On 10 July 2012, Neil Turner, a tube train driver from Sevenoaks,
was killed as he cycled to work along Mitcham Road in Croydon. He was
the ninth cyclist to die on London's roads in 2012.
In memory of Neil and to highlight the fragility of
cyclists on Croydon's roads, Croydon Cycling Campaign will hold a
ceremony to pay our respects to him. We will be joined by members of
Neil's family as we place a ghost bike at the location of the collision,
near the entrance to the Archbishop Lanfranc school, on Wednesday 25th
July at 19:00.
We encourage you to be present as we observe a one minute silence.
The council were first advised about this accident waiting to happen three years ago. Finally, they have put in the cycle lane to ensure traffic turning into this one way street (two way for cyclists) will be aware that cyclists may be in their blind spot. An island would have been preferred but certainly it's an improvement.
Green Party parliamentary candidate for Croydon North, Shasha Khan, is again calling for Croydon Council to improve cycle lanes in the borough.
Shasha Khan said:
“It’s been over two years since Councillor Dudley Mead came on a cycle ride with us around the borough. He realised that cycling was good for the environment and people’s health and gave the impression after the ride that he was going to improve cycle routes. However, I am struggling to see any improvements. (1)”
Shasha Khan wrote to Councillor Mike Fisher in July 2007 asking him to join members and supporters of the Croydon Green Party on a cycle ride to show how dangerous it was to be cyclist in the borough. Councillor Fisher declined saying he “hadn’t been on his bike for years” and that “Coun Mead was the best man” to join the cyclists.
Shasha continued, “During the cycle ride, there was one specific junction, St James Park onto Windmill Road, presently, two way for cyclists and one way for cars, that caught Councillor Mead’s attention. He could clearly see the junction was an accident waiting to happen. However, over two years on, nothing has been done. (2)”
After experiencing the junction first hand, Councillor Dudley Mead advised the council officer David Wickens, who accompanied the cyclists on the day, to consult TFL to improve the junction.
Shasha Khan said:
“I am happy to show Councillor Mead the dangers of cycling around Croydon again.
“The Conservatives give the impression that they are ‘green’ but the reality is somewhat different. A cycling Mayor of London doesn’t automatically mean that people in Croydon are also going to get on their bikes. What will lead to an increase in cycle journeys are safe cycle routes but we get instead is ill thought out stunts like “Cycle Fridays” (3), cuts in the cycling budget (4) and apparent good intentions which are not acted upon.”
Ends
Notes:
1) Picture attached to this email from your original piece. 2) You tube link of the junction: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLsloDzYZ9g 3) 3) http://www.london.gov.uk/view_press_release.jsp?releaseid=23132 Despite huge amounts of publicity, the Mayor’s “Cycle Fridays” have been an abject failure. There have been far more marshalls and press officers present at Cycle Friday events than people cycling to work for the first time. 4) http://london.gov.uk/view_press_release_a.jsp?releaseid=19796
