London Banter - View Single Post - Boris admits bendy-buses are safe

[email protected] · October 22nd 08, 11:40 PM posted to uk.transport.london

In article ,
(Colin McKenzie) wrote:

Apart from HGVs, motor vehicles very rarely kill cyclists in
London. It appears that bendibuses are not as bad as HGVs - but
this may be because their routes are more predictable rather than
because of greater inherent safety.

The biggest difference is that many HGVs are actually so badly designed
that they are too dangerous to be allowed on the roads near vulnerable
road users (including pedestrians as well as cyclists). On faster roads
they are often dangerous to cars too. For some reasons cement mixers are
some of the worst, even sporting signs on their rears drawing attention to
the fact that they are too dangerous to be allowed on the roads.

The problems are lack of mirror coverage of their near sides made worse by
high driving positions and lack of any or adequate under-run protection.
Buses are much better in those respects.

--
Colin Rosenstiel