Video: Thousands expected at London 'die-in' demo today

Thousands of cyclists are expected to converge on Transport for London's headquarters this evening for a 'die-in' protest following the deaths of six riders in a two week period earlier this month.

The protest will start at 5pm with a vigil for the cyclists who have died on London’s roads outside Transport for London HQ at 197 Blackfriars Road. That will be followed at 5.30 by the die-in and rally, before the event ends at 6.30.

To promote the event, Dave Standard and Ealing Cycling have made this powerful short clip:

“Transport for London needs our peaceful protest to be brought right to their door - the HQ of those who have failed to make our streets safe for our children or our pensioners to cycle on, never mind fit adults,” say event organisers.

“Cycling safety needs to be top of TfL's priorities, as should befit a 21st century city looking for ways to tackle congestion and pollution. If Crossrail was predicted to kill 120 workers during its construction, work would be halted immediately. Cyclists are just as important.”

Under the slogan 'Stop the child murder' die-in protests were instrumental in persuading the Dutch government of the 1970s to halt the Netherlands' slide towards a car-dominated transport infrastructure and instead create systems that worked well for driving, walking and cycling.

The full details are on the event’s website.

Save Our Cyclists

In related news, over 35,000 people have signed the Save Our Cyclists petition calling on London Mayor Boris Johnson and his cycling commissioner Andrew Gilligan to accelerate the implementation of planned cycling provision.

“Where is your sense of urgency?” asks the petition.

Petition creator Rhiannon Redpath wrote: “We call on Boris Johnson and Andrew Gilligan to vastly accelerate their plan for expenditure of the £913 million cycling fund, by releasing an accurate, costed and time-bound plan for how the fund will address cycle safety over the next 12 months, from the end of December 2013.

“TFL and the Mayor for London do have the right idea. But, as plans are drawn up, consultations are carried out, and meetings are had, London’s roads continue to be unsafe, and cyclists are losing their lives.

“We are calling for urgent action from Boris Johnson and the Cycling Commissioner Andrew Gilligan to accelerate their plans, and to be clear about their intentions for cycle safety in London.”