Not much on the Oxford Mail yet but a 34 year old female cyclist was killed today in Oxford. A 74 year old mixer driver was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving. I know who it was and it seems completely out of character for such a steady experienced driver who ran his own trucks until recently (he was covering for an owner driver today).
Despite the lack of information available, this hasn’t stopped the usual bile from the lycra websites (although there are a few good comments)
singletrackworld.com/forum/topic … -out-there
There is a hugely disproportionate number of women cyclists who die in accidents involving lorries. Not male cyclists, just women cyclists.
So from this, we can draw one of two conclusions.
-
Lorry drivers deliberately look out for, and mow down women cyclists.
-
Women cyclists are clueless morons with no road sense who unwittingly expose themselves to dangers because of their innate inability to operate any type of machinery more complicated than a Morphy Richards iron or, at a push, a washing machine.
Having said that, sympathies to the family of the bereaved.
i vote option 2 ,Harry,yeah and sympathy to family and the mixer driver. 
Oxford cyclists trucks
says it all
they have no idea how to ride their bikes
Harry Monk:
There is a hugely disproportionate number of women cyclists who die in accidents involving lorries. Not male cyclists, just women cyclists.So from this, we can draw one of two conclusions.
Lorry drivers deliberately look out for, and mow down women cyclists.
Women cyclists are clueless morons with no road sense who unwittingly expose themselves to dangers because of their innate inability to operate any type of machinery more complicated than a Morphy Richards iron or, at a push, a washing machine.
Having said that, sympathies to the family of the bereaved.
I reckon conclusion 3 :
He was that distracted oggling her lycra clad arse that he forgot he was driving and ended up ploughing into her. I must admit that it wouldn’t be the first time that I have been wayyyyyyy too distracted doing the same thing and it’s bad/good (depending on your perspective) for it round here where I live as the Leeds Sports College is pretty much in my back garden. 
I was at Cemex Kidlington on Wednesday, and saw the accident report and spoke to owner of the mixer. Driver awaiting sentencing for death by careless driving.
Mixer had to pass the concrete pump and turn around in order to reverse onto the hopper. Mixer reversed into a side road where the victim was waiting at the junction to turn right, and ran over her. Passer by shouted at driver who didn’t hear and pulled forward, then spotting the mess. Police didn’t like the dashboard cluttered with a cb rig, hard hat and cb mic cable strung up infront of windscreen.
To top it off, reversing camera lens covered in dry cement and the view out of passenger window obscured with brush/shovel handle.
The mixer’s still impounded too.
NathanB:
I was at Cemex Kidlington on Wednesday, and saw the accident report and spoke to owner of the mixer. Driver awaiting sentencing for death by careless driving.
Mixer had to pass the concrete pump and turn around in order to reverse onto the hopper. Mixer reversed into a side road where the victim was waiting at the junction to turn right, and ran over her. Passer by shouted at driver who didn’t hear and pulled forward, then spotting the mess. Police didn’t like the dashboard cluttered with a cb rig, hard hat and cb mic cable strung up infront of windscreen.
To top it off, reversing camera lens covered in dry cement and the view out of passenger window obscured with brush/shovel handle.
The mixer’s still impounded too.
If that’s the truth it’s very sad for all concerned. its not always the cyclists fault as its not always the drivers.
condolences to the ladies family. sounds like one of those 1000 to one accidents so sad
It just goes to prove it only takes a split second of doughnut break brain activity and you’l do some time in the big house,
take care out there fella’s 
i’ll say it : what the ■■■■ was a 74 year old doing driving a commersial vercal?
mrx:
i’ll say it : what the [zb] was a 74 year old doing driving a commersial vercal?
Seems to be a regular occurance, very hard to get anyone to ‘cover’ a day on mixers,
Every mixer I know of has a ‘no cyclists’ sign on the ‘NSR’ (company policy) to try and stop idiots being flattened,
May be different in this case, condolences to all involved
Tragic story on all counts
Harry I usually enjoy reading your post, but in this case I think your comments are sick. A young women has lost her life, children may have lost their mother. I think you should remove your comments from this open forum
When did this happen? I only ask as the posts on the linked website all say posted 7 months ago, one even refers to the clocks going back next week!
Sad whenever it happened, I tell other cyclists about the dangers of getting up the inside of any vehicle when they are stationary. They have no idea of the room needed to turn or the fact that they sometimes cannot be seen due to blind spots.
October.
Nathan resurrected the thread to add the outcome - driver charged with Death by Dangerous.
miketdt:
Harry I usually enjoy reading your post, but in this case I think your comments are sick. A young women has lost her life, children may have lost their mother. I think you should remove your comments from this open forum
It has taken you a long time to become “Disgusted of Southwest”
mrx:
i’ll say it : what the [zb] was a 74 year old doing driving a commersial vercal?
The driver was an ex OD that had recently sold his last 2 mixers and was covering on another ODs’ truck- the one moved in to replace him sadly. Driver involved is very experienced and certainly no teararse, he ran a pair of Ford Cargo mixers for 20 years with no mot failures/ maintenance issues.
On the subject of age, I know a 75 year old Hanson OD that still has 8months left on his lorry finance.
miketdt:
Harry I usually enjoy reading your post, but in this case I think your comments are sick. A young women has lost her life, children may have lost their mother. I think you should remove your comments from this open forum
Give over.
miketdt:
Harry I usually enjoy reading your post, but in this case I think your comments are sick. A young women has lost her life, children may have lost their mother. I think you should remove your comments from this open forum
I can only say that in my experience, Harry is right on the mark regarding women cyclists in general. Of course it’s a tragedy when anyone loses they’re life like this but there are lessons to be learned for others.
oxfordmail.co.uk/news/988132 … ing_death/
Saying that a “banksman wasn’t needed because the mixer had a camera” was a bit foolish in my opinion.
Rumours went around shortly after the accident that the womans’ bike had no front brakes. This might explain claims that the mixer only ran her over once and not twice.
Sad to say, but I think a jail sentance will kill the driver.