TfL ask passengers to walk or cycle

I saw that on the news earlier - not good, not good at all

 

Only a matter of time before it was turned round on the bus operators - BBC link

This is what hacks me off with TfL - rather than take an objective look at a problem and then sort it, they simply point the finger elsewhere.

 

Sadly, there has been yet another tragedy last night, at the junction of Whitechapel Road and Commercial Road - Street View and BBC News article

Again, only those investigating the accident will be able to determine exactly what happened and determine who is at fault, and no doubt the CCTV from the bus will be crucial in that process; however, take a look at the road layout on the lead up to that junction - and in particular the width of that central refuge.

The pavement on the left is variable in width, but in places it is much wider than is needed which suggests to me that by narrowing it, moving street furniture such as light poles etc away from the pavement edge and then getting shot of the bulk of that central island would allow for more on street parking (helps local small businesses), and more carriageway space (easily two nice wide lanes in either direction) - and get rid of the bloody blue stripe! Again, there is that false sense of security given by paint, be that on behalf of the cyclist or the bus driver - people stop paying attention to their own and others safety if you tell them that they are in a safe environment.

I am really getting a bee in my bonnet about this now, as people are dying purely because of overly-designed infrastructure.

The other thing that needs to become mandatory - ALL cyclists, bar none, should wear helmets and high visibility clothing with reflective stripes at ALL TIMES! I have to wear a seatbelt by law when in my car no matter how short the journey, and rightly so.

The truth of the matter is, in the event of an accident my car will turn into a bouncy castle - there are airbags front, back and sides as well as anti-submarining seats and seatbelt pre-tensioners. Even at 60mph, I stand a pretty good chance in an accident. A cyclist has a layer of lycra - hardly protection.