The Lambeth Bridge roundabout where Moira Gemmill was recently killed may never be safe for cyclists, says Colin Wing, Westminster’s representative for the London Cycling Campaign. Wing has raised concerns about Transport for London’s (TfL) proposals for improvements and suggests a radically different design is needed.
A vigil and die-in was recently held on Lambeth Bridge in memory of Gemmill at which Westminster City Council came under fire for "mindboggling" road casualty statistics and a transport policy that many feel prioritises motor traffic flow over safety. The council was heavily criticised for its lack of action after it was revealed that they rejected TfL safety proposals for the junction in 2012.
"We're going to have the nightmare scenario of cyclists coming off the new cycle superhighway [CS5] onto Westminster streets to be killed and critically injured,” said Peter Hartley, Chair of Westminster Living Streets.
However, both the council and the London Cycling Campaign had serious reservations about TfL’s plans and speaking to the West End Extra, Wing questioned whether the junction could ever be made safe.
“I have some doubts whether that roundabout can ever be made safe for cyclists and handle the current volumes of traffic. So a solution should involve reducing traffic or a different design, such as a simple crossroads.”
At the full council meeting on Wednesday, the cabinet member responsible for cycling, Heather Acton, said that TfL had accepted the criticism of their earlier plans. “TfL accepted that and there was a discussion that there will be new plans draw up for the TfL junction but we have not seen any plans.”
The junction is one of those on the Safer Junctions programme, explained Leon Daniels, managing director of surface transport at TfL.
“Following a series of requests from stakeholders and the local authority for changes to initial proposals in 2013, we commissioned an extensive programme of off-street trials of new types of infrastructure and technology. We intend to consult later this year on a further design proposal for this junction.”
I came off my bike just before Christmas and broke my femur. The care was excellent and I'm back on the bike, albeit with more rehab to be done.
Untitled, or entitled? I bet it speeds down towpaths and weaves in and out of boats, and it's definitely not wearing a helmet or hi vis.
Are these actually 'hi-viz' - or just brights?...
That one was completely different though, it was a driver not a car as in the other 3. So 1 in 4 of the stories manage to follow reporting guidelines.
Absolutely they could have. Tarmac is a petroleum-based product and its surface can be very oily when it's newly laid. This is particularly the...
I'm glad the article went into more detail and cleared things up, the headline had me worried that some autonomous building had run rampant and...
Still here, just showing a few signs of wear and tear. Hopefully still serviceable for some years to come.
How can you know that you are "equally fearful" as "any female cyclist"? There is no possible way of quantifying such emotions and female cyclists...
I think it would be fairer to blame the moon - as in "my client is a loony".
Nice idea but Gloucestershire Constabulary are not interested as exemplified by this prvious NMOTD. Not only was there NFA for the close pass in...