Six cyclists have been killed on London’s streets in two weeks, prompting the Transport Select Committee to hold an urgent inquiry into cycling safety.

The latest fatality was a man in his sixties, who died on Monday after colliding with a tipper lorry in Camberwell. It brings to 14 the number of cyclist deaths on London’s streets this year, equalling the number killed in the whole of 2012.

Committee chairman Louise Ellman MP will host an oral evidence session on cycling safety on Monday 2 December. “Many of these casualties involve large vehicles, especially HGVs, and there is now debate about whether they should be banned from city centres at peak times,” she said. “Concerns have also been expressed about whether London’s new cycle superhighways are safe.”

London Mayor Boris Johnson is under pressure to act. He received a letter last week from the executive director of the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety David Davies urging him to convene a cycling safety summit to see what can be done immediately to improve safety for cyclists. “It is essential that actions are based on good evidence and well targeted,” Mr Davies said, “but we must avoid knee jerk reactions and measures that might be counterproductive.”

A spokesman for Boris Johnson acknowledged receipt of the letter and said that the Mayor is “absolutely committed to improving cycling safety in the capital.” Further plans will be announced in due course, he added.

London Cycling Campaign spokesman Mike Cavenett said: “We want all lorries to be equipped with sensors or cameras to help the drivers, and cyclist awareness training for every lorry driver in London.”

(Photo: TfL)

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