I'm kind of fine about this, if a car hit her there would be no question about accountability but so many of these London cyclists are using race bikes to sprint everywhere and acting like asses. Anyone who has a "loud airhorn" attached to his bicycle is a habitual terrorist.
Cyclists have places to be, just like everyone else. I used to cycle to work years ago and saw firsthand what kind of people are allowed to drive. Many deliberately harass cyclists, probably due to their low intelligence and otherwise empty lives. This makes cyclists, myself included angry as the car drivers suffer no penalties for it unless they then proceed to actually hit and probably kill someone, as has happened. One is quite defenseless on a bicycle when the car or truck is centimeters from you -- any contact will cause you bodily harm when you fall. If you can't manage walking around cyclists, how do you survive around cars? Keep your eyes open and you'll be fine, never had an issue with cyclists when I'm walking. If you're waddling around with your eyes on your phone, it's your problem. Some cities have created laws for this -- walking while using your phone is illegal and can be fined. This case proves that it's a good law. Phone zombies deserve to get hit, decide if you walk or are using your phone, your eyes cannot possibly do both. It's also annoying when they are blocking busy streets by walking slowly because a Facebook post needs to be liked.
I have to disagree, there is an appropriate speed and going faster than you can react is not it. Bikes are silent but deadly and that cars hurt bikes does not change this. This is especially true in windy conditions. Similar to current generation electric cars but that is changing in Europe with sound generators. No matter what you do about it, children, elderly and stupid will walk without due attention. I've seen a laser system used to paint the green crosswalk near the university here as students were getting pasted by cars and buses. I get it that people need to wake up but they never will. I've been hit from behind by bastard couriers and wankers in cycling shorts 3-4 times in London. My daughter was hit twice when she was seven and hit and cycled on the footpath. You get idiots in cars but you really get idiots on bikes also. Same with the wheelchair guys who are rolling angry and being total dicks. I would ban racing bikes where guys have their ass in the air and face to the ground allowing only Dutch style (similar) where the rider is sitting high and not going to go too fast. I've owned racing bikes and I know that people tend to look down momentarily a lot on them.
I would say that the UK system is simple, if you are in charge of a vehicle on the road and you hit a pedestrian, it is your fault by default. I have not read the law but I recall this from my driving lessons. The only thing you can argue is the level of penalty. I recall similar in Holland and I'm sure other counties. This is to keep drivers & motorbikes aware that they have the responsibility. It is fair that this applies to bicycles also though I would not like to see them licenced.