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Review of Cycle Superhighway junctions ordered - but LCC says Mayor already knows action required

Results of review expected within a week, but LCC urges action on report it says Mayor and TfL ignored

Mayor of London Boris Johnson has ordered an immediate review of all junctions on the capital’s Barclays Cycle Superhighways following the deaths of two cyclists at the Bow roundabout in recent weeks. London Cycling Campaign (LCC) however insists that the Mayor and Transport for London (TfL) are already aware of what needs to be done at Bow.

Yesterday, LCC said that Mr Johnson and TfL had ignored the recommendations of a report they had commissioned from a firm of civil engineers which called for traffic signals specifically for cyclists and pedestrians as well as separate cycle tracks to be put in place at the Bow roundabout.

Mr Johnson, who has come under pressure from cycle campaigners and local politicians in the wake of three deaths of cyclists in the capital in recent weeks, two of them at Bow, ordered the review after he and officials from TfL had met with John Biggs, the Labour London Assembly member for City and East.

News of the review came as a candlelit vigil was held at the roundabout yesterday evening to commemorate the lives of 58-year-old Brian Dorling and an unnamed 34-year-old female Ukrainian national, both killed there recently. It marks the eastern end of CS2, which runs from Aldgate to Bow.

Quoted on local news website wharf.co.uk, Mr Biggs said: "It is important that they look into this as a matter of urgency and the necessary steps are taken to make the Roundabout safe for cyclists.

"All parties need to work together to find a solution and do all we can to avoid any more tragedies on our roads."

Speaking at yesterday evening’s vigil, LCC trustee Mustafa Arif said: "It's vitally important that Boris Johnson acts now. There's no need for any further reviews at Bow; they already know what needs to be done here."

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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thereverent | 12 years ago
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TfL know the result. Too many junctions are dangerous as they have ducked t issue of making them safer as they consider motor traffic speeds more important.

I hope they grasp the nettle and actually majke safety a priority.

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A V Lowe | 12 years ago
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You should not need to call for any special action from TfL - just read s.39 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 and it would seem to be a statutory requirement, with a clear prompt to have it delivered with the minimum of delay. Is TfL in breach of their statutory duty? Should DfT step in if TfL fail to deliver?

When Railtrack went into melt-down and there was a major question mark on track safety there was immediate action. We have here alterations to the signage and markings on roads which have made those roads less safe, and the action most needed is to remove of cover over the markings and signs or take other action to neutralise the dangerous conditions created.

At Bow one might also ask why the Police, acting to deliver public safety on the road have not been able to close the cycle facility with immediate effect, or require TfL to remove the lane from the roundabout.

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