Following on from yesterday's news report of an 86 year old who had tripped on one of the newly installed cycle lane bollards on Hoghton Street her relative has now given permission this morning for the personal photos to be used.

The lady suffered a broken nose in two places which needs surgery.

Sefton Council were approached for comment and we even suggested that should these bollards be painted yellow. Their reply was:

“Our sympathies go out to this lady and her family. We will be investigating the matter further.”

For an elderly person or anyone with sight issues it is clear to see that these bollards could be a cause of accidents to pedestrians.



It is hoped that the lady makes a full recovery and something is done to help avoid this type of accident.

Sefton Council’s vendetta against the motorist sinks to new levels. Unfortunately, this poor lady won’t be the only victim of this crazy, dangerous addition to what is an already inappropriate road scheme. Bootle Councillors should hang their heads in shame.

I really feel for the lady, I wish her the best and a speedy recovery, and I know the injuries could have been a lot worse.

Now I know I'll get lambasted for this, but, why didn't she use the various crossings on Hoghton Street, instead of crossing a cycle lane and a fairly busy road?
If the photographs are correct and it's where the incident happened, she only had to walk 50 yards left or right to cross at a set of traffic lights.

Originally Posted by Tentill4

I really feel for the lady, I wish her the best and a speedy recovery, and I know the injuries could have been a lot worse.

Now I know I'll get lambasted for this, but, why didn't she use the various crossings on Hoghton Street, instead of crossing a cycle lane and a fairly busy road?
If the photographs are correct and it's where the incident happened, she only had to walk 50 yards left or right to cross at a set of traffic lights.

While I agree with your sentiments and she would have been far safer had she done so there are many reasons why people like to cross where they can. Some, especially the elderly and older in society don't like to feel they're inconveniencing others.

Whatever the rights and wrongs, there shouldn't be a major trip hazard in the road and some distance from the actual kerb. Maybe the lady confused it for the actual kerb and lost her footing when the pavement wasn't there.

How many motor vehicles are going to hit them and sustain damage, only to sue the council for compensation. Are the council now going to have to erect metal railings where the only access to cross a road is at a crossing? More expenditure to keep our cycling nuts happy with their own lanes. It's costing a damn fortune to keep them safe from themselves.

And how much is it being used? Can we organise some rota to officially count the number of times the cycles lanes are used in a week?

As much as I hate these lanes, I am still a responsible motorist and if there's a solid white line indicating a cycle lane I do not drive into it, unless it would be to avoid an accident. Road markings is all that is needed!

And still no official comment from Southport's Chief Cyclist and motorist botherer!

Originally Posted by Tentill4

I really feel for the lady, I wish her the best and a speedy recovery, and I know the injuries could have been a lot worse.

Now I know I'll get lambasted for this, but, why didn't she use the various crossings on Hoghton Street, instead of crossing a cycle lane and a fairly busy road?
If the photographs are correct and it's where the incident happened, she only had to walk 50 yards left or right to cross at a set of traffic lights.

She had probably already passed one of the crossings and probably would have passed others on her journey, the crossings have been put in for the safety of all pedestrians not just children, you have to be very agile or stupid not to take advantage of the crossings.

Originally Posted by Tentill4

I really feel for the lady, I wish her the best and a speedy recovery, and I know the injuries could have been a lot worse.

Now I know I'll get lambasted for this, but, why didn't she use the various crossings on Hoghton Street, instead of crossing a cycle lane and a fairly busy road?
If the photographs are correct and it's where the incident happened, she only had to walk 50 yards left or right to cross at a set of traffic lights.

Quite possibly the elderly lady wasn’t physically able to walk the extra distance to cross at the traffic lights, and from the provided photographs, I can’t see that you could ascertain that she was only 50 yards from the lights.

Originally Posted by justbecause

Quite possibly the elderly lady wasn’t physically able to walk the extra distance to cross at the traffic lights, and from the provided photographs, I can’t see that you could ascertain that she was only 50 yards from the lights.

I was going by the other thread's photo, which shows the position to be roughly opposite Hoghton Grove, but on the other photos of the lady lying in the road with the road marking next to her, would put her directly outside Stokers, less than 30 yard from the lights.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@53.64...7i16384!8i8192

Originally Posted by justbecause

Sefton Council’s vendetta against the motorist sinks to new levels. Unfortunately, this poor lady won’t be the only victim of this crazy, dangerous addition to what is an already inappropriate road scheme. Bootle Councillors should hang their heads in shame.

Of course, if all motorists abided by the (in this case 20mph) speed limits, passed bikes slow and wide (at least 1.5m clearance), didn't park on cycle lanes etc, there would be no need for such cycle lanes or trip-bollards in the first place - duh!

N.B. As for Councillors hanging heads. Suggest you speak to Cllr Dowd first, who recently lost his daughter in a fatal hit-and-run cyclist knockoff...Looking at the casualty figures, it appears to be the motorists who have a knockoff 'vendetta' against the cyclist!

Highway Code states if there's a crossing nearby you should use it.

Pedestrians contravene the Highway Code more than cyclists.

Originally Posted by The PNP

Of course, if all motorists abided by the (in this case 20mph) speed limits, passed bikes slow and wide (at least 1.5m clearance), didn't park on cycle lanes etc, there would be no need for such cycle lanes or trip-bollards in the first place - duh!

N.B. As for Councillors hanging heads. Suggest you speak to Cllr Dowd first, who recently lost his daughter in a fatal hit-and-run cyclist knockoff...Looking at the casualty figures, it appears to be the motorists who have a knockoff 'vendetta' against the cyclist!

You're credibility is shot by statements such as those.

Don't blame the motorists, I bet the cycle accident rate on a wide enough street such as Hoghton Street was zero, incidentally, that is the average hourly cycle usage there too.

Originally Posted by millsey

You're credibility is shot by statements such as those.

Don't blame the motorists, I bet the cycle accident rate on a wide enough street such as Hoghton Street was zero, incidentally, that is the average hourly cycle usage there too.

Hoghton Street as it was pre-lanes, represented a real danger to riders. The principal risk came from the lines of parked cars, where a 'dooring' was always on the cards unless you rode well out into the carriageway. But doing that, then put you in the firing-line of speeders bearing down on you and/or blasting the horn. Predictably, not all cars travel down Hoghton Street at 20mph or anything like it - some motorists behave as if they own the road!

Originally Posted by libraryguy

Can we organise some rota to officially count the number of times the cycles lanes are used in a week?

You can do the 3am-4am shift. Don't be late.

Originally Posted by The PNP

Hoghton Street as it was pre-lanes, represented a real danger to riders. The principal risk came from the lines of parked cars, where a 'dooring' was always on the cards unless you rode well out into the carriageway. But doing that, then put you in the firing-line of speeders bearing down on you and/or blasting the horn. Predictably, not all cars travel down Hoghton Street at 20mph or anything like it - some motorists behave as if they own the road!

You don’t half talk some SH*ITE. Believe or not, (and no doubt you will not), but not all people who use vehicles with more than two wheels are speeding murderers, out there to practice genocide on every cyclist they encounter.

In the US jay walking is punishable by a fine or a b#llocking, perhaps we should introduce a similar offence here.

And still not an official word of sympathy from HIM towards the lady.

You're insane!