It has emerged over the past 24 hours that the first cyclist to be killed in London this year was an experienced courier. This is a poignant reminder that even if you follow safety advice and have experience there are still many dangers out there. It also brings home once more the importance of campaigns such as the recent one by The Times.
Henry Warwick was a bicycle courier who worked for Rico Logistics. The incident occurred last Friday at the junction of Wormwood Street and Bishopsgate. This was promptly reported on by the Times and BBC London.
Many members of LFGSS have expressed their grief in the forum. In the thread there is also a video of Henry Warwick introducing Ed Robertson to life in London as a cycle courier.
A memorial ride will be held on Friday.
Oh dear 🙁 RIP!! Gosh I’ve really come to HATE cycling in London now! But it still won’t stop me from doing it daily! just wish that our REVOLUTION would move quicker! Only, London has SOOOOO many issues, urban cycle issues seem to take a far back seat!
I know – reminded me that just because I think I’m unstoppable out there and experienced things can take a turn for the dangerous. I’m really hoping the spread of support for cycle infrastructure moves the government to do something about it.
Prayers and thoughts to all that knew him…RIP
I cannot wrap my head around how this could have happened in that location. This is the route I take to work and I have never had any issues nor thought that it is a dangerous place, like for example the Blackfriars Bridge junction.
Either way, very sad to learn about this unneccesary death, however, I would not blame the coach driver straight away as we haven’t got a clue what caused the incident.
However, the notion that it was a Terravision coach did make my blood boil a little since I have had a terrible experience with one driver who tried to run me off the road, hooted quite a few times and was very aggressive towards me. Wrote a complaint to them too. No response.
I’ve nearly been run over by a Terravision coach before too – on Finsbury Square (pre-Occupy).
Be careful out there everyone.
So sad, I used to see him on my route to Aldgate from west London almost every day.
Sady, Henry was not the first to die this year. James Darby was killed by a car door opening into his path in Beckenham. It happened in early January and he died later in hospital. There have been signs appealing for witnesses to the event at the junction in Elmers End Rd where it occurred.
I keep reminding myself that cyclist deaths as a percentage of cyclists on the road today are fewer than some years in the 80’s when I rode around without a care in the world. I guess there was not the publicity back then and society seemed to perceive deaths on the road as an acceptable price to pay for the right to drive your tin box on wheels wherever and whenever. Also, we weren’t numerous enough for anyone to care. When the LCC first formed over 25 years ago, I remember some coined the phrase the Ten Speed Trots for it, it was considered so radical and extreme an organisation. There’s still a long way to go, but if the demand for safer roads has been taken up by that bastion of the establishment, we have come some distance.
By that bastion of the establishment, I meant The Times of course.
interesting video about rico couriers
2:25 into the youtube clip, 200-300 biker deaths a year? Was this badly edited and he was talking about accidents cause the stats are an average of 17 deaths a year.
Perhaps – I think if he’s speaking nation wide then the figure of 200-300 isn’t too far off.
Memorable ride for Henry..!!