Four Cyclists Killed in Wales

[TSC.]

A car has lost control on ice on a road in Wales & slid into a group of cyclists, killing four of them.

I just find this very tragic as I used to be a very keen cyclist myself.

BBC News

God Bless,

TSC.

[Hagar]

Indeed tragic. I heard about it on the radio news bulletin but they didn't give details. This is the reason I wouldn't venture out on the roads on a bike these days, much as I would like to. It's just too dangerous, both for the cyclists & the other road users.

[C]

Same here. The small country roads around here are all deresricted outside villages, so I doubt I'd ever venture out on my bike, let alone with the roads in their current state. What I do find infuriating is the number of parents who take their children out onsome of the busier roads without a helmet in sight... :-/

Very sad news.

[legoalex2000]

it's most likely me, but every time I see something about wales, im thinking whales.

so i thought 4 cyclists were killed by whales...

stupid fine print...

ramos

[Saitek]

So terribly sad.

[Alphajet_Enthusiast]

Makes me angry how innocent cyclists can get killed like that and how the lives of their loved ones will make a u turn as a result..  :(

[beaky]

Could happen to anyone on the shoulder of any country road- riding, walking, standing, doesn't matter.
I went through a period of a couple of years when I'd sometimes ride 10 miles a day and often a lot more on weekends; did two tours over 500 miles each, and never even had a close call with a vehicle- unless you count people opening the door of a parked car without looking first.  ::)
Normally, riding against the flow gives you time to spot something like this, but apparently they were taken totally by surprise... terrible.

[Hagar]

Normally, riding against the flow gives you time to spot something like this, but apparently they were taken totally by surprise... terrible.

It's a little different in the UK. Cyclists have to obey the traffic laws & ride on the same side of the road as everyone else. As you mention walking, the usual code is for walkers to walk against the flow as you describe it. This can be very dangerous on narrow country roads & I've come close to knocking some walkers down myself, especially at night when they're wearing dark clothing. You really do need eyes in the back of your head when using the overcrowded roads in the UK these days.

I note that these cyclists were members of a club on an outing. It doesn't say how many members of the club were involved but groups of cyclists often don't obey the rules or consider other road users. I'm not accusing the people involved in this tragic accident of that but it seems strange to me that they would organise a club outing in icy conditions on a road considered to be one of the most dangerous in Wales.

Mr Eccles said the section of road, which is generally straight but has one area with sharp bends, was known to be "dangerous".

In September last year, the A547 in the Abergele area was named among the 11 most deadly roads in north Wales by police.

[AlphaBravo]

Normally, riding against the flow gives you time to spot something like this, but apparently they were taken totally by surprise... terrible.

The car skidded on the ice while goin round the corner..so it hit them broadsided  :(

[H]

It's a little different in the UK. Cyclists have to obey the traffic laws & ride on the same side of the road as everyone else. ...cyclists often don't obey the rules or consider other road users.

It's not so different here (I can't vouch for all locations, however) and a bicycle is generally considered a 'vehicle'. I doubt most even know the local regulations; since the majority of cyclists are minors, not much is usually done when laws aren't obeyed. I once had someone yell at me to "get that on the sidwalk." I yelled back that it was illiegal (and can be dangerous for pedestrians, for whom the sidewalk was made).

[Fozzer]

As a motorcyclist, and therefore a "two-wheeler", I have a great respect for cyclists, and approach and overtake them with great care...
In England the Law allows for cyclists to "wobble" as they pedal their machines, and therefore to allow for that, they must be given a wide berth when overtaking them.

Remember that cyclist's machines are also "non-polluters" of the atmosphere... ...!

Paul...bike it....you'll like it... ...!

[Hagar]

As a motorcyclist, and therefore a "two-wheeler", I have a great respect for cyclists, and approach and overtake them with great care...
In England the Law allows for cyclists to "wobble" as they pedal their machines, and therefore to allow for that, they must be given a wide berth when overtaking them.

I dont think that would have made any difference in this case Paul as from what I can make out the cyclists were coming in the opposite direction. If a motorcycle had hit that patch of ice on the corner the driver/rider might have been killed too.

[Fozzer]

I dont think that would have made any difference in this case Paul as from what I can make out the cyclists were coming in the opposite direction. If a motorcycle had hit that patch of ice on the corner the driver/rider might have been killed too.

Mornin' Doug... ..!

I realise that.
I was just making the point of how vulnerable two-wheelers are...Cyclists, Scooterists, Motorcyclists,... ...!
I often think motorists are not generally aware of it...
...I certainly am... ... ...!
The thought of leaving some of my skin on the highway fills me with dread... ...!

Paul....Oh....the pain.... ...!
... ...!

Ice, and two-wheels don't go together....trust me...!
LOL...!

[Delta_]

The cyclists were on the other side of the road from the car that hit them (going with the flow of the traffic).  Ice was blamed for the accident.  However anybody who has cycled on ice knows it is very difficult to stay on the bike, so it can't of been icy enough for the car to lose control due to severe road conditions.  We will have to wait and see.

The car plowed into a group of 12 cyclists killing 3 adults and 1 child.

[Hagar]

[quote]The cyclists were on the other side of the road from the car that hit them (going with the flow of the traffic).