Time for ped riders

Motorcycling
1

For all my going on about ped riders, I have to say an absolutely MASSIVE thank you to two in particular.

Yesterday, I rode straight into a pedestrian on Waterloo Road after he jumped out from between two double decker buses without looking. I didn’t stand a chance of avoiding him and he, me and the bike ended up in a big heap in the middle of Waterloo Road. I was taken to hospital and he did a disappearing act.

It’s what happened in the meantime that’s really changed my perspective on generalising about groups of people, in this case, ped riders. Two ped riders, a man and his partner, stopped to help me. Not only did they make sure an ambulance was called, my bike was moved out of the road and given a once-over, they also took my keys off me, got a lock out of my top box and disc-locked the bike as no safe parking could be found.

As if that weren’t enough, they had also been left with my bunch of keys as I was whisked away to hospital. Instead of running off with the bike, or keys (house keys, work keys, bike keys, bike fob etc), they ensured that the police were given the keys, as well as their contact details as witnesses, and one of them stopped by St Thomas’s hospital later in the day to check that I was alright!

This has absolutely restored my faith in humanity, and I am going to make a concerted effort to stop slagging off other road users.

The ped rider’s blog is here: http://scooterlondon.blogspot.com/ where he’s put up an account of what happened.

Update on bike: Scratched right-side bar end and fairing, scratched mirror, scratched up end can and top box, very bent brake lever which will need replacing, and a very scuffed and bent crash bung. Not sure whether the bung has done any damage to the engine block yet, as it will need to be removed and a new one replaced. Fingers crossed the engine bolt doesn’t shear off in the process.

Anyone know how I can claim for this damage? I’ve only got TPFT insurance, and neither I nor the police have this guy’s name etc. He scarpered.

2

hope not too much damage to u or the bike!

those pedestrians are lethal…

3

sounds horrible, glad you’re still talking and typing.

x

4

I a faceless city, what a refreshing tale of humility.

Glad you’re OK

5

come to think of it, were you outside Sainsburys about 730 last night, I rode past a kerfuffle with ambulance already in attendance.

6

Sorry to hear you wiped. Pedestrians are the worst. I’ve taken to hitting the one’s who walk out without looking. Not with my bike, just the back of a heavily ARMOURED glove to the back of the head…hey a headache’s far better than 3 weeks in traction, they get off lightly that way.

Not sure if ped v bike counts as third part damaging your bike.
Prob is pedestrians aren’t insured, so the only company to pay out in this situation will be your insurer…they then hit you with the “Death of your no-claims bonus” card, which makes you angry, and then makes you poorer in the future. Sorry this paragraph is probably not much help, but then again, it ends on a positive…I know very little about insurance 'cept personal experience. Find someone who knows more and you may get a better answer.

hope you’re well

Ken

7

Glad you’re in one piece Keti - hope you’re feeling better soon!

8

OH NO BABE. REALLY SORRY TO HEAR THAT. WELL I HOPE YOU CAN LIMP BY TONIGHT FOR A GET WELL SOON HUG

IF THE PERSON HAS HOUSEHOLD INSURANCE, SOME SCHEMES YOU WILL BE ABLE TO CLAIM OFF BUT OF COURSE YOU NEED THEIR DETAILS, SO UNLESS THE POLICE CATCH THE LEMMING YOU MAY BE OUT OF LUCK I AM AFRAID TO SAY

THE MAIN THING IS THAT YOU ARE OK

9

Oh Keti, sorry to hear about your accident! I know how you feel, I’ve been involved in a similar accident before! Unfortunately you won’t be able to make a claim as you don’t have the persons details and even if you did, you’d have to try and claim off their home-contents insurance, if they had any, and not all policies cover public liability at that Bad situation!

Glad you’re okay and that you were kind enough to be helped by other riders. We’re all one in this big city and I’m sure this experience has shown that. Keep us informed of how things go, I’m sure you’ll get some offers of help with the bike here…

10

Oh no, Keti, hope you aren’t hurt too bad! There are some nice peeps still out there, and I’d like to think that we would all do the same in the same situation!

Unless you have details it is unlikely you can claim. Ask your insurers about the motor insurers bureau, they are usually for uninsured / untraced drivers, but this might still apply as the accident seemingly wasn’t your fault.

Contact the peeps who helped you and get em on here so they can receive a pat on the back!!!

UPDATE:

Oh, contact the police to see if there are any available CCTV cameras… I wonder if this would be classed as a hit and run and leaving the scene of an accident???

11

TFL would be best bet for camera’s. My ex handles all the data release protection act nonsense for them.

12

Cheap research and phone call, may be better then an expesive self funded repair.

Good luck Keti.

13

Oli, this was just after 8:30am yesterday, but it was outside Sainys on Waterloo Road, yup. Wouldn’t be surprised if it was the same problem later on in the day though. Now I think about it, people do have a tendency to do suicidal dives across that bit of road.

Thanks for all the advice, folks, I’ll try and see how far I can get re CCTV.

14

Glad you’re ok Keti, and well done to the scooter riders for helping you.

If I can do anyhting to help, let me know.

15

Really sorry to hear the news but glad you are OK. Read the scooter persons blog and they do restore my faith in the world!

16

oh no, i must have driven past there to go up towards blackfriers at about 8.45. It was up more towards the bridge though wasn’t it?? well if there is anything that you need just give us a shout

17

Just read the scooter blog, ok ped didn’t leave scene of accident but seemingly went to the hospital. Maybe the police can make an enquiry about that as there would be a record of him.

Good luck though, going to be a tough one.

18

The police pitched up at the hospital not long after I was admitted and had a good hunt around for him. They were under the impression he had gone to St Thomas’s, but didn’t actually know, and the hunt revealed nothing. He did do a runner. But he did hang around to see I was ok, so I can’t mouth off too much I spose,

19

Keti

Did he get in the paramedic’s car with you? As I said, my back was turned and I didn’t see you leave. Someone said he had gone with you, and that is what I told the police.

BTW, as for the time it was about 8.55 when you got hit. I remember thinking just before the accident that I was on course to get to work, just the other side of the bridge, just after 9.

20

WELL DONE THAT MAN! As I special concession I vote that Giuliano is spared the newbie stick - anyone comes near him with it should be publicly flogged!

I also read your blog, very nice writing style, and very impressed with your actions. You are a LB hero.