Cyclist fighting for her life after two crashes brought rush hour chaos to York (From York Press)
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Cyclist fighting for her life after two crashes brought rush hour chaos to York
10:40am Friday 28th May 2010 in News By Megi Rychlikova , megi.rychlikova@thepress.co.uk
Updated: A WOMAN cyclist from York is today fighting for her life in Leeds General Hospital after she and a bus collided on a major York road.
Police are appealing for witnesses who were in the area at the time.
The cyclist, a 40-year-old local woman, sustained serious head injuries in the collision and is in a critical condition in Leeds General Infirmary.
Traffic sergeant Julian Pearson, of North Yorkshire Police’s Road Policing Group, said: “The police would like to speak to anyone who saw the collision or the cyclist prior to the incident.
“We are also keen to trace any motorists who were leaving the city towards Fulford around the time of the collision. They may have seen the cyclist at the junction of the army barracks with Fulford Road just before the collision occurred.”
The crash, in Fulford Road, was one of two accidents that brought traffic chaos to yesterday evening's rush hour with huge queues of traffic forming in Heslington, Fulford, the city centre and near the Poppletons.
The cyclist was rushed by ambulance to York Hospital at 5.25pm.
She was riding a blue bicycle when it collided with the York Pullman No 55 service heading into the city centre from Fulford.
The accident occurred in the northbound bus lane as the cyclist was turning right out of Imphal Barracks on Fulford Road and collided with a bus.
Major safety work has recently been carried out in Fulford Road, including new bus and cycle lanes.
Scenes of crime investigators were at the scene yesterday evening as police closed Fulford Road closed in both directions between Cemetery Road and Broadway while police investigations were conducted.
Traffic was diverted along Heslington Lane and through the University of York campus until the road was reopened at around 10.30pm.
Huge queues rapidly built up and spread backwards along the inner ring road.
Anyone with any information that could help the investigation is urged to contact Traffic Sergeant Julian Pearson on 0845 60 60 24 7, quoting reference number 12100085300.
About half-an-hour earlier, firefighters had rescued a person who was trapped when three vehicles, a silver Citroen C3 taxi and a white Vauxhall Movano van, and a Toyota collided about 500 yards from the Poppleton turn-off on the A59 near the Wyevale Garden Centre. The man driving the Toyota and the man in the Vauxhall were not injured, but the female passenger in the Citroen C3 taxi sustained minor injuries.
North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue crews used cutting equipment to remove the door of the car and she was assisted out of the vehicle and taken to hospital by ambulance.
A mile-long queue of stationary traffic developed on the A59 York-bound carriageway. The A169 at Low Marishes between Malton and Pickering was also closed and a woman was airlifted to Harrogate Hospital with neck and leg injuries following a road crash there. A road ambulance took a second injured person to York Hospital.
Three vehicles were involved in the crash, a silver Range Rover, a blue Nissan Micra and a red Renault Clio.
Firefighters had to free one person, who was trapped in the wreckage.
More to follow.
Comments(45)
Jim
says...
11:34am Fri 28 May 10
There's also a large number of places where the road and pavement are being dug up for utility work which doesn't help.
anastasia
says...
11:39am Fri 28 May 10
ScaryDave
says...
11:50am Fri 28 May 10
smudge1
says...
11:51am Fri 28 May 10
BL2
says...
12:06pm Fri 28 May 10
The new road layout is appalling regardless and has already been described as an accident waiting to happen by more than one person (myself included).
Guy Fawkes
says...
12:14pm Fri 28 May 10
mystic_genius
says...
12:16pm Fri 28 May 10
BL2 wrote:But the new road serves it's purpose entirely.
Hope she recovers! I was told that she was coming out of Maple Grove rather than the other road and the she didn't see the bus which hit her head on. I'm not sure if the person saw this or was told this second had though... The new road layout is appalling regardless and has already been described as an accident waiting to happen by more than one person (myself included).
`
Now the council will say "look how dangerous vehicles are" and such like. Therefore, the council ploy of removing all vehicles from the road can be served effectively.
`
It's a shame someone had to become seriously hurt and I hope she makes a full recovery, however in the council's grand old scheme of things, they must be giggling that more of their appallingly thought out ideas are feeding the masses who call for an end to all motorised transport because it's too fast, too dangerous and too numerous.
Minsterview
says...
12:31pm Fri 28 May 10
There has been an accident.
We all hope that the lady recovers.
There will be an investigation.
But remember that there are traffic signals at these junctions which should minimise the risk of conflict.
JOHNYBOY
says...
1:34pm Fri 28 May 10
Guy Fawkes wrote:Hope she makes a recovery - though souds as though she was taking notice of traffic on the road if she pulled out of side street into oncoming traffic.
I don't know if this could have been an issue here, but on Water End and Clifton Bridge pedestrians routinely walk in the bike lane, forcing the bikes onto the road (i.e. the motor vehicle lane). Because the road has been narrowed to accommodate the cycle lane, that does not leave enough room for cars to overtake bikes safely, resulting either in long traffic queues or dangerous overtaking. The pedestrians' behaviour is a classic example of the law of unintended consequences when they installed those cycle lanes along Water End, I guess.
As regards pedestrians walking in cycle lanes - swhat about the opposite cyclists cycling on paths with n cycle lanes - such as undertaking buses on the footpath on lendal bridge forcing pedstrians to scatter....cycling in pedestrian lanes on clifton moor where there is a cycle lane - so they can ride side by side - telling you as a pedtsrian to do one!! So Guy Fawkes its a 2 way street if cyclists observe the rules of the road there will never be a problem....but maybe because they dont care pedestrians are doing the same!!!
Guy Fawkes
says...
2:01pm Fri 28 May 10
kenny noy
says...
2:06pm Fri 28 May 10
smudge1 wrote:Bus drivers are a law unto themselves, arrogant miseries who think they own the road.
The speed these buses drive up Fulford Road is disgusting with many having to cross the white line at the junction of cemetery road coming up from town as they are going to fast and the council have put so many new bollards and cycle lanes and bus lanes that the whole road has become a minefield for locals as you have to weave in and out of all these obstacles.It was better left as it was as we had a lot less accidents as everybody knew the road.
sheps lad
says...
2:57pm Fri 28 May 10
fulfordphilosopher
says...
3:30pm Fri 28 May 10
If you don’t know exactly what happened don’t jump to conclusions and don’t go pointing an accusing finger at anyone
silverjub
says...
3:43pm Fri 28 May 10
Pedro
says...
4:00pm Fri 28 May 10
Like others I only hope the lady makes a full recovery.
again
says...
4:03pm Fri 28 May 10
pedalling paul
says...
5:39pm Fri 28 May 10
Lamplighter
says...
6:00pm Fri 28 May 10
I really hope this lady recovers fully, my blood goes cold when I hear of accidents of this kind.
Mystic_genious your comments about the council wanting to get rid of all traffic and giggling to themselves about this unfortunate incident playing into their hands are idiotic to say the least.
WA
says...
6:10pm Fri 28 May 10
tcrown
says...
6:58pm Fri 28 May 10
Cycling Car Driver
says...
7:08pm Fri 28 May 10
LizM
says...
8:10pm Fri 28 May 10
There have been so many stories about the disregard by bus drivers in York and whilst we can't assume that the driver's at fault on this occasion, surely it's time that the level of incidents and accidents in York involving buses is investigated?
Myself and my child were almost hit by an FTR a few weeks ago and I haven't even received a response from my email to First!
Get-a-grip
says...
9:05pm Fri 28 May 10
The buses regularly jump lights
Unlike pedal cyclists?
sheps lad
says...
9:28pm Fri 28 May 10
pedalling paul wrote:Quite agree for once. The thread has got lost again.
A pity that this was opened for comment. Let's all wait until investigations are completed by the Police and other agencies.
nowthen
says...
9:36pm Fri 28 May 10
pedalling paul wrote:Mr Hepworth I too hope that the unfortunate lady recovers.However the maze of cycle lanes which stick to the side of the road and then jump out into the middle of the road near parking areas and strangely appearing and disappearing strangulating bus lanes are a recipe for disaster. Your lobbying for a cycling city has gone too far. forcing the incoming and outgoing motor traffic onto what was the out going lane will cause accidents . I sincerely hope that CoYC contemplate not only cyclists but also motor traffic. We the citizens of York are fed up of the minority dictating to the majority. Bring on the elections.
A pity that this was opened for comment. Let's all wait until investigations are completed by the Police and other agencies.
rattydriver
says...
12:24am Sat 29 May 10
The speed these buses drive up Fulford Road is disgusting with many having to cross the white line at the junction of cemetery road coming up from town as they are going to fast and the council have put so many new bollards and cycle lanes and bus lanes that the whole road has become a minefield for locals as you have to weave in and out of all these obstacles.It was better left as it was as we had a lot less accidents as everybody knew the road.
Bus drivers are a law unto themselves, arrogant miseries who think they own the road.
Kenny your a ****, Im guessing your one of these knobs that drive a van, while using ya phone and not giving a shi t about anyone else on the road
pedalling paul
says...
7:56am Sat 29 May 10
nowthen wrote:The principal issue is the sheer volume of private car traffic, much of it short distance and single occupancy. That is a grossly inefficient use of our finite highway capaity, and if unchallenged will lead to gridlock. That WILL be bad news for those who need to use cars, as opposed to those who want to.
pedalling paul wrote: A pity that this was opened for comment. Let's all wait until investigations are completed by the Police and other agencies.Mr Hepworth I too hope that the unfortunate lady recovers.However the maze of cycle lanes which stick to the side of the road and then jump out into the middle of the road near parking areas and strangely appearing and disappearing strangulating bus lanes are a recipe for disaster. Your lobbying for a cycling city has gone too far. forcing the incoming and outgoing motor traffic onto what was the out going lane will cause accidents . I sincerely hope that CoYC contemplate not only cyclists but also motor traffic. We the citizens of York are fed up of the minority dictating to the majority. Bring on the elections.
The main driver for change is not the City's cycling lobbyists, but successive national Governments acting through the DfT via the Local Transport Plan system. This makes Whitehall grants available to Local Authorities who wisely invest in altternative travel choices. Cycling is one of these.
The local cycling lobbby groups are primarily involved in commenting on the overview and detailed design of individual proposals. The latest one "on the cards" being Fishergate Gyratory.
Again, I suggest that it is not appropriate to speculate publicly on the Fulford Road collision, until all formal proceedings are completed.
I notice that no-one has commented on the second collision, on the A59. Perhaps that's because no cyclists were involved.
sheps lad
says...
10:04am Sat 29 May 10
pedalling paul
says...
4:05pm Sat 29 May 10
sheps lad wrote:No we were not involved in the design. That was carried out by Halcrow, on behalf of CoYC, but working to national highway design standards laid down by the Dept. for Transport.
If the local lobby group were involved in the design of this nonsensical layout in Fulford I suggest they and the planners go back to the drawing board!
The cycle lobby groups were one of several organisations that were invited to comment on the outline, then detailed design.
Get-a-grip
says...
5:59pm Sat 29 May 10
Get-a-grip, says...
1:31pm Tue 25 May 10
Believe what you wish but do you honestly think that the number of cyclists has increased as a result of all the pretty painted lines and green boxes on our roads?
I'm sure no one with a grip on reality does.
The pedal cycle is early 20th century and no solution to any problems we have today. On the contrary, in York as I have said above, it is cycling provision that causes congestion.
What we need to do is find out exactly how many actually use the cycle lanes which have cost hundreds of thousands of pounds to provide.
Mentioning these things is always a good way of shutting up the pedalling pillock.
Chumpy, says...
3:27pm Tue 25 May 10
You will find Pedalling pillock will return a day or so later so he can get the final say, when the story is tomorrows news, he normally does!
He did a runner on this one.
Ben Guela
says...
6:50pm Sat 29 May 10
As for some of those bus drivers...legallise thugs.
Pedalling Paul...many of the accidents are cause by the cavallier attitiude of cyclists and motor-bikers..and some bus drivers.
Taken for a Mug
says...
7:03pm Sat 29 May 10
All the different transport lanes give rise to confusion and a perception of a free safe unhindered run to their very end, unfortunately it seems to absolve their users of any basic road sense.
As has been shown buses travelling at speed down the side of induced stationary traffic is a recipe for disaster.
I hope this person makes a full recovery and will see these schemes removed.
nowthen
says...
7:39pm Sat 29 May 10
pedalling paul wrote:NO Mr Hepworth ! the principal issue here is the safety of all road users! The only reason that no-one has commented on the other accident is because it hasn't had " Major safety work has recently been carried out in Fulford Road, including new bus and cycle lanes. " Your chums in the council may have money to squander in the form of grants but that doesn't give them the green light to impose Water lane fiascos on every entry into the city.
nowthen wrote:The principal issue is the sheer volume of private car traffic, much of it short distance and single occupancy. That is a grossly inefficient use of our finite highway capaity, and if unchallenged will lead to gridlock. That WILL be bad news for those who need to use cars, as opposed to those who want to.
pedalling paul wrote: A pity that this was opened for comment. Let's all wait until investigations are completed by the Police and other agencies.Mr Hepworth I too hope that the unfortunate lady recovers.However the maze of cycle lanes which stick to the side of the road and then jump out into the middle of the road near parking areas and strangely appearing and disappearing strangulating bus lanes are a recipe for disaster. Your lobbying for a cycling city has gone too far. forcing the incoming and outgoing motor traffic onto what was the out going lane will cause accidents . I sincerely hope that CoYC contemplate not only cyclists but also motor traffic. We the citizens of York are fed up of the minority dictating to the majority. Bring on the elections.
The main driver for change is not the City's cycling lobbyists, but successive national Governments acting through the DfT via the Local Transport Plan system. This makes Whitehall grants available to Local Authorities who wisely invest in altternative travel choices. Cycling is one of these.
The local cycling lobbby groups are primarily involved in commenting on the overview and detailed design of individual proposals. The latest one "on the cards" being Fishergate Gyratory.
Again, I suggest that it is not appropriate to speculate publicly on the Fulford Road collision, until all formal proceedings are completed.
I notice that no-one has commented on the second collision, on the A59. Perhaps that's because no cyclists were involved.
pedalling paul
says...
8:59pm Sat 29 May 10
If you re-read my previous contribution, you will understand the role that we actually play, in helping York like other UK cities, to avoid future gridlock.
We do not have any "chums" on the Council. I and colleagues have a long record of either supporting or opposing various proposals. Our formal comments are always submitted via public consultation, and also by registering to speak at relevant CoYC Committee meetings. We strive to maintain this ethical working relationship.
So far as the awful incident on Fulford Road is concerned, I suggest again that we all respect the sensitivities of the injured lady and her family, and await the outcome of Police investigations.
Get-a-grip
says...
9:18pm Sat 29 May 10
and await the outcome of Police investigations.
If it's anything like the tragic case near Terry's, that's two years in the future. Note also, it was another pig's ear of a cycle route designed by an clueless idiot.
moneyforwhat
says...
9:36pm Sat 29 May 10
Get-a-grip
says...
10:01pm Sat 29 May 10
www.yorkpress.co.uk/
features/readerslett
ers/8183384.New_layo
ut_at_Fulford_Road/#
commentsList
nowthen
says...
9:14am Sun 30 May 10
nowthen
says...
9:35am Sun 30 May 10
beecroft
says...
7:09pm Sun 30 May 10
When I reached Broadway, the policeman held up his hand to stop us, so I stopped and waited while traffic was let out of Broadway West.
When he then stopped them, pointed at us and waved us through, I was nearly knocked off by an idiot driver coming out of Broadway who hadn't even seen the policeman and must have been going on the lights.
The driver kicked right off with me because obviously if I'm on a bike I'm doing something wrong. I tried to show him the policeman directing the traffic but he was having none of it, just kept on being angry at me.
If drivers can be so dim and behave as arrogantly as that in full sight of a policeman and only minutes after a serious incident then what hope is there for any sanity on the roads?
jacquistephenson
says...
9:02am Mon 31 May 10
Before blaming the bus drivers ,lets wait and see what the results of the police investigation are ......... remember the evidence never lies .
Get-a-grip
says...
10:55am Mon 31 May 10
remember the evidence never lies .
Meanwhile, back on planet earth .....
greenmonkey
says...
5:51pm Mon 31 May 10
greenmonkey
says...
5:54pm Mon 31 May 10
tcrown wrote:Traffic sergeant Julian Pearson, of North Yorkshire Police’s Road Policing Group, said: “The police would like to speak to anyone who saw the collision or the cyclist prior to the incident.
A colleague of mine was a few cars back from this accident and saw it happen. She says it looked as though the cyclist pulled out from the side road and didn't seem to notice that the bus had pulled out. She appeared to more or less cycle into it then fell and hit her head. I must say it's a shame that some commentators on here have used this horrible accident to support their own agendas. I really hope she makes a full recovery.
“We are also keen to trace any motorists who were leaving the city towards Fulford around the time of the collision. They may have seen the cyclist at the junction of the army barracks with Fulford Road just before the collision occurred.”
Please encourage your colleague to help the police and council to gather information about events leading up tothis accident
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sheps lad says...
9:56am Fri 28 May 10