trinube 1,777 Posted March 15, 2014 Report Share Posted March 15, 2014 Just caught on the news about a group of cyclists down on Southern Cross Drive, Mascot. They said something like "a car ploughed into the group and there are reports of several injuries" be careful out there. Link to post Share on other sites
Go Easy 1,711 Posted March 15, 2014 Report Share Posted March 15, 2014 Doesn't sound good. Link to post Share on other sites
trinube 1,777 Posted March 15, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 15, 2014 At last 6 injured Link to post Share on other sites
Quack 210 Posted March 15, 2014 Report Share Posted March 15, 2014 Really hope they are not badly hurt. That road is scary to ride Link to post Share on other sites
trinube 1,777 Posted March 15, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 15, 2014 Jeez, they just showed footage of the car - it has hit hard, this is not good Link to post Share on other sites
Go Easy 1,711 Posted March 15, 2014 Report Share Posted March 15, 2014 TV Footage on Chanel 9 looks pretty ordinary. Hope they are all ok. Link to post Share on other sites
george-bob 83 Posted March 15, 2014 Report Share Posted March 15, 2014 Oh man, that is terrible news! I wonder what happened? It would be hard to not spot a pack on that road. This is nightmare scenario stuff...hope there are no serious injuries. Link to post Share on other sites
NW55 14 Posted March 15, 2014 Report Share Posted March 15, 2014 http://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/cyclists-injured-in-vehicular-accident-in-mascot-sydney/story-fnj3rq0y-1226856064106 More on what happened. Link to post Share on other sites
george-bob 83 Posted March 15, 2014 Report Share Posted March 15, 2014 Near wentworth ave, there is a freeway entrance, I wonder if the driver merged into the bunch? Link to post Share on other sites
Dalai 449 Posted March 15, 2014 Report Share Posted March 15, 2014 Near wentworth ave, there is a freeway entrance, I wonder if the driver merged into the bunch? No freeway entrance that I could see in the following footage! Hope everyone from here is safe? https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=596204293805548&set=vb.327149040711076&type=2&theater Link to post Share on other sites
vo2max 34 Posted March 15, 2014 Report Share Posted March 15, 2014 Channel 7 reported serious injuries so it doesn't sound good. It would be good to know what happened. Link to post Share on other sites
IronJimbo 1,419 Posted March 16, 2014 Report Share Posted March 16, 2014 I drove past there about 45min ago. There were six bikes on the road, one of which was still under the front of the car. The passenger side windscreen looked like a rock had been dropped on it Looked very nasty, hopefully there were no trannies involved Link to post Share on other sites
Go Easy 1,711 Posted March 16, 2014 Report Share Posted March 16, 2014 Not so sure them being Tannies makes any difference, I hope they are ok regardless. I know what you mean though, you feel it a bit more if you know (or know of) the people involved. Link to post Share on other sites
IronmanFoz 1,655 Posted March 16, 2014 Report Share Posted March 16, 2014 what were cars doing on the road anyway. I think most groups who ride south from the city around 6:00am to Waterfall would be heading back around that time.You would think that a large pack would be visible. The bit that actually scares me the most is heading South through the airport tunnel (where you sit in the middle lane). Link to post Share on other sites
AA7 1,831 Posted March 16, 2014 Report Share Posted March 16, 2014 The comments on some of the news articles are truly disgusting. Link to post Share on other sites
downesy68 1,085 Posted March 16, 2014 Report Share Posted March 16, 2014 Never read comments on any cyclist story. Ever. Link to post Share on other sites
nealo 1,657 Posted March 16, 2014 Report Share Posted March 16, 2014 No freeway entrance that I could see in the following footage! Hope everyone from here is safe? https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=596204293805548&set=vb.327149040711076&type=2&theater Not really a "freeway", I think the speed limit is 80kph but that is the lane coming from Wentworth Ave heading North in that footage. Thoughts and prays to those involved. Link to post Share on other sites
Formerly known as BOTP II 107 Posted March 16, 2014 Report Share Posted March 16, 2014 The comments on some of the news articles are truly disgusting. i use to do that ride many years ago every weekend. i can imagine the comments having received a few first hand. i use to think the scarier part was around 6 am heading south. passengers were pissed (may be drivers as well) and would hang out of vehicles and the odd bottle would get thrown. reports are slightly more positive now. saying not critical but serious injuries. Link to post Share on other sites
AA7 1,831 Posted March 16, 2014 Report Share Posted March 16, 2014 (edited) I know I shouldn't read the comments but I feel I need to balance it. Edited March 16, 2014 by AA7 Link to post Share on other sites
PaperMan 332 Posted March 16, 2014 Report Share Posted March 16, 2014 I would like to see the police contacting some of the more vitriolic commenters to caution against inciting violence. Great (and amazing) to hear that no lives were lost in that crash - hope everyone recovers well physically and mentally. Link to post Share on other sites
johnp 4 Posted March 16, 2014 Report Share Posted March 16, 2014 It makes me very sad that people have so little empathy. Utterly disguisting. Link to post Share on other sites
MackaEvo2 109 Posted March 16, 2014 Report Share Posted March 16, 2014 http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/six-cyclists-rushed-to-hospital-with-serious-injuries-shutting-down-part-of-southern-cross-drive/story-fni0cx12-1226856064019 Link to post Share on other sites
george-bob 83 Posted March 16, 2014 Report Share Posted March 16, 2014 (edited) According to the easts facebook, 1 is out of hospital, the other five made it through surgery. Injuries not life threatening remarkably. When they figure out what happened to cause such an inexcusable accident I hope the appropriate penalty is applied. Edited March 16, 2014 by george-bob Link to post Share on other sites
louey 67 Posted March 16, 2014 Report Share Posted March 16, 2014 THE DRIVER NEEDS TO GO TO JAIL Link to post Share on other sites
george-bob 83 Posted March 16, 2014 Report Share Posted March 16, 2014 THE DRIVER NEEDS TO GO TO JAIL Unless he was having a seizure, yes, he should be put in jail for a long, long time. Link to post Share on other sites
Steno 444 Posted March 16, 2014 Report Share Posted March 16, 2014 The police are still there taking photos, etc. Not good at all Link to post Share on other sites
TrinewB 226 Posted March 16, 2014 Report Share Posted March 16, 2014 could it be texting? veered off...... bang into the poor riders? Link to post Share on other sites
Oneday 8 Posted March 16, 2014 Report Share Posted March 16, 2014 IronmanFoz, on 16 Mar 2014 - 11:12 AM, said: what were cars doing on the road anyway. I think most groups who ride south from the city around 6:00am to Waterfall would be heading back around that time.You would think that a large pack would be visible. The bit that actually scares me the most is heading South through the airport tunnel (where you sit in the middle lane). Firstly not even sure how to take the first comment... secondly I know it's popular place to ride, but the airport tunnel is way too dangerous, go around it, longer way but so much safer Link to post Share on other sites
roxii 7,203 Posted March 17, 2014 Report Share Posted March 17, 2014 The "not a safe place to ride" arguement has been getting a lot of air over this. I suppose being only an 80k zome with 3 lanes that bit of road has the opportunity to be as safe as it gets especially on a weekend morning. While there are places we can and do choose not to ride, in reality everywhere should be a safe place to ride if drivers drive with due care and attention and know and obey the road rules. Link to post Share on other sites
PaperMan 332 Posted March 17, 2014 Report Share Posted March 17, 2014 Why not close off 1 lane for bikes on Sunday mornings only from 4am to mid-day. There is precedent for Sunday morning road closures in other cities (Tokyo, Sao Paulo, etc), it would have minimal effect on traffic that time of day, and it would encourage healthy and safe riding? If successful, I would also like Pittwater Road closed off all day Sunday (joking, sort of). Link to post Share on other sites
Oneday 8 Posted March 17, 2014 Report Share Posted March 17, 2014 I hear you roxii Yep three lanes of traffic, 80ks and hour, sweeping bend, merging lane, sun in the eyes... yep has the opportunity to be safe I suppose, but unfortunately as the weekend showed it also has the opportunity to be really dangerous. I know personally that you can avoid it, and that's what I choose to do... I like riding but I like getting home safely as well... each to their own I guess The whole drivers need to drive with due care and attention grates with me a bit... Crashes happen when you use the roads. Cars, trucks, buses, bikes collide in endless combinations every day. No where is safe from a crash, some places the consequences are higher 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Naut 718 Posted March 17, 2014 Report Share Posted March 17, 2014 Why not close off 1 lane for bikes on Sunday mornings only from 4am to mid-day. There is precedent for Sunday morning road closures in other cities (Tokyo, Sao Paulo, etc), it would have minimal effect on traffic that time of day, and it would encourage healthy and safe riding? If successful, I would also like Pittwater Road closed off all day Sunday (joking, sort of). Pretty sure Beach Road in Melb is No Standing until about 10am on weekend mornings so cyclists have the left hand lane without having to weave around parked cars. Link to post Share on other sites
Diamonds 472 Posted March 17, 2014 Report Share Posted March 17, 2014 I have no knowledge of this particular incident, but as a general comment, I find these fully lane marked roads with a speed limit of 80kph or less the most dangerous places of all to ride. General Holmes Drive as an example in Sydney or in my area the three laned road around the Steelworks. The Road Rules place no onus on a driver to stay left and a driver obeying the speed limit is routinely passed on the left which as an act itself is totally legal. A slow moving (relative to traffic) bunch is hidden by a huge blind spot as a driver passes a car on the inside. These type of roads promote cars zipping in and out of traffic and are just downright dangerous. It is just the way it is. Contrast that with a centreline only type street where no one looks to pass on the left unless there is a stationary vehicle with a right indicator on and things are much more predictable as a rule. Link to post Share on other sites
Formerly known as BOTP II 107 Posted March 17, 2014 Report Share Posted March 17, 2014 The "not a safe place to ride" arguement has been getting a lot of air over this. I suppose being only an 80k zome with 3 lanes that bit of road has the opportunity to be as safe as it gets especially on a weekend morning. While there are places we can and do choose not to ride, in reality everywhere should be a safe place to ride if drivers drive with due care and attention and know and obey the road rules. i don't think that is reality so to speak. a few years ago my wife was riding with a support vehicle behind their group. a young dui driver slammed into the back of vehicle. the riders and vehicle were.in a shoulder of a 2 lane road i.e. the guy had 2 whole lanes to miss them. but for vehicle, i hate to think. guy did a good job on himself apparently. yes he should not have been driving, yes he should have driven around them, yes he should care about others and himself. but is that reality ? riding on that road is a.calculated.risk for each individual to make. Link to post Share on other sites
kal 16 Posted March 17, 2014 Report Share Posted March 17, 2014 I hear you roxii Yep three lanes of traffic, 80ks and hour, sweeping bend, merging lane, sun in the eyes... yep has the opportunity to be safe I suppose, but unfortunately as the weekend showed it also has the opportunity to be really dangerous. I know personally that you can avoid it, and that's what I choose to do... I like riding but I like getting home safely as well... each to their own I guess The whole drivers need to drive with due care and attention grates with me a bit... Crashes happen when you use the roads. Cars, trucks, buses, bikes collide in endless combinations every day. No where is safe from a crash, some places the consequences are higher Just out of curiosity, which way do you go? I can only think of a combination of Rocky Point Road and the Princes Hwy to maybe Qantas Drive. Rocky Point Road would only be one lane on a weekend with parked cars. The Princes Hwy has 2 lanes with parked cars in the 3rd, and 70kmh for a lot of it. Qantas Drive has a pretty wide shoulder for a bit but then you still have to merge with cars going 80kmh (I think, maybe only be 70??). If you move into back streets you are then down to a single lane, lots of drive ways and parked cars. If I'm on my own riding to work I can do most of it on a bike path, but in a group of 6 or more I really can't think of any other options. Happy to be told of other ways. Local knowledge can be helpful from a local. Kylee Link to post Share on other sites
Otter 111 Posted March 17, 2014 Report Share Posted March 17, 2014 Any update on what actually happened, drunk driver/bad luck/other? Link to post Share on other sites
Oneday 8 Posted March 17, 2014 Report Share Posted March 17, 2014 west botany street, then bestic, in saying that most of the people I ride with either drive or ride to tempe and go from there, there is km's of road to the south, don't really feel it's necessary to play in the traffic closer to town Link to post Share on other sites
Will 142 Posted March 17, 2014 Report Share Posted March 17, 2014 I'd agree with Kal, in a group it is the safest and quickest route - multiple lanes limited entry/exit points, generally good sight lines. If you go solo you can skip those sections, i don't ride it solo but once i am with more than 6 - i take that route. Large groups going via Botany Road/Gardeners Road is just more of a headache du top so many sections that are single lane and yet it is still a heavy truck route. Add in all the car doors opening and it isn't any safer. Link to post Share on other sites
nealo 1,657 Posted March 17, 2014 Report Share Posted March 17, 2014 The reports I read said they were in the breakdown lane anyway. Link to post Share on other sites
PaperMan 332 Posted March 20, 2014 Report Share Posted March 20, 2014 http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/sydney-cyclist-loses-function-in-hand-after-collision-with-car-20140319-352wm.html Sounds like a long road to recovery, and a while until we know the fate of the young man behind the wheel. This woman's positive outlook and firm insistence on her rights are an inspiration. Hopefully a silver lining here is that people see that cyclists aren't mad aggressive men in lycra with filthy attitudes. Link to post Share on other sites
AVAGO 352 Posted March 20, 2014 Report Share Posted March 20, 2014 Speaking from her bed in the Sydney Hospital Hand Unit, Ms McDonald said she was trying to stay positive, and simply felt sorry for the 28-year-old driver. "I really feel very, very sad for him," she said. this woman has a heart of gold and I wish her as swift a recovery as possible. p.s. message to self. " do NOT ride on Southern Cross Drive" in a traffic lane about 5 years ago I bike commuted from Botany along SCD in the breakdown lane and on to Narrabeen.... not any more. Link to post Share on other sites
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