermarket deliveries and due to the tight spaces to manoeuvre in these loading bays, these mirrors would have been a real hinderance. Certainly none of the fleet of our trucks had them. Never had them on any truck i've drove with any company.
But things change all the time, especially in haulage legislation.

 

[Deleted member 26715]

If they are a legal requirement now, then its a new one on me.

TBH I thought they were a legal requirement, but it's 10 years since I drove, time makes the memory hazy but I'm sure I drove quite a few with them fitted, I remember them on Stobart, Next & DHL or maybe I'm just dreaming them.