Mayor answers to London

Fatal and serious accidents

[Main question]

Question by Caroline Pidgeon

How many fatal and serious accidents involving cyclists and “bendy buses” have there been each year since these vehicles were introduced?

Answer by Boris Johnson

I am informed that, thankfully, there have been no fatal accidents arising from collisions between cyclists and articulated buses in London since the introduction of articulated vehicles. However, this does not weaken the case for their removal. The perception of safety is an important element in whether people decide to cycle or not. The bottom line is bendy buses contribute to the perception that cycling is unsafe, and it is my intention to correct this perception in order to get more people cycling.

Serious incidents are defined by TfL as those where a cyclist may have required treatment, including in hospital. There was one serious incident involving a cyclist in each of the years 2005/06 and 2006/07, and two in 2007/08.