Hit and run bicycle victim speaks out after driver zooms off

“'Elizabeth said she had stayed after work for one drink with her uncle on Monday before jumping on her bike, as she usually did, to go home' so she often rides while drunk then?”

“why has my comment bin remove red it was the truth stuiped cow !!!”

“Dan. You only have to stand by this roundabout for five minutes to see how this multitude of lights and confusing lane markings can easily baffle motorists. A very popular one is for car drivers, particularly at the stop line, who will attempt to drive off as the next set of lights turns green while theirs are still red. The left turn from Tewkesbury Road into P.E. Way is also particularly dangerous as car drivers cannot see the pedestrian lights until they are upon them. Another failing with this roundabout is that because it is so small many people do not expect to have to stop once they are on the roundabout itself. I have seen several cars not stopping at these mid-way points in their circumnavigation. Throw in the misleading lane markings and lanes that suddenly go from 2 into 1 causing almost constant "cutting up" between vehicles its fortunate that there have not been more accidents like this. And none of this is an excuse for the driver who did not stop, he knew he did wrong and took the cowardly way out. Lets hope he gets caught soon.”

“@Quasi

Looking at the crossing on Google streetview I can confirm its a Toucan crossing. However I can see no major problem with visibility - this leads me to beleive that if anything the driver entered without due care and attention. Remember the highway code does state that when entering/exiting junctions to do so with caution.

Looks to me very much like the driver didnt have any appreciation for the conditions.”

“While I completely sympathise with Ms Holloway. I feel the fault lies with the poorly thought out design of the pedestrian/bicycle crossings. These have been placed too close to the roundabout and its entirely possible for cars, particularly those turning immediately left, to not see or confuse the pedestrian lights with the traffic lights. This dangerous situation is repeated at several locations through the town such as the Ambrose Street and High Street junction where pedestrian crossings follow the give way lines on the roundabout and the cycle path on Princess Elizabeth Way where the cycle path has priority over the side roads it crosses within feet of the main junction. In this instance one cyclist has already been killed. Cheltenham council thinks, or has been advised, that traffic control involves creating as many hazards as possible as seen by the number of chicanes and road narrowing schemes. Can they not think of any traffic calming measures that does not risk the lives of other road users.”

“@Phil, uk

Depends on the crossing. There are Toucan crossings for example where riders are permitted to ride across in the same direction as pedestrians.”

“phil - whether that is correct or not, the point is that Ms Holloway used the crossing on green, therefore the car must have gone through a red light for the two to come into conflict. Or the traffic lights are faulty, with green being shown at the same time on the crossing and for road traffic.....

As for it being known as the "Lex Mead" roundabout - not recently. PC World / Currys are built on what used to be Lex Mead - Land Rover dealers if I remember correctly (amongst other manufactuers, I'd guess)...??? Must be at least 10 years since the site was re-developed.....”

“your not supposed to ride across a crossing on your bike you have to get off and walk it across”

“Lex Mead roundabout! Oh my word! I'm stuck in a time warp!!!!”