TfL should think bike

Published: 15 April, 2011

• WITH cycling casualties now so commonplace in London, with cyclists being killed or injured by heavy vehicles, it is disturbing to learn that Transport for London wants to overturn the night-time ban on lorries and have them running all hours, day and night.

This will surely lead to more road victims as well as to greater degrees of noise and pollution. 

All because TfL wants to keep local businesses happy in the run-up to the Olympics. 

Instead, they ought to focus on the safety of all road users.

An analysis of cycling in London over the past five years reveals that on average there were more than 15 deaths and 60 casualties a year. 

In Westminster, there were 1,641 casualties between 2004 and 2009, five of whom died. 

This works out as more than 22 casualties a month, well above the average for the rest of London. 

It clearly demonstrates that Westminster is not a safe place for cyclists.

ANTONY PORTER
Ashmore Road, W9