Locals speak about cycling dangers and fatalities

Locals respond to recent cyclist deaths. Pic: Blake Bentley

Locals respond to recent cyclist deaths. Pic: Blake Bentley

Following Thursday morning’s tragic news of London’s fifth cycling death in the last nine days, ELL reporters have been out on the streets of New Cross getting the reaction of locals. We asked them how they feel about the recent fatalities, the city’s cycling infrastructure and what can be done to prevent further accidents.

Catherine Smart. Pic: Alex Kalinauckas

Catherine Smart. Pic: Alex Kalinauckas

Catherine Smart, 52, artist, Lewisham

 “I’ve been more or less a life-long member of London Cycling Campaign; I’ve ridden a bike nearly everywhere in London for nearly 40 years. Definitely more should be done, I’ve always thought cycling is the most obvious way of transport, especially in London.”

“I think they should base it more on Holland, they have a lot more separate and safe cycle-ways and it’s obvious that that’s what needs to be done.”

“I always make sure that I’m seen wherever I go, I’m extremely careful, if I feel in danger, for instance Lewisham roundabout, I won’t cycle round I always cross at the crossing, I have a sort of sixth sense because I’ve cycled for so long.”

Woody Morris. Pic: Alex Kalinaukas

Woody Morris. Pic: Alex Kalinaukas

 

Woody Morris, 23, student, Peckham

“I think they need to drastically invest in cycling. I feel like too much emphasis is given to cars, way too many people in London are just doing short journeys where they could easily be walking or cycling.”

“It’s good for your fitness and its fun so I just think everything should be done to try and make more people cycle.”

“I don’t feel scared, I’m quite careful, I wear a helmet and I have lights, it is scary but I don’t really think about it, maybe I’m a bit naïve but I feel quite safe even though drivers on the roads can be like real assholes, but I feel like as long as you’re careful you can do a lot to minimise the dangers.”

Richard Noble. Pic: Alex Kalinauckas

Richard Noble. Pic: Alex Kalinauckas

Richard Noble, 55, Goldsmiths Fine Art Professor, cyclist and motorist

“If you compare London to other major cities in Europe, particularly in northern Europe, countries like Germany and Holland, the amount of money spent on protecting cyclists is just way too low.”

“The Mayor got himself elected partly by presenting himself as a cool London guy who rode a bicycle, and wasn’t just a Tory prat. He’s talked about as being pro-cycling and pro-environment, but it takes the death of a French student and a number of other people to get them to devote any money to it and I think it’s disgraceful.”

“I think they need to build curbs on these so called superhighways that force the traffic into narrower lanes and give cyclists real protection because most of the deaths seem to occur on the corner between Aldgate and Bow which is a supposed cycle superhighway. There are no curbs and as a design for traffic flow it seems to be pretty insane. Anyway, it takes forever to get through there in your car.”

Matthew Nyx. Pic: Alex Kalinauckas

Matthew Nyx. Pic: Alex Kalinauckas

Matthew Nyx, 23, student and cyclist

“Around here its ok, I live in Greenwich and there’s a cycle route nearly the entire way – the only dangerous bit is on this [New Cross] ring road.  But in certain places it’s not practical to stick extra cycle lanes in. And certainly Trafalgar Road is clogged up the entire time. I mean cycle lanes are handy but it does make less space for cars. So I think just more cycle routes.”

 

Sumayya Khan. Pic: Alex Kalinauckas

Sumayya Khan. Pic: Alex Kalinauckas

 

Sumayya Khan, 22, student

“I’m not a cyclist myself but I do feel for the cyclists because obviously it’s quite dangerous. I did hear about one story about a lorry knocking a cyclist over and obviously they didn’t survive. It was quite sad to hear that. I feel like there should be more precautions out there for cyclists because obviously not everybody likes to use transport like cars and whatever, so they should have the opportunity to do what they want to do and be safe doing it.”

 

P15 Bus Driver

“The cyclists need to be aware that there are large vehicles about. They should adhere to the local traffic signals and red lights, then the deaths would be lower.”

“I’m cautious about them because most of the time they don’t signal they just come out of a side road without even looking at what’s coming. They’ll go in and out of traffic without considering the possibilities of their own safety. They don’t wear any helmets anymore or any safety clothing at all.”

“Roads are for motor vehicles and cycle lanes should be for cyclists, a better long-term infrastructure would have saved a lot of money and saved a lot of deaths.”

By Alex Kalinauckas & Sam Johnson 

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