The Mayor of London has met with the family of Brian Dorling, a cyclist killed in east London on October 24, and expressed his condolences for their loss.

During a meeting at City Hall the Mayor outlined the work his team have put into improving cycle safety at a time when the capital is experiencing unprecedented levels of cycling. The Mayor also explained how a comprehensive programme of work is being put together to make cycling in London safer.

That programme will include a thorough assessment of Bow roundabout, which Transport for London has been asked to provide for the Mayor as soon as possible as part of a safety review of every major planned scheme on Transport for London roads, and of every junction on the Cycle Superhighways.

A probe will be carried out into the operation of Heavy Goods Vehicles in the capital by the construction industry.

And a further series of safety campaigns that target every road user will be launched.

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: "I feel bitterly sorry for the loss of any cyclist or any road user on the streets of London and I offered my most humble condolences to the family of Brian Dorling today. This has been a distressing time for families and friends of the cyclists involved in recent accidents and nothing I say will diminish their loss. But I am determined to do everything possible to make our roads safer for cyclists and I have asked TfL to embark on a great deal of work to do so. I do want to reassure Londoners that at a time when record numbers are cycling the statistics show that our streets are getting safer; however we will do our utmost to minimise any future casualties and are focusing on several key areas where we believe improvements might be made."

ENDS

Information for reporter:

*Transport for London has launched an immediate review of all major schemes planned on TfL roads and all junctions on the existing Cycle Superhighways. That review will look at all options for ensuring that the safety of cyclists, pedestrians and all road users remains paramount.

*This work is now underway, with Bow roundabout the first to be studied. The results for Bow will be available within weeks, with all remaining junctions reviewed on a prioritised basis between now and the spring.

* Transport for London will commission an independent review of the design, operation and driving of construction industry vehicles, for example skip lorries, tipper trucks and cement mixers in London.

*These types of heavy goods vehicles have been involved in at least seven of the eight incidents this year which have led to cyclist fatalities. The review will build on the work already done by TfL on making the vehicles and their operation safer. Initial results will be available in the spring next year.

*TfL will undertake a further series of campaigns designed to ensure that drivers, pedestrians and cyclists are given the information they need to help stay safe on London's roads. The first of these, urging drivers to look out for cyclists, goes live this week.

*A campaign specifically covering the issue of HGV’s on London’s roads is in development and will build on previous campaigns on cycle safety and the need for drivers to share road space with cyclists and vice versa.

*The development of these initiatives will seek the input of a wide range of stakeholders, including the construction and haulage industries, cycling groups and local representatives from across the capital.