Cyclists account for more than half of people reported killed or seriously injured in road incidents in London from 2023 to 2024, according to campaign group Action Vision Zero.
Although the behaviour of other road users has been blamed, the infrastructure of London roads has left cyclists feeling unsafe.
London cyclists are more likely to be involved in collisions or injure themselves in central London.
Milla Lupton, a cyclist from London said: “I cycle through Old Street and the roads leading up to there are a nightmare. Sometimes it’s faster just to get off the bike and walk along the pavement.
“I had a car door open in front of me once, sending me flying – the driver did absolutely nothing, and didn’t apologise, which was frustrating.
“The most difficult thing is on roads that get busy that don’t have cycle lanes.”
Max Jung, another cyclist from London said of his interaction with other road users: “Most of my experiences on the road have been positive, I haven’t had any accidents.
“However, I have had cars almost hitting me on the designated cycle paths or blocking cycle paths in traffic.”
According to Rachel Aldred, a professor in transport at the University of Westminster. “The main risk to people cycling and walking comes from people driving, particularly larger and/or faster motor vehicles.”
Southwark was recorded to be one of the London boroughs with the most incidents, with 103.
It was also reported to have one of the most dangerous junctions by cyclists and councillors.
In contrast, Barking and Dagenham boroughs have implemented new cycling infrastructure that has significantly improved the confidence and safety of cyclists.
This results in Barking and Dagenham having the lowest incident rates.
Aldred added: “Building a protected infrastructure, reducing the speed and volume of motor traffic is crucial to reduce danger and make cycling more appealing.”
Aldred explained that people who walk or cycle are at risk from cars and other huge vehicles that travel at high speeds.
To tackle this issue there should be more cycle lanes and even walking paths to keep everyone safe.
Yet even with adequate cycle lanes, cyclists remain among the most vulnerable road users.
Many organisations in London spread awareness about road safety for both cyclists and other road users.
The recent surge in cyclist incidents in London has also led to calls for urgent attention to improve infrastructure, such as protected accessible bike lanes.
This change could not only lead to cyclists feeling safer, but encourage more people to use bicycles, with the added benefits of reducing congestion.
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