The main roads in London are more often than not extremely busy, congested, host heavy, fast moving traffic and remain a serious point of concern amongst both politicians and the general public. Despite measures to combat the dangers these conditions pose, cycling accidents London has become renowned for are on the increase. Many London roads are lined with guard rail; however fatalities have occurred when cyclists have been forced against the barrier.
The London Cycling Boom
Since the dawn of the 21st century, London has experienced growth in cycling. The number of journeys made by bike doubled between 2000 and 2012, and looks set to grow further, as more of the population take to their bikes in an effort to stay fit, reduce pollution and reduce commute time.
In January 2013, Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, appointed London a Cycling Commissioner, a revolutionary move made to increase the popularity of cycling as a mode of transport and to make the roads safer. In 2013 Transport for London produced the Central London Grid, a map of cycle routes across London. This was well received by the cycling population in and around London.
Cyclist Fatalities in London
Despite these measures, November 2013 saw a tragic spate of cyclist fatalities. This of course, prompted widespread speculation as to the effectiveness of the Central London Grid and the quality of the measures introduced by the Cycling Commissioner. Protests were held calling for the swift implementation of safety improvements for cyclists, and for the media to join in the movement to make London’s roads safer for cyclists. ‘Operation Safeway’ was rolled out; 2500 traffic police officers were stationed across London at major road junctions. Their role was to issue fixed penalty notices to people using the roads in contravention of road traffic laws. They also gave advice to road users, focusing on vulnerable users and advising them of safe codes of conduct.
In response to the deaths, Boris Johnson stated in a radio interview that cyclists were in some respects to blame for improper use of the roads, endangering themselves by not adhering to the rules of the road. This caused outcry and the assertion that he was deflecting responsibility he bore to London, to improve the conditions for cyclists.
London, Bikes and Convenience
Full size bikes are prohibited on London’s public transport, during peak travel times; likewise on National Rail Services. Outside of these times however, it is possible and indeed much practiced for cyclists to dismount and complete their journey via public transport.
Cycle lanes have been introduced to many London roads, although remain inconsistent depending on location. Some of them have raised curbs, others painted white lines on the road surface. Paths have also been designated specifically to accommodate cyclists, alongside rivers, through parks and common areas, and these stipulate their own usage rules.
Guard rails have also been installed on various London roads, although fatalities have occurred during peak times when a cyclist has been crushed against the barrier put in place to protect them.
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Sarah Mcarthy is a writer for Carry on Cycling. You can find her on Google Plus here.
