London meeting puts cycling safety in the spotlight

The London Road Safety Council (LRSC) last week met the mayor of London’s cycling ambassador to highlight the important role that road safety officers have to play in fulfilling London’s cycling vision.

With Boris Johnson’s ‘Cycle Action’ plan seeking to double cycling rates in the capital over the next 10 years, LRSC’s John Mylod and James Parker met Andrew Gilligan, cycling ambassador, and assembly member Roger Evans to lobby for safety to be high up the new agenda.

The LRSC delegation was pleased to hear that Transport for London (TfL) is considering measures including a requirement for lorries to be fitted with proximity sensor alarms, and removable bars on the sides of construction lorries to prevent cyclists being crushed beneath their wheels.

LRSC is also encouraged by pilot-testing of a surround video to enable HGV drivers to see clearly the proximity of vulnerable road users, and welcomes the advent of 20mph zones, in particular on TfL roads. The development of ‘non-aggressive routes’ for cyclists, called ‘Quietways’, running through parks and along residential streets is another positive measure, according to LRSC.

In the meeting LRSC outlined the work that road safety officers deliver, in particular cycle training, which Mr Gilligan believes should be on the National Curriculum.

Mr Gilligan is keen to see parents involved in their children’s training, and is concerned that since 2007 there has been a decline in the number of children cycling to school in London. A review of cycle training in schools is due to be conducted by the Greater London Assembly (GLA) over the coming months.

James Parker, LRSC administrator, said: “Our goal must be to see high quality cycle training offered consistently across London, and we look forward to working with the GLA to ensure that our members play a vital role in the challenge to get more Londoners cycling more often and more safely.”

For more information contact James Parker on 01483 828443.