Cycling campaigners have hit out at Tower Hamlets Council’s “grossly insensitive” decision to remove, without warning, a memorial ‘ghost’ bike from the spot where a cyclist was killed in an alleged hit-and-run collision last year, activists claiming that the move was indicative of the local authority’s desire to sweep Matheus Piovesan’s death “under the rug”.

On Friday evening, a monthly Critical Mass ride is set to return to Cable Street, in east London, to replace the memorial to the 36-year-old cyclist, who was killed by a driver on 6 July 2024.

Piovesan, a journalist and music producer from Brazil who had been living in London since 2019, was cycling home from work in the centre of the city at around 12.30am when he was struck by a driver, who fled the scene, near the junction of Cable Street and Cannon Street Road in Shadwell.

He was treated by the London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance but died at the scene, the Evening Standard reported.

Three men were arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and failing to stop at the scene of a collision, but were later released on bail. The cyclist’s friends believe that in the year since, no-one has been charged in relation to the fatal incident.

A white ‘ghost’ bike was installed by Piovesan’s friends at the junction where he was killed, with campaigners hoping that it would spur witnesses to the collision to come forward, as well as encouraging other motorists to slow down in the area.

However, Tower Hamlets Council removed the bike, including a picture of the 36-year-old, without consulting his friends or family last October, prompting criticism from local cyclists.

“The decision by Tower Hamlets council to quietly remove this white memorial bike feels like they are trying to sweep Mr Piovesan’s death under the rug,” Oli Rake, the co-ordinator of campaign group Tower Hamlets Wheelers, said this week.

In a post published on an Instagram page dedicated to Piovesan’s memory, the Metropolitan Police were also criticised for their handling of the case, and the “slow progress” of their investigation.

“How does the Met have plenty of resources and capacity to arrest hundreds of peaceful protesters holding up cardboard signs every week, but not to investigate cyclist killings in a timely manner?” the post said.

“Tower Hamlets council, one of the worst London boroughs for cycling safety, went and removed the white bike in 2024. They destroyed the memorial bike for Matheus without any attempts at consultation with friends, family, or local cycling organisations, and while the investigation was still unresolved.”

Mariana Steffen, a friend of Piovesan, continued: “Nobody has been charged with Matheus’ killing. The Metropolitan Police have said that it would take time, and they were putting the evidence together.

“If anyone has any information that you think might be relevant, please come forward. Even the smallest detail might help to uncover the truth about what happened to Matheus and move the police investigation along.”

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In a statement, a spokesperson for Hackney Cycling Campaign said: “The decision by Tower Hamlets council to remove this white bike, while nobody has been charged after Mr Piovesan’s death, is grossly insensitive.

“In contrast, Hackney council has taken a more sensitive approach. When a white bike [in memory of Hackney cyclist Gao Gao] had to be temporarily moved, Hackney council contacted local cycling groups and the bike is now back in place. Tower Hamlets should learn from Hackney’s approach.

“White bikes serve as a reminder to drivers to slow down and be respectful of cyclists on the road. Retaining a visible white bike for Matheus Piovesan could prompt someone who saw or knows something to come forward.”

Tower Hamlets Council is the London borough local authority controlled by controversial mayor Lutfur Rahman, now back for a second term following removal from his post in 2015 for election fraud offences, and who is outspoken in his opposition to cycling and low-traffic neighbourhood (LTN) schemes.

In March, the council was accused of running the “most biased survey ever” and “completely wasting time” on an anti-cyclist “PR exercise”, the backlash coming after the local authority shared a short online survey asking residents for their views on “how much of a nuisance and danger e-bikes and e-scooters” are.

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And earlier this year, residents won the right to appeal against a High Court decision that backed the council’s plans to rip outthe majority of LTN schemes introduced in recent years.

“The cabinet’s decisions to remove the previously installed ‘Liveable Streets’ schemes across the borough, despite a majority of residents in favour of retaining them, are making the borough less safe for cyclists,” Tower Hamlets Wheelers’ Rake said.

“The removal of traffic-calming measures encourages through or ‘rat-run’ motor traffic onto residential streets, and with it increased pollution and road danger.

“Residents of Cannon Street Road have previously said that the road is dangerous with motor traffic moving very quickly off the nearby A1203. This death could have been avoided.”

Witnesses to the collision that killed Matheus Piovesan, or drivers with dash cam footage of the incident or moments leading up to it, are asked to call 101, quoting reference 230/06 July 2024. Witnesses can also call the investigating team on 020 8285 1574.