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Still from video uploaded to YouTube by MCR CyclistVideo: Manchester cyclist hit by taxi – footage being used as evidence in civil action
A Manchester cyclist is to use helmet cam footage of the moment when he was hit by a taxi as evidence in a civil action against the driver. The driver, who pulled out of a side street, was sent on a driver improvement course. The cyclist has described the police response as ‘lacklustre’.
The incident took place on Wilmslow Road in Fallowfield at the junction with Old Hall Lane – a stretch of road included in Manchester’s plans for 37 miles of new cycleways. YouTube user MCR Cyclist, who uploaded the video, writes of the incident: “Those who are regulars to my channel will have noticed a number of videos where drivers have failed to ‘give way’. Sadly, my luck ran out.”
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, the cyclist, who wished to be identified only as Dan, said:
“I was cycling down Wilmslow Road and the driver failed to give way and pulled out. He basically T-boned me, hit me on the middle of the bike then I went onto the bonnet, spun round and onto the ground. Amazingly I had no broken bones but was left with scrapes and whiplash injuries I’m still having physio for.
“Luckily it’s nothing life-threatening and I’ve been told they should mend within the next year. I know wearing a camera is controversial but without it it would have been my word against the driver’s. I was in shock at the scene so I’d like to thank the two people who stopped to help.”
Writing underneath the video on YouTube, Dan writes that because he didn't request an ambulance, police would not come to the scene. “Even after they were told it was a collision involving a cyclist [and] that I was blocking a road.”
Dan has described his dealings with the police as ‘lacklustre’.
“After making contact with the police I've been informed that this is an ‘injury’ incident and its [sic] highly doubtful any further action will be taken. Further, while I have made it clear that I caught the incident on camera. They've stated they are not interested in seeing it. Therefore, one can only assume they [are] not too interested in cycling safety in Manchester.”
Dan later learnt that the driver had been sent on a driver improvement course with a spokesman for Greater Manchester Police saying something similar: “I can confirm an RTC between a vehicle, a silver Skoda Octavia estate, which collided with a cyclist. The driver would have been given a fixed penalty notice or speed awareness course.”
Dan is now pursuing civil action against the taxi driver who worked for Station Cars.
Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.
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48 comments
You don't know what you are talking about as you don't even understand what Strict Liability means. Fail.
I for one would favour a Presumption of Liability.
That should make for a very short court case...
Was the cyclist riding fast. Not really.
Did he have right of way. Yes.
Was he entitled to go up the cycle lane to the left. Yes.
Should the car that hit him or the car before have pulled out. No and not really.
That should make for a very short court case...
Was the cyclist riding fast. Not really.
Did he have right of way. Yes.
Was he entitled to go up the cycle lane to the left. Yes.
Should the car that hit him or the car before have pulled out. No and not really.
Since when are bike-mounted cameras controversial? And why? This is the first I've heard of it, but my first reaction is, "Tough titty to anybody who doesn't like it. I don't tell you how to outfit your vehicle."
What a joke, the police state "The driver would have been given a fixed penalty notice or speed awareness course." So he was driving too fast was he? What speed was that then?? This had nothing to do with speed and everything to do with driving without due care and attention. He was not aware of the bike, the cars around him or the flow of traffic. How this bloke ever passed his driving test I'll never know!
I just hope that there is a system to make sure the driver attending the course is the driver at fault here and not someone paid to attend by the driver!
Should have gone to spec savers driving with undue care and attention comes to mind
But in-car cameras aren't controversial, funny that.
Trouble is, riding primary in this case would have left the rider in nearly as bad a situation because of the black Audi pulling out late and then positioning badly to turn right (as cars frequently do), so if the cyclist had headed for the only safe route, the small gap to the left of the Audi, he would still have been hit.
As for Manchester Police... I'm glad I don't ride there.
Caveat that it's the driver fault here and it's easy in hindsight etc, but it's just not a good junction to roll through on the left kerb, too much going on.
So he should stop? Where exactly? What if that blocks vehicles behind him? Is that any safer than 'rolling through'?
Have you thought this through?
Well, I can't say I've thought it through any more than anyone else, cheers anyway, but if it were me on a good day, hindsight fully in control, I'd shoulder check, point to primary, take primary, all before the junction. Now not in danger of sideswipe from following cars taking the exit, I'd say, yes (to answer your question) I'm already in a safer position than the video's rolling through in cycle lane. If the road past the junction doesn't show me space or a route, then yes, cars behind may be stopping for me, quite right. The stop point you enquire about is either before or after that side road's right-turning joining lane, most probable option being somewhere near the rear right corner of the stationary audi up front. You may find reason to quibble with that, super, it's a overburdened junction needing fixed, but the video showed what happened on kerb-side roll through.
You're right of course. He should have stopped at every single junction where traffic emerges from the left. Even if that is scores of times in the space of a few miles. Cycle a hundred meters then stop, then go, then stop, then go, then stop, then go, then stop, then go....
"What do you mean the traffic behind me don't know what I'm doing? I've got my own private highway code, silly."
Yes, you win, halfwheeler, good work - though, you're right, it is all just the highway code.
Agreed, and in a rare moment of genius the related stories include "Manchester to become a hub for disability cycling". http://road.cc/content/news/132363-manchester-become-hub-disability-cycling
Could this link go deeper than appears on the surface?
Luckily I got up and walked away but the irony of the related story is scary.
Damn right to embarrass the Police about this.
There's plenty of drivers who do care how they drive, and about cyclists but those who don't have come to realise they can get away with pretty much anything, even if they're reported to the Police...
Police are paid to help keep us safe and the law upheld...
It's also a useful case study of when to ride primary, whether there's a cycle lane or not. It gives you time and space to get yourself to safety when people just pull out without looking (or caring)
I had an accident in Manchester in July and I have nothing but praise for the police. They were swift in the reponse and their report backed up everything in my favour, despite the driver making comments about my road positioning, speed and that I was wearing black clothing (in the middle of the day and at the height of summer!) The officer in charge of the case explained to her why I was in the middle of the road (to stop people overtaking me on a blind corner) and that I was fully entitled to do the speed I was doing and the colour of my clothing makes no difference at all.
You work for the Police by chance?
I have gotten nothing but grief from cops for daring to report being hit by cars.
That the authority wants nothing to do with this is not surprising me. Anything politicians say regarding "helping us" is meant to fulfill today's sound-bite for the camera and to be forgotten tomorrow. I would turn around and sue the Police as well. Better yet. From now on we must all report injuries so they show up and cant fob us off.
Yesterday i was honked at while crossing a bridge for no other reason than for the idiot in the county government highway works van wanting to get past me faster. I was going 20mp/h as it was. The guy scared the crap out of me honking at me for no reason. So when i turned around to see what was going on i saw him breathing out and slamming his fists on the wheel out of frustration that he lost another 5 seconds. Idiots like this need to be taken off of the road permanently. Driving is a privileged and not a right.
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