Evenepoel Crash

[mjr]

AFP report in French, adds little except Bpost apologised and said they'll cooperate with the police:
Cyclisme : multiples fractures pour le Belge Remco Evenepoel après une collision durant l’entraînement – https://www.lemonde.fr/sport/articl...-collision-a-l-entrainement_6427634_3242.html

 

[rich p]

Aren't they supposed to use the Dutch reach or is that only law in Dutchland?

 

[matticus]

Aren't they supposed to use the Dutch reach or is that only law in Dutchland?

Is it LAW anywhere??

 

[mjr]

Aren't they supposed to use the Dutch reach or is that only law in Dutchland?

Supposed, but not explicitly law in chaotic Belgium. Here's the likely Belgian road law article infringed:
"Article 28. Ouverture des portières
Il est interdit d'ouvrir la portière d'un véhicule, de la laisser ouverte, de descendre d'un véhicule ou d'y monter, sans s'être assuré qu'il ne peut en résulter ni danger ni gêne pour d'autres usagers de la route en particulier les piétons et les conducteurs de véhicules à deux roues."

Article 28. Opening of doors.
It is forbidden to open the door of a vehicle, or to let it open, to alight from a vehicle or to embark in one, without being certain that it cannot result in danger or threat to other road users in particular walkers and riders of two-wheeled vehicles.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Somewhat OT but in the early 80s when I was a student I was riding up through Camberwell when I saw someone get doored by a van on the other side of the road. I turned around to go back to see if he was OK but when I got there the cyclist had the van driver by the lapels (or similar bit of clothing) and was banging him repeatedly against the side of the van. I decided this wasn't something I wanted to get involved in and carried on my merry way.

 

[Paulus]

BBC News - 'A long journey' - Evenepoel has surgery after crash
https://www.bbc.com/sport/cycling/articles/cgj640p986zo

 

[mjr]

View attachment 754546

That looks like the northern exit of the Kerkplein car park. 20mph zone, no cycle lanes, ordinary through streets, school zone, zebras nearby and one side of the plein is a fietsstraat. I wonder where the post van was stopped because there's no obvious safe stopping place nearby except the car park.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Remco speaks. Here's the text in case the Instagram link doesn't work:

After a scary accident on training yesterday, I underwent surgery last night and everything went well.​

​

With a fracture to my rib, shoulder blade, hand, contusions to my lungs and a dislocation of my right clavicle which has caused all surrounding ligaments to be torn, it’s going to be a long journey but I’m fully focused on my recovery and I’m determined to come back stronger, step by step.​

​

I’m very grateful for all the help and support I received the last 24 hours. From the emergency services, the neighbours that helped me in the first moment, the medical teams in Anderlecht and Herentals and our team doctor Phil.​

​

Also a special mention for my wife, my family for standing by me in these difficult moments and to everyone for their supportive messages.​

​

I also want to express my support to the woman who was involved in the accident.​

​

​

View: https://www.instagram.com/p/DDJpAsANeA6/

 

[Gwylan]

That looks like the northern exit of the Kerkplein car park. 20mph zone, no cycle lanes, ordinary through streets, school zone, zebras nearby and one side of the plein is a fietsstraat. I wonder where the post van was stopped because there's no obvious safe stopping place nearby except the car park.

It's a postie, they have special dispensation.
Experience taught that you kept them on you'd side.

 

[mjr]

It's a postie, they have special dispensation.
Experience taught that you kept them on you'd side.

If it's anything like England, posties will be excepted from most parking restrictions and various other things, but still not allowed to park in dangerous positions or open the door in the path of another road user.

Yes, it's good to keep them on side. I cut them much slack and only remember reporting one since I got a camera almost 15 years ago, for driving up a cycleway over a narrow blind brow fast, with no hope of stopping if anyone had been walking or cycling there.

 

[Paulus]

Look who ended up in the same hospital as Remco.

BBC News - Legend Merckx, 79, breaks hip in bike accident
https://www.bbc.com/sport/cycling/articles/cj901dkl2e4o

 

[Dogtrousers]

Best wishes to the greatest. At 79 a broken hip can be quite a challenge.

 

[mjr]

In an attempt to disprove the rule that "when in hole, best stop digging", Bpost have announced a range of Remco branded wing mirror stickers. See https://inrng.com/2024/12/tuesday-shorts-19/

 

[Jameshow]

Poor guy, I really don’t know how these riders get back and do it again. It must start to take an edge off performances.

In an attempt to disprove the rule that "when in hole, best stop digging", Bpost have announced a range of Remco branded wing mirror stickers. See https://inrng.com/2024/12/tuesday-shorts-19/

Not at all trying to raise awareness as to preventing another accident by offering advice to drivers. Pity remco and the drivers job...

 

[mjr]

Not at all trying to raise awareness as to preventing another accident by offering advice to drivers. Pity remco and the drivers job...

It's already headline news there and those stickers won't last longer than the headlines. They'll be scraped off by weather, condensation and opening windows quite quickly. Giving all postal drivers a quick theory retest would do far more to help prevent future incidents than a branded sticker giveaway. This is probably more to do with reminding people about Bpost in the run up to christmas parcel sending, in the face of competition from other shippers. No such thing as bad publicity, right?