Family plea over “point-scoring” on Olympic Park cyclist’s death

[lordloveaduck]

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/article3498156.ece

They have just lost there child yet the media and celebs are to busy rolling out there latest bandwagon.

From the moment the police knock on your door, to the moment you go to identify the body, your world does not stop imploding.

Everybody is somebody's child, regardless of age, i wish the media and celebs using this persons death for publicity could understand that.

 

[MrJamie]

It does seem a bit insensitive sometimes when we debate implied blame in these cyclist deaths too, perhaps forgetting that their loved ones may at some point read it via google search.

Is it hypocritical of The Times to then add a "should cyclists have to wear helmets poll" to that article?

 

[lordloveaduck]

Yes.

 

[Dragonwight]

It does seem a bit insensitive sometimes when we debate implied blame in these cyclist deaths too, perhaps forgetting that their loved ones may at some point read it via google search.

Is it hypocritical of The Times to then add a "should cyclists have to wear helmets poll" to that article?

I thought the exact same thing when I saw that helmets poll and that was before i read your comment.

 

[Manonabike]

I thought the exact same thing when I saw that helmets poll and that was before i read your comment.

But he was wearing a helmet so I don't understand your point. I never read threads about helmets so maybe there is something I'm not aware of.

My take on this particular thread is that I'm against in making it a law to wear a helmet, although I wear one 95% of the time, People should be informed about the benefits of wearing a helmet rather than forced.

As for the family being unhappy with the name of their son being used for scoring political points, that is fine by me, they are entitled to their wishes I guess. Having said that, if I go in a cycling accident then I wouldn't mind my name being used if that is going to help make cycling safer in any capacity.

Sometimes, a victim is the best way to make people think and take action.

I'm guessing that Daniel would be proud to have his name associated with a change in the law ( cyclist having to prove their innocence instead of vehicles having to do that as I believe is the norm in most of Europe)

 

[snorri]

Having said that, if I go in a cycling accident then I wouldn't mind my name being used if that is going to help make cycling safer in any capacity.

This incident was being discussed in the media by people who had no first hand knowledge of the incident and before the accident investigators had completed their job. To make matters worse, one high profile individual giving his opinions was drunk, and even admitted to being "tipsy".
Media and press handling of this tragedy has been offensive and thoroughly uncaring for the family of the deceased.

 

[mickle]

By the tone of their quoted statements the family are probably unaware of the ongoing helmet debate. We, the people discussing the issue, wouldn't have treated Daniel's death differently from any other cyclist's death if it wasn't for the fact that a pissed up Wiggo waded in and made one ir two ill informed remarks. Remarks which should not go unchallenged whatever Daniel's family think.

It's an important subject - the safety of vulnerable road users - and we must continue to debate it and push for change. That doesn't make us 'political lobbyists' or 'factions'.

It's awfully sad for them of course but the moment that man fell to his death he became not just someone's son and boyfriend but also, inevitably, a statistic. We can't leave Daniel out of this debate.

 

[Dragonwight]

But he was wearing a helmet so I don't understand your point. I never read threads about helmets so maybe there is something I'm not aware of.

My take on this particular thread is that I'm against in making it a law to wear a helmet, although I wear one 95% of the time, People should be informed about the benefits of wearing a helmet rather than forced.

As for the family being unhappy with the name of their son being used for scoring political points, that is fine by me, they are entitled to their wishes I guess. Having said that, if I go in a cycling accident then I wouldn't mind my name being used if that is going to help make cycling safer in any capacity.

Sometimes, a victim is the best way to make people think and take action.

I'm guessing that Daniel would be proud to have his name associated with a change in the law ( cyclist having to prove their innocence instead of vehicles having to do that as I believe is the norm in most of Europe)

It wasnt about helmets per se it was about point scoring the family are complaining that people are using the death of their son as some kind of political football and rightly so in my opinion, the times carried this story along side an advert asking you to vote on the helmet issue.

 

[Accy cyclist]

Why should non cyclists who read the Times and drive around in big cars(maybe) have a say in whether we wear helmets or not? The majority wouldn't have our interests at heart, they'd just see the compulsory wearing of helmets as a way of getting back at us. A bit like "Make 'em pay road tax and have insurance"! moan moan.

 

[albion]

"He was an experienced cyclist and we want it to be known that he was wearing a helmet."

It is quite sad that the debate is used to deflect from the unsafe design of our roads.

 

[Accy cyclist]

"A post-mortem examination gave the cause of Mr Harris’s death as multiple injuries. The bus driver, a 65-year-old man, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving, and has been questioned by police. He has been bailed to return to an east London police station late this month.
* A cyclist was killed yesterday on the coastbound carriageway of the A2 in Kent when he was hit by a car, police said. The 29-year-old man was in collision with a silver Vauxhall Meriva near Gate services, Boughton, at 7.40pm."

65 years old!! To old to be driving a PSV if you ask me. How alert are you at that age? Some bus drivers appreciate good cycling and good cyclists, but some are right swines who'd like to inflict harm on us!

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

[QUOTE 1968315, member: 9609"]I was initially under the impression that the lad killed by the Olympic bus was riding along with an ipod and not wearing a helmet; Wiggins and the press need their backsides well and truly kicked.[/quote]
We'll never know what Wiggins actually said in response to which question, but I am in no doubt that he now needs to provide a comprehensive account of his views on road and cyclists' safety. And without reference to Daniel's death, because linking the wider argument to one tragic death is bound to hurt Daniel's family and friends and conflate issues. I believe Wiggins is intelligent and articulate enough to realise the need to do this.

 

[Manonabike]

This incident was being discussed in the media by people who had no first hand knowledge of the incident and before the accident investigators had completed their job. To make matters worse, one high profile individual giving his opinions was drunk, and even admitted to being "tipsy".
Media and press handling of this tragedy has been offensive and thoroughly uncaring for the family of the deceased.

To be honest I haven't seen anything in the media that I'd consider offensive or uncaring for the family but I might be wrong..... perhaps you can point me in the right direction.

Isn't the case that most incidents that are news are discussed in the media by people who have no first hand knowledge? Nothing new there I think. We do the same on this forum sometimes.
I guess the high profile individual you are referring to is Bradley Wiggins..... but I get the feeling that if his comments had been along the lines "poor sod, the helmet he was wearing wasn't much help, was it?" your comment would not have started with the words "To make matters worse".

I know that there are a number of people here dead against wearing a helmet. Their choice and I don't have a problem with that at all. What does annoy me though is to have people taking every opportunity to rubbish anyone speaking in favour of helmets.

It wasnt about helmets per se it was about point scoring the family are complaining that people are using the death of their son as some kind of political football and rightly so in my opinion, the times carried this story along side an advert asking you to vote on the helmet issue.

I addressed my views on the point scoring issue in your quoted post already but just to clarify it. If the family objects then fine and the media should respect their wishes..... I don't think that would happen though. On the other hand, I know I would not mind my name being used for point scoring if something good for cyclist cames out of it, even if it is just raising awareness of cycling safety issues on the roads, further more, I'd like to think that Daniel would have preferred his accident not to go unnoticed and for people to react to the dangers on the road to cyclists,

 

[glasgowcyclist]

We'll never know what Wiggins actually said in response to which question,....

Go to BBC iplayer and on the Jeremy Vine Show from Thursday, about 9 minutes in, you'll hear the full comment from Wiggins.


GC

 

[Norm]

65 years old!! To old to be driving a PSV if you ask me. How alert are you at that age? Some bus drivers appreciate good cycling and good cyclists, but some are right swines who'd like to inflict harm on us!

Yup, I think that's just the sort of point scoring which they were complaining about.