Reply to comment

TWO cyclists were hit by cars in a road dubbed “death mile” just a week after campaigners launched a petition demanding action to improve safety, writes Josie Hinton.

Police were called to the junction of Camden Road and Dalmeny Avenue at around 11pm on Thursday after a collision that involved two cyclists and two separate cars.

One of the cyclists sustained head injuries while the other, a 16-year-old boy, fractured his arm. 

The drivers of the cars, a BMW and a silver Vectra, failed to stop at the scene and police are continuing their investigations but so far there have been no arrests.

The road leading from Camden Town past Camden School for Girls towards Holloway Prison has become notorious for the frequency with which it is closed. 
 

Tourism student Paula Jurek died when she was crushed under a lorry on April 6. Residents have reported a number of less serious crashes since.

Just a week before the latest collision, councillors representing Cantelowes ward criticised Transport for London (TfL) of “dragging its feet” over improvements and launched a cross-party petition demanding immediate action.

Camden’s council-appointed cycling champion Lib Dem councillor Paul Braithwaite, who spearheaded the petition, said: “It’s all very well TfL saying they might do something with the junction with St Pancras Way, where there was a fatality, but we need a solution for the whole road. Do we need to have a fatality at every junction before they take this seriously? Sadly that seems more and more likely.”

Labour Councillor Angela Mason added: “I’m absolutely appalled there’s been another accident and I still haven’t heard back from TfL about what they are planning to do on this dangerous road.
 

“How many people have to die or be injured before they take action?”

The cross-party petition, supported by campaign group Camden Cyclists, accuses TfL of prioritising the speed of buses over road safety.

It reads: “More than three months on, TfL, who control this main road, show no signs of acting. Deplorably, TfL has never implemented the improved safety measures proposed as a result of the big consultation exercise in 2005. 

“They appear more concerned for the speed of their buses than for public safety.”

A TfL spokesman said: “TfL is currently working towards making improvements to junctions along Camden Road, which will particularly benefit both cyclists and pedestrians. 

“These will include installing advanced stop lines at junctions along the road, which will allow cyclists better position in general traffic when stationary at traffic lights.”