Sad first walk on Sundaqy morning. On Sunday at least I tend to get up a little after seven, and the whole routine is different to the other days of the week. Then I have a nine am second walk with my friend Karen and her two lovely dogs ...
I was out about twenty past seven, and saw a lady, who was somewhat distressed, saying that she had lost her old black Spaniel. The dog was apparently deaf and somewhat blind, so quite a scary prospect, but I can still see well at the long distance, and I immediately spotted her little dog on the main A44 as it joins the Malvern Road turn toward Acton Cross. She ran like a human possessed, but sadly the dog was knocked down and killed in front of our eyes by a speeding Transit style van. She got there first as I had by now picked Lu up and have a quite bad right knee in any case so running is horrible for me. The van driver denied speeding ...
The poor lady was hysterical, and the van driver remarkably calm considering what had just happened. The speed on this road has increased massively over the years. There used to be sheep on the Common till about twenty years ago, when it became impossible because of the numbers being knocked down by speeding vehicles. The lady phoned to her husband, and who turned up a few minutes later. He thanked me for trying to help, and I said that I would get out of their way.
On the appalling driving along this road, there have been three serious motor vehicle into cycle crashes since July - the last one being a hit and run. I have given up cycle along this road now. I am wondering if there might be a case for a reduced speed limit from 50 and 60, down to say 40, which would massively reduce the risks to more vulnerable road users, but it would require speed cameras and strict enforcement to work, sad to say.
No jolly sign off today. Just Bye for now from George