Charlie Alliston case - fixie rider accused of causing pedestrian death

Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.

iwantanewbike

Über Member
Would you drive a car with no brakes other than using the gears and engine? That would be a closer approximation.

What about Dutch hire bikes with rear drum brakes only that are actuated when you force the cranks backwards? How do they compare?
 

KneesUp

Guru
What about Dutch hire bikes with rear drum brakes only that are actuated when you force the cranks backwards? How do they compare?
Do many people ride Dutch hire bikes in the UK do you think?
 

PK99

Legendary Member
Location
SW19
What about Dutch hire bikes with rear drum brakes only that are actuated when you force the cranks backwards? How do they compare?

Sheldon Brown on Coaster brakes (his emphasis at the end)

Pro:
Coaster brakes work just as well in the rain as they do in dry conditions
Coaster brakes generally require less maintenance than any other type of brake.

There are no cables running from the handlebars, giving a tidy and simple appearance.

The lack of cables with a single-speed or kickback two-speed coaster brake is particularly advantageous for folding or take-apart bikes.

Coaster brakes can be a good choice for handicapped riders who lack sufficient hand strength, or for arm amputees.

Coaster brakes are usually quite narrow, fit in 110-114 mm spacing, though they can be fitted to frames with wider spacing by adding washers along the axle.

An internal-gear hub can include a coaster brake, providing both gearing and rear-wheel braking.

A bicycle with a coaster brake can coast backward with stationary cranks (useful in acrobatic cycling).

Con:

Coaster brakes make it awkward to get started, and prevent the use of clip-in pedals or toe clips and straps, since there's no easy way to rotate the pedals to starting position.

Coaster brakes often cause skidding, resulting in excessive tire wear.

When coaster brakes fail (usually the result of chain breakage or derailment) they fail suddenly and completely.

Coaster brakes are prone to overheating and fading when used in mountainous areas.

A coaster brake inside an internal-gear hub complicates the mechanism and reduces the options for lubrication.

A coaster brake is not compatible with derailer gearing or a chain tensioner.

Too many bikes are equipped with only a coaster brake, so there's no back-up system in the event of brake failure.

To be safe, any bicycle needs a front handbrake and some sort of rear-wheel braking system. This could be a handbrake, coaster brake or fixed gear.
 

fossyant

Ride It Like You Stole It!
Location
South Manchester
As someone who owns both fixed wheel bikes, and a bike with a coaster brake, I can say with some experience that a coaster brake is way more effective than slowing a fixed wheel bike by leg braking. Some people are way better at leg braking than I am though.

Leg braking isn't easy and not good for your knees. Hence 2 calliper brakes on mine.
 

Buddfox

Veteran
Location
London
...and it's headline breaking news on the main news websites. Seriously, how many other court cases involving death from road users get this sort of coverage?

Because pedestrians killed by cyclists is relatively rare?
 

glasgowcyclist

Charming but somewhat feckless
Location
Scotland
Seriously, how many other court cases involving death from road users get this sort of coverage?

There was barely a peep about this guy who killed a 4yr old girl on the pavement by running over her with his tipper van as she rode along on her scooter:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-39356514

He said he "slowed to a stop, indicated and checked my mirrors and drove on to the pavement. I heard a lady screaming and I got out the van to see what had happened and there was a little girl on the floor.

It's just everyday motorised road violence that's become normalised. But you take an exceptional outcome where a cyclist is accused...
 

Buddfox

Veteran
Location
London
I'm guessing it'll be near the top end.

Remember the case of Philip Benwell who injured a young girl on a pedestrian crossing and fled? He pled guilty to GBH and got a year, Alliston's victim died.

From the Guardian coverage:

"Alliston was released on bail. He will be sentenced on September 18th. Judge Wendy Thomas warned that he faced a custodial sentence but added that it was not a certainty until she had heard mitigation at the sentencing hearing. She added: 'I have not seen one iota of remorse from Mr Alliston at all at any stage.'"
 
Top Bottom