Yet another elderly person killed by a cyclist

[Fastpedaller]

You completely misunderstood my point, which I started by saying "If a cyclist hits a pedestrian". In your friend's scenario he was struck by the pedestrian - that's the exact opposite of what we have been discussing in this thread - so no, I don't think he would have been guilty of anything except maybe being in the wrong place at the wrong time (that's my attempt at humour, BTW).

And with respect you have completely misunderstood my point .......... Without hard evidence, the courts look to witness testimony which may be from people who believe the cyclist is always at fault!

 

[mjr]

It made sense to me to stop, dismount and let the various hazards pass.

Can't you stop without dismounting and so take up less space?

 

[Alex321]

@ExBrit Back at you

The fact that he was found not guilty does not change my views on the case one iota. If a cyclist hits a pedestrian they are either a) riding too fast for the scenario in front of them, b) incredibly stupid or c) totally entitled. There can be no excuse for it.

Please try visiting planet earth one day.

 

[Time Waster]

Whilst he was not found guilty I believe that in some countries he could have had issues under presumed liability should someone go down the civil route.

There is no excuse for a pointless death no matter how it happened. Was there really no way this could have been prevented by the cyclist having a different set of decisions and actions? I have been on a bike on a towpath many times in not to different situatiions without a death resulting and I am nothing special in terms of cycling behaviour or handling. I really wonder if the cyclist has had any thought about whether he could and should have done something different, that might have prevented the accident made at least in part by him passing this pedestrian? I wonder if he has any realisation on this?

 

[Alex321]

Whilst he was not found guilty I believe that in some countries he could have had issues under presumed liability should someone go down the civil route.

There is no excuse for a pointless death no matter how it happened. Was there really no way this could have been prevented by the cyclist having a different set of decisions and actions? I have been on a bike on a towpath many times in not to different situatiions without a death resulting and I am nothing special in terms of cycling behaviour or handling. I really wonder if the cyclist has had any thought about whether he could and should have done something different, that might have prevented the accident made at least in part by him passing this pedestrian? I wonder if he has any realisation on this?

From the sound of things, this was one where 99.9% of the time, no death would have occurred.