LCC

A broad group of organisations - including LCC, CTC, Sustrans, Cyclenation, British Cycling, AA, National Heart Foundation, and PACTS - have released a joint briefing calling for the Government to take steps to make cycling safer in Britain.

The briefing was released just days before the House of Commons will host its first debate on cycling safety since 1996.

The debate has come about as a result of a high-profile campaign by The Times newspaper, as well as concerted efforts by other campaigners over the last 12 months to raise the issue of avoidable cyclist fatalities and injuries, particularly in urban areas.

The three-hour debate is scheduled to take place in Westminster Hall at 2.30pm on 23 February 2012.

Please ask your MP to attended the debate and support Early Day Motion 2689, which calls for improved conditions for cycling in the UK.

The following briefing was circulated to MPs on Monday 20 February:

Cycling has a fantastic range of benefits: for our health, for our streets, for our economy, our environment, and our wallets. During the last decade, cycle use in Britain grew by 20% (and by more than 100% in some cities), while cyclists’ casualties fell by 17%. More and safer cycling can, and should, go hand in hand. Yet despite this, improvements in safety for Britain’s cyclists have not kept up with that of other road users, and lags well behind that of neighbouring countries with much higher cycle use.

Quite rightly, there is now a high-profile campaign calling for cycle safety to be improved in Britain. This briefing note offers headline information on the key issues which impact on the future of cycling in Britain and includes links to further information on the vital next steps.

A. Commitment to cycling
Cycling is booming in Britain and said to be worth £3 billion to the economy. But while between £10 and £20 per head of population is spent annually on cycling in the Netherlands, the equivalent average figure for Britain is £1.

Following the national government’s successful funding of the Cycling City and Towns programme 2005-2011, which spent at least £10 per head of population annually - national government and local authorities should secure commitments to match this level of funding.

B. Encouragement of cycling
Smarter Travel Choices. National Government and local authorities must commit to supporting safe and active travel within a wider programme of ‘smarter choices’ investment. By committing to this policy direction, we are more likely to see a joined-up package of measures. 

C. Slower speeds
In residential and built up areas. There are significant road safety benefits with a 20 mph speed limit. National government must commit to supporting, encouraging and funding local authorities to follow many of their peers and make the change to 20mph. 

D. Improved provision for cycling
to include a commitment to reviewing major roads and junctions, prioritising dedicated space for cyclists where speed limits are not already 20mph and ensuring quality infrastructure which ensures safe reintroduction of cyclists to the highway where relevant.

E. Strategic and joined-up programme of road user training
to include better information, provision and training for all road user types including cyclists from an early age.

F. focus on HGVs
Heavy lorries are associated with a high risk of death or very serious injury to cyclists. Despite being just 6% of road traffic, lorries are involved in around 20% of all cyclists’ fatalities. Government policies must ensure a commitment to the roll-out of a comprehensive package of measures to reduce the risk of HGVs to cyclists.

G. Improved road traffic law and enforcement 
Traffic law must do more to protect the most vulnerable road users such as cyclists, pedestrians, children and older people. In addition, traffic policing teams much be given more resource to ensure that existing laws can be enforced more effectively and sentencing must be appropriate when drivers cause harm.

H. Improved data
The information that records how many people are cycling is very poor at the national level and inconsistent at the local level. This makes it difficult to monitor what is happening and which interventions have greatest impact. 

Cycling has a wide range of benefits for our own health, our streets and neighborhoods, the economy and the environment:
Health benefits
   
Cycling in mid-adulthood typically gives the fitness of a person 10 years younger, and a life expectancy 2 years above the average. People who do not commute regularly by cycle have a 39% higher mortality rate than those who do. Thanks to these extra life-years, the health benefits of cycling far outweigh the risks involved.

Physical inactivity is estimated to cost the UK economy £8.2 billion a year, while obesity represents a further economic cost of around £3.5 billion. 

Cycling makes extremely efficient and economical use of road-space. One lane of a typical road can accommodate 2,000 cars per hour – or 14,000 cycles.

Encouraging cycling also makes workers more productive and reduces the costs of absenteeism.

A person making the average daily commute of 4 miles each way would save half a tonne of carbon dioxide per year if they switched from driving to cycling.

If we doubled cycle use by switching from cars, this would reduce Britain’s total greenhouse emissions by 0.6 million tonnes, almost as much as switching all London-to-Scotland air travel to rail.

A depressingly high proportion of short trips are made by car, 23% under a mile, 33% 1 – 2 miles, and 79% 2 – 5 miles. Many people in Britain would like to choose the bike as an alternative way to travel but often feel put off by a fear of traffic. As well as perceived risks which prevent take-up of cycling, there are many real dangers on the road which must be confronted everyday by cyclists.
   
The speed of motor traffic has an effect on the severity of injuries suffered by cyclists – severity increases with the speed limit, meaning that riders are more likely to suffer serious or fatal injuries on higher speed roads.

The poor design of roads and junctions increases the danger to cyclists. Almost two thirds of cyclists killed or seriously injured were involved in collisions at, or near, a road junction, with T junctions being the most commonly involved.

Irresponsible driver behaviour has been shown to be the cause of many collisions with cyclists. In collisions involving a bicycle and another vehicle, the most common key contributory factor recorded by the police is 'failed to look properly' by either the driver or rider, especially at T junctions. 'Failed to look properly' was attributed to the car driver in 74% of injury collisions in London and to the cyclist in 26%.

Heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) present a particular danger for cyclists, especially in London where around 50% of cyclist fatalities involve an HGV. These often occur when an HGV is turning left at a junction'. About one quarter of accidents resulting in serious injury to a cyclist involved an HGV, bus or coach 'passing too close' to the rider.

Safety in numbers is the principle that the more people we get cycling, the safer they are. Given that we know that lots of people are put off cycling by the danger/perceived danger we need to work hard to reduce exposure to risk by reducing potential conflicts between cyclists and other road users. Governments have for too long failed to commit to sustained investment to promote cycling as a normal everyday choice of transport.

This briefing note was put together by members of the UK Cycling Alliance (UKCA) and has been supported by a wider group of organisations. For more information about UKCA members, please see: The Bicycle Association, British Cycling, Cyclenation, CTC, LCC and Sustrans.

This year London Cycling Campaign is again administering grants of up to £5000 on behalf of Transport for London's Community Cycling Fund for London (CCFL), with up to 30 projects expected to benefit.

Community groups and grass roots organisations are invited to bid for the grants from 5 to 19 March 2012.

The CCFL grants fund cycling projects to help Londoners of all ages and backgrounds to get cycling.

Projects funded in the past include bike recycling projects for young people, after-school cycling clubs, and cycle training for women.

Case studies and the CCFL annual reports are available on the LCC website.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson said, "This funding provides support to budding cyclists in local communities and helps to nurture the grassroots of cycling in London."

In 2012, the CCFL is also accepting funding applications that include cycling activities geared towards the Olympics.

LCC Grants Officer Mags Reinig said, "The CCFL has helped more than 18,000 Londoners to get cycling since 2007, and we're looking forward to working with all the new projects funded in 2012 so they can make a real difference to people's lives and communities."

You can download an application pack from Friday 2 March.

For more information, contact LCC’s Cycling Projects team by email, grants@lcc.org.uk, or call 020 7234 9310.

Please join us on Wednesday 22 February 2012 when concerned cyclists will ride past the Palace of Westminster asking MPs to make the success of continental-standard infrastructure a key part of their Commons debate on cycling the following day.  

Cyclists are invited to meet at the Duke of York steps on The Mall (6.15pm for 6.30pm start) for a short ride to draw attention to the drastic changes needed to make London's streets truly safe and inviting for cycling and walking.

The ride is timed to take place the evening before the House of Commons debate on cycle safety, on Thursday 23 February.

Over the past fortnight, The Times newspaper has done an excellent job of highlighting the shocking number of cyclist casualties that occur on the UK's roads every year.

And last week, we launched our Love London, Go Dutch campaign (sign the petition here), which puts forward solutions for making London (and the UK) a more liveable place by adopting continental-standards of bike infrastructure.

Indeed, one of our Go Dutch street designs is for a more people-friendly Parliament Square, which includes:

• kerbed bike lanes
• cyclist-specific traffic signals
• massively increased area for people on foot

However, there are concerns that the Commons debate on Thursday could be hampered by the fact that too many MPs:

• don't cycle at all or understand the dangers of cycling in many of Britain's streets
• have never cycled around the dangerous one-way at Parliament Square or other initimidating roads in central London
• think reducing road danger is about providing more cycle training or making people wear helmets

The purpose of this ride is to remind MPs of the important changes that are needed to street and junction design all over Greater London, not least at Parliament Square, which is only metres from their workplace.

Please join us on the 23rd, when we'll have a chance to highlight the fact that there are tried-and-tested solutions to the problems for cyclists and walkers in our urban areas. 

The ride is being organised and marshalled by iBikeLondon, Cyclists in the City and the London Cycling Campaign. It will be sensibly marshalled and respectful to other road users. Expect it to last 30-45 minutes.

The Mall (Duke of York steps) - Horseguards Parade - Parliament Square - Lambeth Bridge - Westminster Bridge - Parliament Square - Whitehall - Trafalgar Square - Admiralty Arch - The Mall

If you'd like to help out as a marshal, please email info@lcc.org.uk.

Transport for London has started a review that will consider safety issues at all junctions on the cycle superhighways as well as more than a hundred  junctions on the Transport for London road network (red routes).

The TfL announcement follows the death of 16 cyclists on London’s roads last year including two at Bow Roundabout. LCC and other cyclists campaigned for better conditions for cycle users after the fatalities and participated in vigils at Bow, Kings Cross and Southwark.

LCC’s CEO, Ashok Sinha welcomed the review emphasising that a road system where cyclists and pedestrians were placed in danger needed a fundamental rethink: "It's not about cars v people. It's about a people-oriented city, a more liveable city, where you can cycle and walk in safety, where your kids can play out on the streets in safety, alongside the necessary movement of public transport and motor vehicles."

Announcing the review Mayor Boris Johnson said :  “ I firmly believe that we must now start to evolve the means by which we plan and manage our extensive network of roads, and (that is) why I have asked TfL to review hundreds of key junctions across the capital to specifically examine safety and provision for cyclists.”

TfL say Junctions that will be addressed in the review include Bow Roundabout, Highbury Corner, St George’s Circus, Stockwell Gyratory  and Tottenham High Road / West Green Road. TfL say the review will cover the 375 junctions on the cycle superhighways, along with 150 others on red routes including all newly planned traffic schemes.

The review will include consultation with key stakeholders including LCC, Sustrans, Metropolitan Police, Road Haulage Association, Living Streets, Road Peace, Freight Transport Association, Roadpeace and other organisations.

A 21 year old man has been jailed for 6 months for his involvement in the sale of stolen bicycles online. Alan Miah, was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court after pleading guilty to conspiring to handle criminal property. A second man, Mohammed Masselmeh, was also sentenced and ordered to carry out 200 hours community service for conspiring to launder the proceeds of crime.

The arrest and conviction of the two men involved an investigation by the joint Metropolitan Police Service's and Transport for London's (TfL) Safer Transport Command (STC) Payback Unit and Cycle Task Force. The Met’s  Cycle Task Force was set up following campaigning by LCC before the last mayoral election.

The police began their investigation after a cyclist, who had had his black Giant bike stolen  notified police that he suspected it was being sold online.
Miah was arrested by officers from the Cycle Task Force in possession of the stolen Black Giant bike. The bike, which has since been restored to its rightful owner and a mobile phone were seized. Further searches at Miah’s home were carried out where two bikes and numerous phones and laptops were seized. Forensic examination linked Miah and Masselmeh to selling and trading of over 120 bikes.

Efforts were made to link a number of the bicycles advertised for sale with reported crimes that occurred around the time of the advertisements, resulting in five victims being identified. All five adverts were posted within a week of these bicycles being reported stolen, in two cases; it was between 24-36 hours.

Chief Superintendent Sultan Taylor, Safer Transport Command, said: "This case demonstrates how the Payback Unit and Cycle Task Force are tackling organised cycle theft through proactive investigations and operations, as well as disrupting the trade of stolen Act 2002 (POCA) legislation to seize criminal assets and reduce crime. “ More than 200 arrests have now been made by the unit.

If you have infomation about stolen bikes you can contact the police at cycletaskforce@met.police.uk

The next Mayor of London must prioritise safe and convenient bike lanes and make junctions and roundabouts less dangerous if they want to encourage more cycling, according to a YouGov survey published today.

The survey, which suggests over half a million Londoners already cycle at least once a week, coincides with the launch of the London Cycling Campaign’s Love London, Go Dutch petition, which calls on the mayoral election candidates to commit to more people-friendly streets and continental-standard cycle facilities in the capital.

51% of Londoners said the next Mayor can take action to encourage them to cycle more, with 78% of those people naming safe and convenient bikes lanes all over London or safer junctions and roundabouts as their top priority.

Concern about sharing roadspace with fast-moving motor traffic was the number one reason why Londoners said they don’t cycle more often.

16 cyclists were killed on London’s road last year, up from 10 in 2011, with many more suffering life-changing injuries.

Despite widespread concerns about the safety of cycling in the capital, 31% of parents said there were positive steps the next Mayor could take to encourage them to cycle more with their children, with 81% of mothers who said they could be encouraged favouring safer bikes lanes or safer junctions and roundabouts.

LCC’s Love London, Go Dutch campaign is a response to the deep worries that existing and potential cyclists have about safety, and is calling for the next Mayor to take a radical new approach to street design.

To illustrate how this can be done LCC has today published its latest set of innovative street designs, showing how Parliament Square and the Olympic Park could be made safe and inviting for all Londoners to walk and cycle. Last year, LCC published a people-friendly redesign of the controversial Blackfriars junction.

Parliament Square

Olympic Park

Blackfriars 

LCC chief executive Ashok Sinha said, “There’s a real danger London will be left behind by other global cities such as New York, Paris and Amsterdam if the next Mayor doesn’t look beyond outdated solutions that always favour motor traffic over cyclists and pedestrians.

“We’re calling on the next Mayor to provide safe and convenient bike lanes on main roads, safer passage for cyclists and pedestrians across roundabouts and junctions, and more people-friendly streets where people work, shop and live.”

So far the Love London, Go Dutch petition has been signed by TV presenter Lauren Laverne, indie band Franz Ferdinand, culture writer Alain de Botton and design guru Stephen Bayley.

The campaign is sponsored by Brompton Bicycles and Bywaters, and supported by the Dutch Embassy.

All those in favour of the campaign are being urged to sign the petition at www.lcc.org.uk/go-dutch.

After a successful consultation, and responding to requests from LCC and Cyclists in the City, the City of London has introduced two way cycling on 11 streets within the square mile where there were restrictions before. The changes enable cyclists to reduce the length of their journeys and avoid very busy streets. According to the City of London “ The improvements will provide 800 metres worth of street changes with a potential journey distance reduction of 2km for cyclists.” Two way working in Watergate for example, now enables cyclists to avoid busy traffic on Farringdon Road as they come off Blackfriars Bridge and follow a quieter route to Camden via Shoe Lane and Hatton Gardens.  LCC sees the changes as ’a welcome outbreak of common sense’ and encourages other boroughs to follow the City of London example of improving cycle access to all streets. The streets affected by the new measures are:
•         Cutler Street
•         Carter Lane and Creed Lane
•         Watergate and Kingscote Street
•         Russia Row and Trump Street
•         Furnival Street
As part of the changes the City says it has also been possible to remove the one-way restrictions on some streets for all vehicles. This will improve accessibility for all on:
•         Stoney Lane and White Kennett Street 
•         Norwich Street

Christine, mother of Dan Cox who died after being struck by an HGV in Dalston, will remember the tragedy by walking her son's last cycle route on Thursday 2 February 2012, exactly one year after he died.

She'll be setting off at 4.30pm (location and route tbc), and be joined by friends of Dan, as well as LCC members and other wellwishers.

Christine Cox said: "One year ago on the 2nd Feb, our beautiful Dan left his flat for the last time. I would like to walk his final journey, leaving at the time that Dan left and stopping at his ghost bike at Dalston Junction and lighting some candles.

"I hope others will be able to join me. We plan to go on to the Edinburgh Castle in Camden afterwards to complete Dan's journey so if you can't make the walk/cycle we could have a drink in Dan's memory later.

"If we could get lots of cyclists to join in perhaps that will draw attention to the needless loss of life on our roads and in particular to the senseless loss of our beautiful boy."

More details of the memorial walk will be posted soon.

28-year-old Dan Cox died after being struck by a left-turning lorry at Dalston Junction. He was rushed to Homerton Hospital but died several days later of his injuries.

Dalston Junction is recognised a problem junction, where the A10 meets the North Cross Road, both routes with serious casualty problems.

Charlie Lloyd, LCC's campaigns office and lorry expert said, "Our thoughts are with the family and friends."

Responding to pressure from the London Cycling Campaign and others, Transport for London has announced it will redesign the lethal roundabout at Bow to make it safer for cyclists.

The move comes just weeks after LCC persuaded 2750 London cyclists to write to Mayor Boris Johnson asking him to ‘make Bow safe’; organised a candlelit vigil attended by families of two cyclists recently killed at Bow; and published its own safe roundabout design on the LCC website.

TfL has published two proposals as to how the junction could be made safer, and has promised to take into account LCC feedback before implementing any changes.

LCC chief executive Ashok Sinha said, “We’re delighted Transport for London has finally responded to cyclists’ calls for Bow roundabout to be redesigned, though it’s a tragedy two people had to die first.

“At first sight, these designs potentially offer improved cyclist safety, which is vital ahead of the Olympics when it’s hoped large numbers will visit the Games by bike.

“We welcome the fact that the two Bow proposals show a more innovative approach to cycling infrastructure than we’re used to seeing from Transport for London, including a willingness to propose measures commonly used on the Continent such as cyclist-specific traffic lights.

“However, we’re still calling for a comprehensive redesign of the entire junction to bring it into line with the highest standards of street layout seen on the Continent, for the benefit of everyone.

“We’ll scrutinise these proposals in detail to make sure the safety benefits are real.”

Despite the improvements offered for cyclist safety, the issue of pedestrian safety remains a major concern, and LCC will continue to liaise with pedestrian groups to ensure everyone can cross the junction in safety.

LCC will also be asking all its members, especially those in the local area, to give their views.

TfL information will be at www.tfl.gov.uk/bowroundabout

As part of the preparations for our Go Dutch campaign, we're looking for volunteers to have their photo taken by a professional snapper at our office near London Bridge this Saturday.

NB, NEW DATE: 1-4pm, Saturday 21 January 2012

LOCATION: London Cycling Campaign, 2 Newhams Row, London, SE1 3UZ

We'll only need 5-10 mins of your time, and in return you'll get a high-quality studio-style portrait for your collection (if you want one)

We want photos of all kinds of London cyclists (with a bike or without) so please come along and help us promote cycling in London

It doesn't matter whether you're in commuting cycling gear, a smart suit, or shorts and sandals

You can come on your own, as a couple, with friends, or as a family

Hopefully, you'll have time for a cup of tea and a chat too, but we'll only need a few minutes of your time

Please spare us a little time to help promote cycling in London

Our 'Go Dutch' campaign is calling on the mayoral candidates to pledge to make London a more liveable city for everyone by making our streets as safe and inviting for cycling as they are in Holland

photos Ben Broomfield

As part of the preparations for our Go Dutch campaign, we're looking for volunteers to have their photo taken by a professional snapper at our office near London Bridge this Saturday.

1pm-4pm, London Cycling Campaign, 2 Newhams Row, London, SE1 3UZ

We'll only need 5-10 mins of your time, and in return you'll get a high-quality studio-style portrait for your collection (if you want one)

We want photos of all kinds of London cyclists (with a bike or without) so please come along and help us promote cycling in London

It doesn't matter whether you're in commuting cycling gear, a smart suit, or shorts and sandals

You can come on your own, as a couple, with friends, or as a family

Hopefully, you'll have time for a cup of tea and a chat too, but we'll only need a few minutes of your time

Please spare us a little time to help promote cycling in London

Our 'Go Dutch' campaign is calling on the mayoral candidates to pledge to make London a more liveable city for everyone by making our streets as safe and inviting for cycling as they are in Holland

photos Ben Broomfield

Despite three years of trials showing increased danger, Transport for London is going ahead with its plans to allow motorbikes to permanently use red-route bus lanes in line with Mayor Boris Johnson's 2008 election promise.

The report on the second 18-month trial, published on 21 December 2011, shows a sharp increase in both motorcyclist fatalities on red-route bus lanes and the rate of cyclist collisions with motorbikes.

Cyclist-motorcyclist collisions increased from 10 to 25, while motorcyclist deaths increased from one in the first 18-month trial to seven in the second trial. 

Collision rates for motorcyclists didn't improve significantly during the second trial, which included an extensive and expensive police-enforcement programme to reduce the large number of motorcyclists ignoring speed limits.

TfL's press release makes no mention of any safety gains despite initiating the original trial expecting safety improvements.

The first trial concluded that "motorcyclists appear to be less safe since the scheme has been introduced".

The second trial says its results "did not change the relative overall safety of motorcyclists". 

The second London-wide trial also found that "collision rates of cyclists with motorcyclists on the TLRN (red route) bus network during the current trial significantly increased". 

London Cycling Campaign chief executive Ashok Sinha said, "Cyclists and motorcyclists are both especially vulnerable to bad road policies; TfL's action does nothing to reduce danger for either group."

LCC's road danger expert Charlie Lloyd said, "The overwhelming conclusion from the latest bus lane trial is, yet again, that there are no safety benefits.

"The results of this trial should act as a warning to other authorities not to risk allowing motorcycles in bus lanes."

In response to recent campaigns by cyclists and pedestrians, Transport for London (TfL) has announced a "strategic review of traffic movements" around King's Cross, including examining the feasibility of returning it to two-way.

TfL also says it has "identified potential options for improvements" at Bow, (another location that has been a focus of campaigning in 2011) and is carrying out "detailed modeling and design", with a view to sharing information with us in the New Year.

The announcement of the King's Cross review, due to start spring 2012, comes just 48 hours after a candlelit vigil (pictured above) in the area commemorated the deaths of over 100 people who've died on the London's roads this year. 

The review will see TfL working with Camden and Islington Councils, paying particular attention to the movements of pedestrians and cyclists. 

LCC's Mike Cavenett said, "There's still a long way to go before we see a people-friendly King's Cross, but hearing this significant change in language from Transport for London is a great Christmas present.

"It's vital the reviews at Bow and King's Cross come up with solutions that provide real benefits to cyclists and pedestrians."

A pedestrian-improvement scheme at King's Cross, which was already planned to start during the Christmas holiday period, will go ahead largely unchanged.

TfL reviewed its plans, drawn up in conjunction with Camden Council, in the wake of the death of cyclist Min Joo Lee at the junction of York Way and Gray's Inn Road in October 2011.  

The scheme promises wider pavements, reduced street clutter, and new advanced stop lines around Kings Cross station but it has decided there'll be "no significant changes to the original scheme in the short term", which it's desperate to have in place before the Olympics next year.

A crowd of nearly 200 concerned Londoners took part in a Xmas Vigil at King's Cross to remember all those who've died on the capital's roads.

Candles were laid out in the shape of a bicycle, and the names of the 16 cyclists killed this year on London's roads were read out, with tributes also paid to people on foot and motorbike, and motorists who've lost their lives.

Debbie Dorling (pictured above), widow of Brian Dorling, one of the cyclists killed at Bow roundabout this year, joined representatives from the London Cycling Campaign, RoadPeace and Living Streets in calling for Mayor Boris Johnson to address the unacceptable levels of road danger.  

Other friends and families of those who died also attended, including Kenji Hirasawa, partner of Min Joo Lee, the cyclist killed at Kings Cross in October 2011.

Sara Gookooluk, widow of motorcyclist Michael Adelman, killed in a crash at Bow this year, also attended the vigil.

The families of Ellie Carey, the cyclist killed in Bermondsey in November, sent a message of support.

LCC trustee Mustafa Arif spoke to the crowd, saying, "Thank you to everyone who've come tonight, particularly the families of those who've lost loved ones.

Mark Ames of the iBikeLondon blog, "Everyone deserves safe access to our city, and 16 deaths by bicycle are 16 deaths too many."

Caroline Russell of Islington Living Streets said, "My thoughts especially are with a friend of mine who's father, Leslie Michaelson, was killed at Kings Cross 14 years ago, knocked off his bike by a skip lorry at the same place where Deep Lee lost her life recently.

Lianna Etkind from disability group Transport for All said, "Under the insidious label of 'smoothing traffic flow', Transport for London is started ripping out pedestrian crossings increasing the risk to everyone."

Attendees at the vigil also included Jenny Jones, Green mayoral candidate, as well as assembly members Caroline Pigeon (Liberal Democrat) and Andrew Boff (Conservative).

Labour's Val Shawcross, chair of the assembly transport committee, sent apologies as she was at another event in Trafalgar Square.

On Tuesday 20 December 2011, from 6pm, cyclists, pedestrians, and friends and family of recent crash victims will gather outside Kings Cross station to remember loved ones and highlight the unacceptable death toll on the capital’s roads. 

The London Cycling Campaign, RoadPeace, London Living Streets, and prominent bloggers are inviting all Londoners to join them beside one of the city's most dangerous junctions where already a cyclist has been kiiled this year.

The event will contrast the high levels of road danger in Greater London with the safety of Dutch cities, where cyclists are half as likely to be involved in a fatal crash as they are here.

Campaigners are calling on the Mayor to reject his policy of putting motor traffic flow above safety.

LCC chief executive Ashok Sinha said, "Every few days another London family is torn apart by the violent death of a loved one, killed needlessly on the capital's streets.

"It’s hard to imagine the pain these families will feel, especially on Christmas Day when we traditionally share the love of those closest to us.

"Sixteen of the road fatalities in 2011 have been Londoners riding bikes (up from 10 last year), and this year there have been dozens of people on foot also killed.

"London cyclists have the same right to get about safely as people in Holland, so why are we more than twice as likely to be killed in collisions in our streets?"

Mark Ames of the ibikelondon blog said, "The Dutch have shown that high-quality cycle provision and child-friendly residential zones can reduce this death toll dramatically, and improve the quality of life for all city-dwellers. These designs are being adopted all over the world, but London is being left behind.”

Danny Williams of Cyclists in the City said, "People are being asked to fling themselves on bikes through multi-lane junctions where cycling is an after-thought. The safety of cyclists and pedestrians should have just as much importance as the safety of motor users on London's streets."

Campaigners are calling for the Mayor and TfL to address the most dangerous junctions in the city as a matter of urgency, and to implement continental-style streets in London to make them as safe and inviting as they are in Holland.

Family, friends, local residents, politicians, campaigners and concerned Londoners gathered near the place on Tower Bridge Road where cyclist Ellie Carey was struck by a lorry on Friday 2 December 2011.

The crowd observed a minute's silence in memory of Ellie, the 22-year-old student, while speakers called for her death not to be in vain and for decision-makers to make reducing road danger a priority.

Placards held by mourners included 'Make our junction safer' and 'No more cyclist deaths', the former a reference to two-year battle between locals and Transport for London to have a pedestrian crossing installed at the busy junction.

The vigil came on the same day that the London Assembly voted for a motion calling for a review of all London's dangerous junctions.

A motion (see below) passed in the London Assembly today, with support from the four main political parties, has called for a review of every dangerous junction in Greater London.

What still hasn't emerged is a date for the review of Bow roundabout and the other Superhighways junctions promised by the Mayor on 18 October 2011.  

The debate called for far greater emphasis on the safety of cyclists and pedestrians, and for less importance to be given to 'smoothing the flow' (making motor traffic move faster) which comes at the expense of the safety of cyclists and pedestrians. 

Val Shawcross, Labour Assembly Member, said the safety of cyclists and pedestrians must be put much higher on the agenda and not be undermined by designs that favour motor traffic.

Green member Jenny Jones criticised the Mayor and Transport for London for repeatedly claiming cycling casualties are falling in the capital when the evidence for this is questionable.

London Conservative Assembly Member Andrew Boff called Transport for London ‘opaque’ and called for data on collisions and cycle flows to be made available.

He also specified that London Cycling Campaign should be consulted “at the start of the design process” for roads and not once the designs are complete.  

Liberal Democrat Caroline Pidgeon said new proposals for Bow roundabout and King’s Cross - two locations where cyclists have died this year - must be brought forward.

She said it's inadequate to simply erect warning signs (such as at Bow), and emphasised that all junctions where cyclists have died needed to be addressed and safety mirrors erected.

An amendment  to the motion from the Lib Dems was accepted but the proposed amendment from the Conservatives for new design guidance were rejected on the grounds that urgent action is required to remedy the failure of TfL to implement existing design standards.

Conservative assembly member Andrew Boff warned that the motion might send out a negative message to people wanting to cycle in London and that the drivers involved in recent fatalities could use the motion to deny responsibility for the crashes.

Val Shawcross replied that the Mayor cannot deliver a cycling revolution without providing the safety, facilities and space cyclists need.

This Assembly deeply regrets the deaths of cyclists on London's road network and wishes to express its condolences for the loss felt by their relatives and friends.

We are concerned that some cyclist deaths and injuries could have been avoided if the road network designs for the locations where these deaths and injuries occurred had been safer.

We therefore call on the Mayor and Transport for London to:

• Provide a comprehensive list of dangerous road junctions across London for cyclists, to include any where a cycling fatality has happened;
• Carry out a full review of each of these junctions, considering any proposals made by cycling and road safety groups on how to redesign these junctions to make them safer. These reviews should be publically available and include details on why any suggestions have been rejected.
• Secure an agreement with the Department for Transport to roll out Trixi mirrors at all major junctions across London, to help ensure cyclists are visible to drivers.
• Look into expanding cycle training across London Boroughs.      
• Bring forward proposals to improve cycle safety at Bow roundabout, King's Cross and the junction of Tower Bridge Road and Abbey Street where recent cyclist fatalities have occurred.

Respected transport journalist (and London Cycling Campaign board member) Christian Wolmar has reported finding serious flaws in widely published predictions that the proposed Westminster car parking charges will cost the capital 5000 jobs and £800 million in lost output.

The extravagant claims are being propagated by the Centre for Economics and Business Research, even though it acknowledges its report failed to carry out "a thorough investigation of the business and economic impacts of the new parking charges".

The report writers explain that they "have made some indicative estimates based on some rough-and-ready, yet not implausible, assumptions".

Wolmar writes on his blog: "In my language, that's called guessing."

The results of the report have been reproduced unchallenged in the Evening Standard and The Daily Telegraph, among others.

Wolmar also points out that the authority of the figures is thrown further into doubt because they're based on an assumption that 20-25% of evening West End visitors arrive by car, which is double the known modal share for private car use in the West End.

The Centre for Economics and Business Research has a history of pro-motoring reports with debatable conclusions: in 2007 it published a report (commissioned by Land Rover) that claimed Ken Livingstone's proposals to charge high-polluting vehicles a higher rate of congestion charge would actually increase pollution.

What's sad is that the questionable conclusions of this particular think tank have been allowed to obscure the fact there are areas of the West End that are currently clogged full of motor vehicles in the evenings and weekends.

Pedestrians in particular get a raw deal, with tens of thousands of people being crammed on to narrow pavements, while a relatively tiny number of motorists and taxis fill up the streets.

It's not unusual to see groups of people on foot spill on to the road - around Drury Lane or Bow Street for example - and then hear a car or taxi honk them out of the way.

When one or two people in a car are effectively forcing 10 or 20 people on foot to get out of their way, and squeezing many others into inadequate pavements, then there's something deeply inequitable about the allocation of street space.

There's so much more that could be done to make central London a safer and more pleasant place to walk and cycle, and many Londoners think it's logical that motorists should pay if they want to use large areas of public space to park their vehicles.

Motorists might also be interested to know that charging for on-street car parking can benefit them as well as other street users, because it reduces congestion and shortens journey times (see the video at the top of the page).

In an open letter to Transport for London, the boyfriend of the cyclist killed at King's Cross has called for Dutch-style cycle lanes to reduce road danger in the area.

Kenji Hirasawa (pictured above) said, "I would like the council to consider making the road safer and implementing changes such as providing cycle lanes like those used in the Netherlands..."

TfL has responded that putting potentially life-saving bike lanes through the junction would "cause considerable queues".

24-year-old fashion student Min Joo Lee (also known as 'Deep' Lee, pictured above) died when she was run over by a left-turning lorry while riding through the King's Cross gyratory on 3 October 2011.

In 2006, Emma Foa, 56, died after her bike was in collision with a cement mixer lorry at the same junction, while cyclist Madeline Wright died in 2007 near King’s Cross Station after a collision with a lorry.

In an interview with the Camden New Journal, 29-year-old "heartbroken" Hirasawa spoke about his partner of three years Deep Lee: "She was always smiling and kind and generous to people."

He called for an "immediate solution", saying TfL and Camden Council should feel "ashamed" that a junction of this type existed in "one of the most developed and advanced cities in the world".

He described how TfL officials last week asked him if they could remove the flower-covered memorial bike, which has marked the place where Deep Lee died; he responded that they should "sort the junction out first".

The exchange took place at a special meeting at Camden Town Hall on Monday 5 December 2011 where TfL and council officials gave their reasons for not acting on recommendations from 2008 for improvements in safety at King's Cross.

Limited junction changes are planned in time for the Olympics, but according to TfL these are "predominantly for pedestrians".

Camden Cycling Campaign, the local LCC group, joined the called for cycle lanes to be included in the plans.

Speaking during a visit to King's Cross, Liberal Democrat mayoral candidate Brian Paddick also endorsed bike lanes for the junctions, saying "It's better that we have to wait for five minutes in a car than have someone killed."

Long-term lobbying of Transport for London and local councils around roadworks taking account of cyclists is finally paying off.  

Recent intervention by our local groups in Southwark and Camden has made sure roadworks on busy cycle routes consider cyclists' needs.

Instead of the usual 'cyclist dismount' signs, the roadworks on Tooley Street next to London Bridge station (see above) provide a protected contraflow cycle lane heading east.

Motorists travelling in the other direction are warned by a large sign saying  ‘Narrow Lanes, do not overtake cyclists’.

Campaigns manager Tom Bogdanowicz said, "We've been sending photos of good-practice roadworks from other towns and cities to council officers.

"At long last councils are realising that consideration for cyclists is a real issue in these situations." 

Transport for London is the highway authority responsible for the measures, which were installed following discussion with Southwark Cyclists and the campaigns team.

The alternative would have been a long detour for cyclists around busy roads.

In Camden (see photo below) plastic bollards have been used to create a protected cycle lane along the Royal College Street bike route, while roadworks take place.

Camden Cycling Campaign worked with with the local council to get the measures installed.

In the Netherlands, highway authorities invariably provide facilities for cyclists when roadworks take place.

Bogdanowicz said, "A recent example we saw in Amsterdam involved the installation of a temporary cycling and walking bridge across a city-centre canal to divert cyclists around temporary works.

"The still-rare examples of consideration for cycle users in London need to become a regular part of roadworks planning in the capital."