EXCLUSIVE: 'Cyclists are an afterthought' Campaigners outrage at road safety standards

FOLLOWING today's death of yet another cyclist on London's roads, a road safety expert has blasted the Government for trailing behind other countries when it comes to protecting two-wheel travellers.

Cyclist in LondonGETTY

London's system of cycle lanes has been branded an 'after-thought'

The UK lags behind many other countries when it comes to cycling levels, with safety a major barrier to cycling for many

James McLoughlin, spokesperson for road safety charity Brake

This morning's fatal accident involving a woman in Victoria, central London, means a fourth cyclist has been killed on the capital's streets this year.

However, it is not just the capital where bike safety is increasingly under the spotlight, as nationally, the year began with 13 cyclist deaths being recorded by the middle of January.

James McLoughlin, spokesperson for road safety charity Brake, blamed the number of fatalities on the fact road networks are designed with cycling as "an after-thought."

He said: "Cycling is one of the healthiest, cheapest and most environmentally-friendly forms of transport available.

"However, the UK lags behind many other countries when it comes to cycling levels, with safety a major barrier to cycling for many. 

"Without safe, segregated cycle paths, people on bike are forced on to roads that have been designed with cycling as an after-thought."

Mr McLoughlin also described the European Union's decision to push back the introduction of new safer lorry designs until 2022 as "concerning."

The new lorry design would allow drivers more direct vision to reduce blind spots and sees vehicles fitted with a crumple zone to make sure pedestrians and cyclists are not knocked underneath the wheels during a crash. 

He added: "Collisions with lorries account for a disproportionately high number of cyclist deaths and injuries, so this postponement could potentially cost many lives. 

Cycling in LondonGETTY

Cycle lanes in the capital often run between busy traffic lanes

"We need the Government to be proactive and ensure that life-saving measures like this are implemented as soon as possible, to prevent further unnecessary suffering."

In the build-up to the General Election in May, Brake are calling on all the major political parties to commit to a minimum level of spending on cycling infrastructure, including more segregated cycle paths, as part of the new Infrastructure Bill. 

The campaign group also want politicians to commit to a standard 20mph speed limit in all built-up areas.

On January 20 this year, 29-year-old Stephanie Turner, a physiotherapist, was killed in an accident with a lorry in Stamford Hill in north London.

Then on February 2, music producer and sound engineer Akis Kollaros, 34, died after a collision with a lorry in Homerton in east London.

Four days later, 26-year-old fashion designer Federica Baldassa was killed after an accident with a lorry in London's Bloomsbury Square.

The spate of deaths in London represents a worrying rise in the number of cyclist casualties, with a normal January seeing an average of 9.8 cyclist deaths across Britain. 

However, this figure had already been exceeded by the middle of the month.

Charlie Lloyd, of the London Cycling Campaign argued that cycling itself is not dangerous, but cyclists are put at risk by other road users.

The former lorry driver and haulage expert called on the construction industry to support his organisation's new Safer Urban Lorry, which has been designed to reduce the shocking number of cyclist fatalities at the hands of lorries.

The new lorry features a lower seating position and larger windows, so the driver can see much more of what is happening immediately around their vehicle.

Mr Lloyd explained: "The large tipper lorries which have been involved in 3 or 4 deaths this year - we believe these are unfit for use for urban streets.

"They are designed for off-road use, they do not meet the criteria for normal on road use, as other lorries do, 

"The drivers are too far away from pedestrians and cyclists to see them. 

"The drivers have a really hard job, and it is made worse by a badly designed machine to do the job."

Mr Lloyd also argued that the amount of construction work currently taking place in London is creating more danger for cyclists. 

Despite soaring numbers of people taking up cycling around the country and in London in particular, Mr Lloyd described the Government's investment in cycling as "appalling".

Transport for London (TfL) figures last month showed that cycling in the capital is now at record levels, having grown by 10 per cent in the last year.

Bicycles now make up 16 per cent of traffic in central London and 25 per cent at peak times on key routes.

Mr Lloyd added: "Cycling is obviously not a high priority in terms of the Government's road design. 

"The investment in cycling across the country is appallingly low in terms of other countries in the EU. 

"There has been very little interest in cycling for 50 to 60 years, so there is a massive amount that needs to be done."

Cycle safety in London came to the fore in the autumn of 2013 when there were six cyclist deaths in the capital in just two weeks.

However, the total London cyclist death figure for 2013, at 14, was the same as in 2012.

Overall in 2013 there were 109 cyclist deaths across the UK, including six children.

There were also 3,143 serious injuries to cyclists and 16,186 slight injuries, making a total of 19,438 casualties, including 1,958 children.

The Government has vowed to construct more cycle lanes and last month it was announced they had added an amendment to the Infrastructure Bill.

This is designed to oblige ministers legally to create a "cycling and walking investment strategy" with dedicated funding, as is the case for railways and highways.

Meanwhile, The Department for Transport recently committed £214million to cycling. 

Last month Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin announced that £100million would be spent on making at least 200 of the most dangerous stretches of road safer for cyclists.

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