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Cyclist killed in London hit and run had called for protected bike lanes hours before his death

Tributes paid to Brian Barnett from Thamesmead, who lost his life last week

 

A cyclist who was killed last week in a hit and run incident involving a lorry in south east London had said hours before his death that protected cycle lanes were needed to make roads safer for people on bikes.

Brian Barnett, aged 60, died at the scene of the collision, which happened at 4.35am on the morning of Monday 8 October on a dual carriageway in Erith.

Police later found the lorry around 10 miles away in Swanley, Kent. The driver was arrested and has since been released while the investigation continues.

Around 10 hours before the crash, Mr Barnett, who lived in Thamesmead and tweeted from the account @thamesmeadnews, said on the social network that protected cycle lanes were needed to keep riders safe.

He wrote: “A cycle helmet will only offer protection if falling off a bike, hitting the ground. Not going under a lorry, or being hit by a vehicle. A new approach is needed for cycling, with segregated cycle lanes.”

The Evening Standard reports that according to his friends Mr Barnett had bought an electric bike after his car was one of those damaged by a runaway bus in Dartford in May in an incident that made national headlines.

:Bexley blogger Malcolm Knight said: “He told me he couldn’t afford to replace his car. He had spoken of buying an electric bike quite often. He told me he had bought it when I last saw him two weeks ago. I imagine that was what he was on.”

Labour councillor Danny Hackett said: “Brian was Thamesmead through and through,” he said. “He would be at every community event going. He was only 60 years old, it was a life cut short.”

The Metropolitan Police are continuing to appeal for witnesses and anyone with information is requested to contact the Serious Collisions Investigation Unit on 101 quoting reference 844/8OCT.

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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4 comments

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alansmurphy | 5 years ago
10 likes

And some on here still believe he shouldn't be on the road and/or the magic hat would have saved his life!

 

The driver should be done for murder, leaving the scene could have contributed to his death, the fact that the driver fled means you cannot trust a word they say in their defence!

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BehindTheBikesheds replied to alansmurphy | 5 years ago
4 likes
alansmurphy wrote:

And some on here still believe he shouldn't be on the road and/or the magic hat would have saved his life!

 

The driver should be done for murder, leaving the scene could have contributed to his death, the fact that the driver fled means you cannot trust a word they say in their defence!

Ah but they will be remorseful and a judge will suck it all in and knock a massive chunk off their punishment IF indeed firstly the police investigate properly, the driver actually gets charged, the CPS don't fuck up or present yet another piss weak case and IF a jury of his peers finds him guilty.

The government, judges, CPS, police and joe public are all complicit in this death as much as the driver is responsible directly. More deaths because people are weak minded, hateful and probably worse turn a blind eye to the harm being done and the solutions on offer and have the power to change things.

RIP, yet another needless death. 

Avatar
Legin | 5 years ago
11 likes

I didn't know Brian well. He was both a particpiant in and great servant to Cycle Speedway with his large body of photographic work. He will be missed by many in the sport; in particular the membership of the East London Club.

Very sad to lose any cyclist like this; it has a bigger impact when it is one of your own.

Avatar
burtthebike | 5 years ago
17 likes

Another one lost in the never ending war between profit and people; another tragedy for another family and his friends.  Make no mistake, that's what is happening; a war between the greedy and everyone else.  Make money out of pollution, congestion, road-building, cars, petrol, and the deaths of the people who disagree are their own fault.

I didn't know you Brian, but thanks for everything you did and tried to do.

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