cyclist involved a serious accident in Bangalore few days back ...

[berkeleydb]

Hi all,

A friend of mine informed me about a friend of his meeting with a serious accident in Bangalore few days back, while commuting to work on bicycle. Suffered serious head injuries after being hit by a car. Is currently in the ICU of a hospital.

I'll withold the personal details for now, as I don't know the person directly. But wanted to know if anyone heard anything in the news (or otherwise). A search online did not show anything. I hope these incidents are reported by the media & properly investigated by the cops.

I'll find out if there is any support that the person or family may need.

My friend was very concerned about me as well... he keeps saying it's very risky to ride bicycles on Indian roads. Which I agree with, for the most part. I just try to take some precautions from my side, & hope for the best when I ride.

Please do be very cautious while riding.

-{db}.

[Ashok Kumar S]

You said you know the personal details but are withholding, right? Guess you would be the best person to confirm the incident. Didn't hear about it in any news or forums till now. Please do keep us updated. Wishing him a speedy recovery. 

Thanks and regards,

Ashok. 

Sent from my iPhone

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[berkeleydb]

Sorry I may not have been clear... Intent of my post was to check if anything had been reported in the medimedia (and hoping there is a investigation). And sound a note of caution.

I have no reason to doubt that it has happened. Am trying to get in touch with the person's local friends.

thx, -{db}.

[Prashanth Chengi]

Considering the seriousness of the incident/accident, there definitely would be an investigation and it wouldn't be too much to expect punishment meted out to the offender. However, unless the victim is directly related to a political heavyweight, nothing much can be expected to change for the better, as a direct result of this incident.  Stay safe, all.

/Prashanth

[suman paul]

It is very sad. I hope our good wishes help him & more importantly his family. 

thank you & regards

suman  

+91      9886300685

[deepakvrao]

No big deal. Open the newspaper every morning and see at least 5-10 traffic deaths. Why would a cyclistb be anything special?

[Opendro]

While it is true that bicycles are unsafe compared to cars, it is definitely safer than a motorcycle in city limits at least simply because it is lighter to handle and slower in speed.

However the statistics may be, learning to ride properly in traffic goes a long way in increasing that safety. Some accidents are not in our control. But many of them are. I'm using the word "learn properly" instead of "cautious", because I assume that we are more or less cautious on the road. But not everyone learns to ride well. Learning to ride well means, besides some safety discipline, to be able to brake properly, be able to ride dead slow without falling, be able to turn safely, be able to balance when an obstacle (such as pothole, other vehicles rubbing you, etc.) unsettles the ride, be able to get off the saddle in no time in case of sudden brake stop, being able to negotiate with traffic specially crossing the road in a continuously flowing traffic, etc. Many of these things come through experience. When my daughter took the bike to traffic on earlier days in the morning, I used to run behind her to signal the traffic, manage her here and there, on and off the saddle, etc. Later, she slowly took to heavier day traffic, on busier road, etc. Not yet on highways though. Now, I'm kind of confident that she can manage decently well in city traffic. But it took two years.

[R. Venkatachalam]

Nice Opendro, is your daughter now commuting to school all by herself? which class is she in?

I am hoping my kiddo also commutes to school from 5th standard onwards (which is still 6 years away). Earlier the better I feel, this 'cycling is dangerous' is a hype. Its as safe or as dangerous as any other means of transport from what I have personally seen.

I have had my share of accidents in auto, car, motorcycle and bicycle and I felt I was a lot more in control of the situation when I was on the bicycle. With a fixie, I feel the general road sense has become even better, I have to judge the traffic a lot better and slow down or accelerate accordingly and hence be more vigilant on the road.

[Opendro]

She was determined to commute from 5th std (which she is in now). But wife was not ready to let her ride and I had to agree. The main reason was of physical safety of a small girl riding alone without any of her friends riding. Otherwise, 4.5 km, about 18 to 20 mins, she was super comfortable. I can see a few boys from her school riding daily. The number is still small. I would let her ride in a couple of years from now.

[Opendro]

I must have added that 18 to 20 mins was because I was running behind and she had to slow down to my running speed. I would ride back her bike while she would come back in van. That was the norm twice or thrice a week. But not anymore this year as the second kid is also going to school and she definitely needs to be dropped.

[mkonchady]

>While it is true that bicycles are unsafe compared to cars, it is definitely safer than a motorcycle in city limits >at least simply because it is lighter to handle and slower in speed.

I don't believe riding a cycle is safer than riding a motorbike or scooter. All vehicles have their risks, but a cycle is more vulnerable BECAUSE it is light. A small tap from a much heavier motorbike and you will lose your balance and fall on the road.

It has happened to me -- I have been riding a bicycle for about 6 years in the city. But, when a motorbike swerved into my lane and touched my bicycle, it was impossible to stop from falling on the road. I got away with a few bruises and the other guy slipped away into the rest of traffic before I could look around.

I feel more threatened by motorized two wheelers than cars. They tend to be more rash, accelerate, and weave through traffic. With less and less space on the road, the chances of getting knocked down by such characters increases.

--Manu Konchady

[Opendro]

Debate for another day.

[justin joseph]

Investigation will be of no use.  Antiquated laws.  Example: 100 rs fine is many decades old, in general all fine amounts.  Fine is meant to be a deterrent.  What is the equal value of 100 rs compared to today many decades back.  I.e adjusted for inflation etc.. Probably below 5 rs, in any case too small an amount to discourage anyone from breaking rules back then. Would have been a joke back then if they fixed such small amounts as fine. Why isn't this a joke today, because we are all taken for granted by the powers that be.  The political class and government servants have been too busy looting the country, except for few I.e.  Complex issues actually, example if fines were gradually raised every year.  People will probably question the condition of infrastructure.  Then how will this adjustment between contractors and public works department continue.

From memory, maybe wrong.  J walking in Singapore can be fined 300 Singapore dollars.  Here traffic accident resulting in death has mandatory punishment but I think it is sentencing for a single day I.e you can spend your time in the court itself on the sentencing day and go home. Forgot about cases where more stringent punishments were handed down.

Not just a morning rant. Have spend time in police stations filling FIR's with sections that have maximum penalty when ever our vechile s are hit from left right and center. I think the maximum fine if the other party pleads guilty is 5000 rs.  In any case the erring party will die of Old age before the courts decide on the case.  Other realities that I can confirm, there is no queue system if you call 100 in cochin, where I live now.  On many occasions I could not connect.  The assistant police commissioner here who is also in charge of law and order does not reply to any mails send to her official email ID's.

Just yesterday a lady jumped onto the road and I braked my two wheeler and because there were infinite number of small stones the vehicle skidded and I jumped off like a circus clown.  Escaped.

For family use I had this tank like European SUV which is now sold because we are finally jumping ship and moving elsewhere.  As a parting gift all three of us were admitted with severe food poisoning as soon as we got back from Chennai visa interviews.  Its OK, people can sell any poison packaged as food here.  Even the chief minister was found guilty of wealth beyond known sources of income.  Now who would pay her? Will we.. No.  So the people who sell such poisons, create accidents, loot this country.. These folks will pay up.  Why are they not investing that? 

All the best Modi you have a lot to do if like they say, you plan on delivering.

I hope the person who met with the accident recovers.