Superhighway death is latest lorry versus cyclist tragedy

The death last week of a 58-year-old cyclist following a collision with a tipper lorry on a cycle superhighway in east London has prompted fresh criticism of the scheme.

Critics of the superhighways claim the routes are little more than window dressing and do little to address road traffic collision black spots.

A spokesperson for the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) said: “Whether or the not the wider criticism of the scheme is justified , this tragic incident may have more to do with the specific issue of heavy goods vehicles and the scandalously high risk they pose to cyclists in urban areas.”

The driver of the lorry involved in last week’s crash has been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving.

Of particular danger is the left-turning lorry – the driver of which may not see a cyclist in his near side mirror. Safety mirrors, when fitted to the vehicle or traffic lights, can help by minimizing a lorry’s blind spot, but cyclists need to keep their wits about them when in close proximity to large lorries.

HGV risk to cyclists

A programme of education and training for both lorry drivers and cyclists is run by transport chiefs on London, but according to an academic report earlier this year, the Lorries weighing over three-and-a-half tonnes present such a risk to cyclists in urban areas that a more appropriate means of delivery found.

The report, Deaths of cyclists in London: Trends from 1992 to 2006, shows that over the space of fourteen years, freight vehicles were involved in over half of all incidents. And this bleak statistic is compounded by the thousands of additional lorry journeys associated with preparations for the 2012 Olympics.

What is a Cycle Superhighway?

London’s Superhighways differ from conventional cycle lanes as they feature:

• • Wider lanes

Highly-visible blue cycle lanes at a minimum of 1.5m wide

• • Safety mirrors

The use of cycle safety (‘Trixi’) mirrors at junctions to give drivers of lorries better visibility of cyclists when turning left

• • ASLs

Advanced Stop Lines at least 5m deep to allow cyclists to wait ahead of other traffic at lights

• • Segregated sections

Segregated sections of cycle lane at busy intersections

• Space

Re-aligned traffic and bus lanes to create more space for cyclists on busy stretches of the Superhighways

At the launch of the Superhighways, the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: “You have got to have a powerful and visible statement on the roads that asserts to every Londoner, whether on two wheels or four, that the Capital is a cycling city.”

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