On Wednesday, July 31, 2013 9:40:13 AM UTC+1, Mentalguy2k8 wrote:
"Bertie Wooster" wrote in message

...

On Wed, 31 Jul 2013 07:57:58 +0100, "Mrcheerful"

wrote:



A little more info. but the child is still critical.

Acting sergeant Lee Savage told the Daily Echo on Friday: "We know that a

pedal cyclist coming from the direction of Canford Cliffs village towards

Branksome collided with a nine-year-old crossing the road at the crossing.



"The pedal cyclist then got off his bike, picked it up and walked into the

nearby gardens."



http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/new...ei la_Crofts/



It looks like the crossing is this one:

http://goo.gl/maps/IqDMA



There appears to be a steep hill leading down to the crossing from the

north / northeast. I can see that it would be a temptation for a

cyclist to gather speed downhill in order to make it up the shorter

and less steep hill leading to the southwest of the crossing.



If I were to speculate on the cause of the accident, my money would be

on the cyclist going too fast downhill, and being unable to control

his bike on the bend with children on the crossing. Irrespective of

the phase of light at the time of the crash, the cyclist is wholly to

blame (if my speculation is correct). Fleeing the scene is

unforgivable, though the cyclist has partly redeemed himself by giving

himself up at the police station.



If my speculation is correct, I would hope that any judge would

consider a custodial sentence for the cyclist. I know it would be rare

for a motor vehicle driver to receive anything other than a short ban

and modest fine for this sort of reckless behaviour and cowardly

fleeing from the scene, but as cyclists I think that we should be held

to a higher standard of behaviour.



Next time I pass an RNLI charity box I will donate a fiver out of

gratitude for the assistance they gave to the young victim, and shame

the reckless and cowardly cyclist has brought upon other cyclists.



Well said.

And you, Pratac, and Mrcheerful will do the same (a fiver in the charity box) for the shame a reckless and cowardly motorist has brought upon other motorists, every time it happens. And you will be bankrupt in a month.