2011 has seen far too many cycle accidents and deaths on our roads.
Caroline continues to campaign for safer roads for cyclists and pedestrians and her most recent questions to the Mayor which have been answered just before Christmas can be seen below.
For more information about cycling issues across London do also take a look at the excellent London Cycling Campaign website.
Cycle safety awareness training for bus drivers
Caroline Pidgeon: I regularly receive reports of unsafe driving by bus drivers putting cyclists at risk. Following calls to improve cycle safety through the training of HGV drivers, what steps are you taking to improve cycle safety awareness by giving enhanced training to bus drivers?Written response from the Mayor:Bus drivers are professionally qualified and trained. Safety awareness forms an essential part of this training. TfL and the bus operators give the highest priority to safety and any complaints should be forwarded to them.
To increase awareness further, TfL has taken Barclays Cycle Hire cycles to garages with routes in the hire scheme’s area or near superhighways, enabling special sessions for bus drivers to take place. Additionally, publicity campaigns regarding cycling and cycling safety are deployed at bus garages and in bus company staff magazines.
Please forward any reports you have received to TfL, who will investigate with the relevant operator.
Cycle Safety at Bow Roundabout
Caroline Pidgeon: Following your commitment to carry out a review of dangerous junctions, what specific actions are you taking to improve cycle safety at Bow Roundabout? Please provide a timetable for these planned actions.Written response from the Mayor: As you are aware TfL is currently reviewing Bow roundabout alongside the ongoing police investigation. Additional signage has already been put in at the roundabout. Further plans will be made available as soon as possible.
Cycle Safety on Holloway Road, N7
Caroline Pidgeon: What specific actions are you taking to improve safety on Holloway Road following the recent fatal accident involving a cyclist near the junction with Jackson Road? Please provide a timetable for these planned actions.Written response from the Mayor: TfL is to review every major planned scheme on the Transport for London Road Network to consider safety for cyclists. It will also review all Cycle Superhighway junctions which have been implemented to date.
It is planned that Barclays Cycle Superhighway Route 12 (CS12) will run between Angel and Muswell Hill via Holloway Road, with implementation during 2013. The design for CS12 will be taken forward in the light of any lessons learnt from the above review of existing junctions.
In addition to the planned CS12, TfL has recently completed a scheme to improve the toucan crossing between Madras Place and Fieldway Crescent in order to make this frequently used cycle crossing as safe as possible for all users.
Cycle Safety on Camden Road, NW1
Caroline Pidgeon: What specific actions are you taking to improve cycle safety at the junction between Camden Road and St. Pancras Way following the fatal accident involving a cyclist at this location earlier in the year? Please provide a timetable for these planned actions.Written response from the Mayor: As you know, in part following the recent meeting with Assembly Members, the design for the schemes at King’s Cross are being finalised and will be announced as soon as possible.
Cycle Safety on Tanner Street, SE1
Caroline Pidgeon: What specific actions are you taking to improve cycle safety at the junction between Tanner Street and Tooley Street following the fatal accident involving a cyclist at this location earlier in the year? Please provide a timetable for these planned actions.Written response from the Mayor: TfL is to review every major planned scheme on the Transport for London Road Network to consider safety for cyclists. It will also review all Cycle Superhighway junctions which have been implemented to date.
The junction between Tanner Street and Tooley Street is on the planned Barclays Cycle Superhighway Route 5 (CS5). The design for CS5 will be taken forward in the light of any lessons learnt from the above review of existing junctions.
Cycle Safety on the A40 Western Avenue, Hillingdon
Caroline Pidgeon: What specific actions are you taking to improve cycle safety on the A40 Western Avenue following the fatal accident involving a cyclist on the road earlier this year? Please provide a timetable for these planned actions.Written response from the Mayor: This collision occurred on the main carriageway of the A40, not within the off-carriageway cycle facility provided here to enable safe passage for cyclists. The Metropolitan Police, following its investigation, concluded that no physical changes to the carriageway were necessary and at this time no further enhancements are proposed.
Cycle Safety at Dalston Junction, Hackney
Caroline Pidgeon: What specific actions are you taking to improve cycle safety Dalston Junction following the fatal accident involving a cyclist on the road earlier this year? Please provide a timetable for these planned actions.Written response from the Mayor: The collision occurred when a goods vehicle turned left across the path of a cyclist resulting in fatal injuries. TfL attended a site meeting shortly after the incident and the subsequent police investigation concluded that the road layout was not a contributory factor. The driver has been charged with Causing Death by Careless Driving and is awaiting trial at Crown Court.
I have asked TfL to work with the construction and freight industries on cycle safety as a matter of urgency. TfL’s Commissioner has written personally to 800 freight operators and to a number of construction industry bodies to urge them to improve safety technology on their vehicles and to train their drivers on the special requirements of driving on London’s roads. I have also asked TfL to commission a review of the operation of Heavy Goods Vehicles by the construction industry in the Capital.
This project will form part of the existing programme of activity aimed at reducing cycling casualties, which already has a strong focus on reducing the danger from goods vehicles. This programme is set out in my Cycle Safety Action Plan, which was developed by TfL with key stakeholders, industry representatives from the freight industry and cycling organisations.
Cycle Danger Report
Caroline Pidgeon: Will you make public the currently suppressed report produced last year from the TfL Road Safety Unit which addresses cycle safety, serious injuries and fatalities?Written response from the Mayor: TfL has not suppressed any report produced last year on cycle safety.
I suggest that the report to which you are referring is the research commissioned by TfL from the Transport Research Laboratory, entitled the “Analysis of police collision files for pedal cyclist fatalities in London, 2001 – 2006”. This was published by TfL in October 2009 and is publically available on the following link:
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/businessandpartners/pedal-cyclist...The analysis in this report was discussed in detail with members of the Cycle Safety Working Group (CSWG). It has informed the programme of actions designed to improve cycle safety agreed with the CSWG and included in the Cycle Safety Action Plan.
Cycle Superhighways (1)
Caroline Pidgeon: Do you consider that there is a contradiction in providing guidance to cyclists to not cycle on the inside of HGVs yet this is an inherent feature of the Cycle Superhighways?Written response from the Mayor: I do not agree. Five metre Advanced Stop Line areas are installed as standard at all signalised junctions on the Superhighways, allowing cyclists to wait ahead of queuing traffic.
The scheme also includes various other measures designed to reduce conflict between cyclists and left-turning HGVs. These include the provision of blind spot safety mirrors at all signalised junctions, the delivery of training to cyclists and HGV drivers, and campaigns advising cyclists how to minimise the risks posed by HGVs.
Cycle Superhighways (2)
Caroline Pidgeon: While recognising that the details of the sponsorship deal for the bike hire scheme and Cycle Superhighways is commercially confidential, please can you provide an absolute assurance that there are no clauses in the contract for a Cycle superhighway being partially closed for reasons of safety reducing income from the sponsor?Written response from the Mayor: There is nothing in the Sponsorship Agreement which prevents TfL from making operational decisions in respect of Barclays Cycle Superhighways.
Dutch style cycle lanes
Caroline Pidgeon: What steps, if any, are TfL taking to evaluate the effectiveness of the widespread use throughout Holland of cycle lanes which routinely provide a kerb between the cycle and other forms of transport and where there are separate light phases at junctions for cyclists and other vehicles? Does TfL have any plans to implement any of these cycle lanes which have proven to improve cycle safety?Written response from the Mayor: TfL is aware of physical segregation methods used in Holland. In London, measures to be provided for cyclists are considered on a junction by junction basis depending on the need at that particular location.
There are already examples of segregated cycle facilities on the Transport for London Road Network and on the Barclays Cycle Superhighways. These facilities have proved successful under the conditions and at the locations where they have been used.
Cycle accidents
Caroline Pidgeon: Please state what steps you are taking to mitigate the steep rise in cycle fatalities that has taken place between 2010 and 2011 in London.Written response from the Mayor: I am committed to transforming London into a cyclised city - where people can ride their bikes safely and easily in a pleasant environment. Safety remains a top priority for me and has been the most important consideration in everything we have done. That is why TfL is working closely with cycling, safety and freight organisations and the Police to implement the 52 actions in my Cycle Safety Action Plan for London. The Plan, published in March 2010, sets out a broad set of actions which include working with the London boroughs to increase the number of people that receive cycle training, developing information campaigns designed to reduce the conflicts which lead to cyclists getting killed and seriously injured in London and, making the capital’s roads safer for cyclists.
But I acknowledge that more can always be done. That is why I have asked TfL to carry out a safety review of every major planned scheme on their roads and every junction on the Cycle Superhighways, including an urgent review of Bow roundabout. TfL is currently working on proposals to improve that particular junction and will be engaging with cycle groups and other stakeholders about exactly how we plan to make those improvements.
Of the 16 cyclists that have been killed in London this year, nine of those deaths have involved a heavy goods vehicle. This is why I have asked TfL to commission an independent review of the design, operation and driving of construction industry vehicles, such as the skip lorries, tipper trucks and cement mixers we see on our roads every day. We will look at how we can make those vehicles safer through physical improvements such as side bars, extra mirrors and sensors and, through better training for drivers of these large vehicles. The Transport Commissioner has written personally to 800 freight operators and to a number of construction industry bodies, to urge them to improve safety technology on their vehicles and to train their drivers on the special requirements of driving on London’s roads. TfL already runs two Certificate of Professional Competence training courses for London lorry drivers, and has produced guidance on safety technology for freight vehicles.