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Yet Another Death on Highly Criticised Cycle Highways

06 November 2013 | Updated 01 January 1970
 

Less than five days after ThisWeekinFM’s news story from last Friday, yet another cyclist has been killed on one of London's four Barclays Cycle Superhighways.

This accident was on one of the older stretches of the Cycle Superhighway 2 on the Mile End Road in East London that had not been subject to the latest improvements (see below) but is on a section that has been highly criticised for being confusing and dangerous. This is the third death on CS2. Nine cyclists have died in London accidents this year.

The accident happened just before the rush-hour at about 4:40pm. Unconfirmed reports say a man of 62 had collided with a tipper lorry (which was not turning but was moving from stationary) and died at the scene. The driver of the lorry was not arrested but was held for questioning.

 
From November 1st
Avoiding Confusion and Accidents for Cyclists with Latest Route

The latest development of the Barclays Cycle Superhighway route 2 has been opened amidst criticism from cyclist groups, victims’ relatives and the Metropolitan Police.

More of a Staff Transport than a Fleet issue, the Barclays Cycle Superhighway route 2 route along Stratford High Street to Stratford town centre in London has been extended by Transport for London. It insists that it is also making the route extension safer by introducing a series of safety features to segregate cyclists from buses and other heavy vehicles. (See the accompanying videos.)

New bus stop bypass for cyclists

 

A network of cycle superhighways was announced in 2008 with the aim of creating continuous routes from outer to central London by 2012. They were intended to make commuter cycling easier, safer, faster and more attractive. Twelve more are planned by 2015.

This scheme has not stopped criticism from cyclist groups, victims’ relatives and the Metropolitan Police about cycle superhighways so far.

At one inquest, Debbie Dorling said it was only after her husband's death that one junction was changed.

Brian Dorling, 58, died in October 2011 at Bow roundabout in east London on one of the painted blue cycle lanes introduced in the last few years. PC Simon Wickenden told Poplar Coroner's Court the Met had warned the lanes gave a "false sense of security".

Mr Dorling, from Hounslow, west London, died after proceeding straight over the roundabout in Bow on a cycle superhighway, as lorry driver David Cox, 49, turned left. He was using the Bow to Aldgate route to cycle to work in the Olympic Park. The inquest heard he and the lorry went through a red traffic light. In July, the lorry driver received a suspended six-month sentence. He had admitted causing death by careless driving.

Three weeks after Mr Dorling's death, a 34-year-old woman was killed at the same junction.

A statement from Mr Dorling's family said: "This was supposed to be a dedicated cycle route offering people a safer way to use their bikes on the capital's congested roads. It's only after Brian's death that TfL has seen fit to act to change the junction's layout so that vulnerable road users such as cyclists are given priority over larger vehicles which would otherwise pose them a greater risk.’

Responding, while in China, to the Met officer's criticism at the Brian Darling inquest, Boris Johnson said: "I don't think it's fair to attack the entire system of providing more superhighways and more cycle lanes in the way that we've tried to do.”

“We have already done huge changes to Bow roundabout as part of a package of about £1billion of investment in junctions and roundabouts across London."

 

New cycle early start at Bow roundabout

 

 

A two-stage right turn for cyclists on Stratford High Street

 

Article written by Brian Shillibeer | Published 06 November 2013

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