Sat navs bypassing Highbury Corner since safety improvements say locals after cyclist suffers hit and run on nearby road

Local residents who recently witnessed a hit and run involving a cyclist have complained that sat navs are directing drivers down smaller roads since safety improvements were completed at Highbury Corner.

The Islington Tribune reports that a 56-year-old woman suffered a head injury after being knocked off her bike on Fieldway Crescent at about 10.30pm last Saturday. The motorist failed to stop at the scene.

The collision occurred just hours before the road was due to be closed to vehicles for Car Free Day.

Police are hunting the driver and anyone with information is urged to call 101 quoting 8376/21sep.

Last year segregated cycle lanes were added to Highbury Corner as part of a project to replace the one-way system with two-way traffic.

Ian Kelly, who has lived on the road since 1972, said: “It is endless traffic down this road following the reordering of Highbury Corner.”

It is thought that many sat-navs are now directing drivers travelling from Highbury Fields to Holloway Road down Fieldway Crescent as a way to avoid Highbury Corner, where they are not allowed to turn right.

“Huge lorries are coming up and down all day and they’re taking blind corners,” said Kelly. “It was only a matter of time before an accident happened. We are battling with the council to sort this out.”

Andrea Mitchell, who was among the residents who rushed outside when the cyclist was hit last weekend said: “Lots of cars, unfortunately, go quite fast down this road. I have lived here for 27 years, and for a long time it wasn’t so bad.

“But in the last three years it has become worse with delivery vans and trucks. Then not being able to turn onto Holloway Road at Highbury Corner made a big difference.”

Councillor Claudia Webbe, executive member for environment and transport, said: “It would be wrong to claim the council is not committed to addressing concerns with the junction at Fieldway Crescent and Highbury Crescent, particularly since the public and ward councillors have already been consulted and works are set to begin shortly.”

She added: “The area surrounding Fieldway Crescent could be a good place to start our ambitious programme of rebalancing local roads and neighbourhoods in favour of people.”