London cyclists - grrrrrrrr

[Mr_Sukebe]

This morning I watched a cyclist being involved in an accident with a pedestrian.
The scenario was a lightly used road leading on a large roundabout with lights at each entrance to the roundabout. The lights had changed to green, and the waiting vehicles had already entered. As there's no other traffic visible within 50m, like many others I walked across. On getting to the other side of this single lane road, I spot a cyclist on the road at about 20mph.
Turning around, I watched said cyclist very nearly collect the half asleep pedestrian who'd been strolling the other way across the road.

Now in theory, the cyclist is in the right, as he was on a green light. Having said that, we are talking about London, and if I'd driven around only obeying green lights, I'm sure that I would have run over hundreds of zombies walking around.
This kind of thing really really annoys me, as the cyclist in question could have really hurt the pedestrian. Luckily, he took a tumble to avoid the pedestrian, but I know that this isn't always the case. Just when will these people realise that they do need to apply a modicum of common sense.

 

[Mr_Sukebe]

I agree with you completely there.

But, when a collision does happen where the cyclist technically isn't at fault, like in this case, the general consensus is still to blame the cyclist. The cyclist should've done this/that, instead of just saying "dozy, stupid pedestrian."

I meant what I said in the thread title.
The cyclist may have had the right of way, but that is NOT an excuse for putting himself into a position where he very nearly runs down a pedestrian.
As already mentioned, some pedestrians are idiots, but that doesn't mean that car drivers should automatically mow them down.

All I'm asking for is for the cyclists here to show a little more common sense, something that they often seem to be devoid of.

 

[Mr_Sukebe]

Pedestrians have a respect for cars, which they don't have for cyclists. That same dozy pedestrian would not have stepped out in front of a car, but since it was "only" a bicycle coming at him at 20mph, it's ok to do so. Then when the cyclist falls off avoiding him, it's still the cyclists fault!

Maybe I've driven more in London than you then, as I've had blind/oblvious/stupid/ignorant pedestrians walk about infront of me and other cars numerous times. Yet somehow, I've never actually seen a car run one down. Maybe it's because as car drivers we know we'll do them a lot more damage, whereas bike riders might only break their legs...