A female cyclist died this morning on Bow Roundabout – two years after the death of Svitlana Tereschenko at the same area of Bow Roundabout. Local Labour London Assembly Member John Biggs is demanding Mayor of London Boris Johnson urgently put in place a safety awareness campaign for cyclists and motorists along the Cycle Superhighway 2 (CS2), as well as immediately introduce an early phase for cyclists at all traffic lights along the route.
The CS2 was recently labelled an “accident waiting to happen” by the coroner investigating the recent deaths of cyclists along the route. John Biggs AM today repeated his call for fully segregating on the CS2, a route where four cyclists have died in two years. In the past week, four cyclists have died on roads across the capital.
John Biggs AM is urging Mayor of London Boris Johnson to sign up to the London Cycling Campaign’s Space for Cycling campaign. This calls on Transport for London and local authorities to ensure:
- Safer Routes for schoolchildren
- Streets without through motor traffic
- Protected space on main roads/major junctions
- Safe cycle routes via parks and canals
- 20mph speed limits
- Liveable town centres
Local London Assembly member, John Biggs said:
“My deepest sympathy is with the family and friends of the victim following the latest tragedy on Bow Roundabout. The Mayor must stop calling CS2 a Cycle Superhighway and encouraging cyclists to use it unless he urgently implements safety measures that will protect these vulnerable road users along the whole route. Transport for London need to speak to as many cyclists and motorists along the route as possible about cycle safety. The Mayor must introduce an early phase for cyclists at all traffic lights along the route now.
“My view, which is shared by the coroner who recently investigated the deaths of two cyclists on the Cycle Superhighway 2, is the blue paint on the road creates a false sense of safety and security for cyclists. Instead we need the Mayor to act urgently and prioritise the safety of cyclists and pedestrians at Bow Roundabout and dangerous junctions which are particularly hazardous for vulnerable road users.
“All Cycle Super Highways must be reviewed as swiftly as possible and segregated to avoid any further casualties or deaths. I urge the Mayor of London to sign up to the London Cycling Campaign’s Space for Cycling which will make cycling in London safer. There are too many tragedies and a lot of public money has been spent on the existing Cycle Super Highways that could have been used for segregation.”
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