Jersey coroner says foot stuck in clipless pedal led to cyclist's death

Just had another thought on this. The guy was obvioulsy, rightly or wrongly, on the pavement. This is a really key piece of information as it resulted in him hitting a lampost, setting off a tradgic chain of events.

I see LOADS of 'shared use' paths and pavements that have obstacles such as lamposts and road signs on them and have always thought it qustionable that such obstructions should exist. This case provides clear evidence that siting such things on cycle routes is dangerous and if there is one lesson to be learned it is that cycle routes must be kept free of such obstructions.

What exactly does the coroner think Shimano will do with this new information?

Does anyone else remember the leaflet that comes with shimano SPD pedals? The one with all the dire warnings about death and serious injury, if you don't know what you're doing with them? What more can they do?

What exactly does the coroner think Shimano will do with this new information?

Does anyone else remember the leaflet that comes with shimano SPD pedals? The one with all the dire warnings about death and serious injury, if you don't know what you're doing with them? What more can they do?

I hate to say it but I suspect that the coroner has never used clipless pedals.

If you approach the subject from a position of ignorance its probably quite difficult to understand why you would want to be 'attached' to your pedals - its easy to draw the conclusion that its dangerous.

Anyone who rides fixed gear will know what I mean. Try explaining to someone why you prefer not to be able to freewheel or change gear; it doesn't make sense until you experience it.

I think the coroner is in for a surprise from Shimano when they write back to tell them how many they sell and precisely how many of them have led to fatalities.

Without downplaying what is a terrible tragedy this is a warning to people to not ride on the road with equipment they can't control. I would reckon (although I have no evidence) that tri-bars have been involved in many more accidents and despite having used them in the past I would have to say they should not be allowed on public roads.

(Ducks to avoid incoming...)

Here's the link to the warning instructions - http://techdocs.shimano.com/media/techdocs/content/cycle/SI/Pedals/PDM50...

I might even email them to the Jersey Coroner myself.

Actually I prefer SPD - especially in a shoe that has a recess - have fallen down stairs so many times with other cleats that I've lost count - fortunately though my skins have retained the scar tissue for me as a reminder.

I do find it a bit awkward that the discussion is occurring in the context of a case where so many of the specifics seem to be unknown, and where someone tragically died.

The trouble is though, that I don't know that the coroner's speculation about the pedals is any more strongly grounded than what's been discussed here. He might have more information than we do, but he doesn't seem to have said what it is. So its hard not to continue the discussion that he's already started.

It really doesn't sound to me like the driver was at fault, but it does sound like something that could have been avoided if there had been better infrastructure in place, i.e. something that wouldn't require cycling on a path with obstructions in it right next to fast moving traffic. Is there anything about the facts of the case that contradicts that?

I don't, as its described, see why the coroner focuses on the pedals while ignoring that side of it.

Maybe all of this focus on the pedals is a more political issue.

Jersey prides itself on being a safe and enjoyable place to cycle. There are many routes where motor vehicles are not allowed and if I remember rightly the maximum speed limit on the island is 40mph. If you want to rack up hundreds of miles on a cycling trip the place is probably a bit small but for less serious cycle tourists its a very attractive destination.

Maybe a coroner concluding that poor infrastructure or a prevelance of heavy vehicles was a factor in this case wouldn't have gone down so well in a place that markets itself as a holiday destination.

And I thought 15 stitches was a bad SPD fail!

I was hit by a car coming across a dual carriageway as I was competing in a time trial and I was extremely glad not to be wearing toeclips and straps, Shimano Look patented clipless pedals came into their own. The car hit me, the bike went under the car and I sailed over the bonnet and landed in the side of another car that was stationary on the left waiting to enter the dual carriageway. I didn't come out unscathed but shudder to think what may have been had I not had the ski binder type pedals fitted. As previously mentioned, I too have occasionally been unable to release when virtually stopped. A sorry outcome to this incident, and I offer deep sympathy but it was a very unfortunate chain of events but I cannot lay total fault on the pedals.

Tragic whichever way you look at it.

Not wishing to be contentious but I would be interested to know if the "new" pedals were bought mail order or from a LBS.

Was a proper fitting service given to ensure the cleats were set correctly and a briefing given on how best to use them?

People are still trying to blame the driver.....seriously

The cyclist came down between the front and rear wheels, NOTHING the driver could have done, would legislate for that scenario.

It is a tragic accident, and accidents happen.....

OH NO, I forgot, when there is a cyclist involved, it has to be someone's fault....

If Shimano clipless pedals are deemed 'unsafe' then god forbid anyone who learned to ride with toeclips and straps - barely a club ride would pass without someone falling over due to a failure to loosen their straps. Don't remember anyone blaming their pedals, only themselves.

This is a very sad story, but I think the coroner is probably making a bit of leap in stating that clipless pedals had a role in causing the accident.

Personally I have fallen off due to not being able to release quickly enough from my pedals but I've had this experience on clipless, toe clips and even flat pedals with studs. I have also crashed due to slipping off of flat pedals. Although I haven't experienced it myself I know that unclipping accidently can also pose problems.

Conversely, when riding CX I can usually get uncliped in time to get a foot out if I'm sliding out on a corner and had no pedal-related problems in a recent collision with a car where I was clipped in at maximum tension.

I would very much like to see some more information about this case. It seems that the guy was on the pavement at the time but its not clear if he had just pulled over, maybe to wait for his companion or if he was actually travelling on the pavement. Perhaps he was even aiming for the lampost as a leaning spot if he was having difficulties with his pedals.

Mostyn that's the road but a little bit further up the road:

http://goo.gl/maps/dyV7x

The article suggests there have been several bike-vehicle crashes there. I suspect drivers speed along that road because there aren't any side streets and not many people.

It does look like the rider was on the footpath and hit a pole near the wall. The bars would have turned left throwing him off to the right into the road. I guess a combination of factors led to the collision. Probably the pedals had little to do with it.

I don't see how you can blame the van driver. He is driving down the road when the cyclist in front of him makes a radical change of course and speed as a result of the cyclist hitting a lamp-post. How quick are your reactions, people often freeze in these situations and are therefore slow to react.

I don't see how Shimano can be held responsible. Thousands of cyclists use SPD cleats/pedals everyday without incident. I use them on my commuter as part of my commute involves stairs. Also, whenever I have used a type of clip-less pedal I haven't used before I take myself off to a playing field and practice until everything feels natural. I have had funny looks from dog walkers - and had to explain myself to a constable on one occasion.

This is a simple case of death by misadventure. It has no rhyme or reason and my sympathies go out to all those concerned. This includes the van driver who is also a victim, he didn't get up that day and think "Today, I think I'll kill someone!" He has to live with the consequences as well; that horrible feeling you get when you close your eyes and replay the accident knowing that nothing you do will change it.

It is natural to want to blame someone else, to defend a loved one, but sometimes we just have to accept that we are human and make mistakes.

I recall one time early on in my spud usage and I didn't tighten the cleat up enough so it rotated a bit on the shoe and guess what? I toppled.

I'm sure a global brand like shimano would have assessed all risk to themselves in terms of their liabilities and thus written some pretty comprehensive and bulletproof disclaimers in the manual supplied with the pedals.

Is nobody allowed to just have an accident anymore?

I'm pretty sure that clipless pedals release your feet when you go over. At least all three pairs of mine do, both road and moutain. When I was "vanned" last year, I certainly ended up in a different place on the road to my bike, and I was clipped in at the time.
If they guy toppled off his bike, then whatever pedals he was using wouldn't have had any effect, he'd have still gone over sideways.

Gkam, it looks like the van has been pulled into the lay-by/parking area. On the other side of the gateway behind where the polis is standing there is what looks like a bike on the floor.

AyBee I was always of the understanding of when driving in built up areas to exercise caution and anticipate as there was no guarantee of what a pedestrian was likely to do. At least that's what I was taught when learning. I'm sure that applies to the pavement cyclists.

Looking at the pictures on the BBC site and refering to Streetview

http://goo.gl/maps/Z91A0
I believe he was travling toward the POV

I'd say he was on the path northbound and clipped the lampost near the wall knocking him over in to the road. I'd also say looking at the pictures the van was going in the same direction. If the van was doing anything like 30mph and he came straight off the kerb the van driver wouldn't really have a chance to miss him. I don't believe the type of pedal would've made much difference. Tragic accident, a case of wrong place at the wrong time.

Cyclist fell and was killed by a van that failed to stop in time! As mentioned above "you cannot fall under a vehicle" the inability of the cyclist to free himself from the cleats caused him to fall over; but perhaps not the cause of his death. Clip in pedals are quite safe if release from the pedals is practised before-hand; although we have all experienced a fall - when first using clip in pedals.

Ok, I take back my "read the bloody thing", I mean no offence to anyone.

Now that it has been pointed out through the other link to the report on the day it happened, that the van WAS indeed passing on the same side of the road, I retract my previous post.

What is not clear to me in the photo, is whether there is a pavement or those broken lines are some sort of parking area/cycle path/bus lane....etc

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-jersey-23523790

Good enough for me, ban 'em.

(If you have a problem, consider you attitude towards the much cheaper practise of not wearing a helmet first...)