“Cycling is not dangerous, this road is”: A white bike tribute marks London’s first recorded cyclist fatality of 2026
A 39-year-old cyclist was killed in South East London after a collision with a lorry. A "ghost bike" has been placed near the site of the collision to warn future riders.
On Friday night, friends and residents held a vigil for Irene Leardini, an experienced cyclist and bike mechanic, who died following the collision between her bicycle and a lorry. Those at the gathering paid tribute and said they wanted to draw attention to what they describe as persistent safety issues on the route.
“We agreed that [a white bike] would be the best way to mark it, to highlight the ongoing danger to people nearby what had happened.”
Lewisham Cyclists
Credit: Alex Raha, Lewisham Cyclists
Vicky Foxcroft, MP for Lewisham North, attended the vigil, as well as the Deputy Mayor of Lewisham, Councillor Louise Krupski, alongside ward councillors.
“We are now meeting with London’s Walking & Cycling Commissioner Will Norman and TfL engineers to urgently explore what more can be done to improve safety on the A2”.
Cllr Louise Krupski, Deputy Mayor for Environment and Climate Action
But, local cycling campaign group Lewisham Cyclists suggested more needs to be done, “As far as politicians are concerned, actions speak louder than words”.
Alex Raha, Co-ordinator of the Lewisham Cycling Group, said this is the second time there’s been a fatal collision in the Lewisham borough involving an HGV and a cyclist in the last four years.
Lorries drive just 4% of vehicle miles in London but are involved in over half of fatal collisions with cyclists, according to the London Cycling Campaign.
Credit: London Cycling Campaign
The major arterial road is a key corridor for cyclists travelling between South East London and the city centre. Local riders say they feel vulnerable when cycling along the road, particularly at traffic-heavy junctions and in sections where cyclists and HGVs share limited space.
“Because of the layout of the roads, cyclists end up in blind spots through no fault of their own from sharing space with lorries and HGVs.. Ultimately the A2 is a TfL controlled road, it’s down to TfL and City Hall to make it safe”.
Alex Raha, Lewisham Cyclists
London Cycling Campaign’s ‘Dangerous Junctions’ data shows 6 serious collisions (not including this fatality) along the Lewisham stretch of the main road. They are calling for a long-term plan for the busy A2 that is safer for both cyclists and pedestrians.
Cycling more, but protected less?
Meanwhile, cycling is on the rise in London. TfL data shows that cycle journeys have increased by 43% over the past six years, reaching an estimated 1.5 million journeys per day.
Credit: AP
Recent figures from TfL reported to LBC, suggest cycle safety issues in the capital remain significant, with a 14 per cent year-on-year increase in serious injuries to all cyclists – up to 878 in the first nine months of last year.
“TfL haven’t really done anything, to make the roads that they are responsible for, safer within Lewisham”
Lewisham Cyclists
TfL has previously stated it is committed to reducing road danger and has introduced measures such as safer junction designs and lower speed limits.
CityNews has contacted TfL for comment.
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Headline“Cycling is not dangerous, this road is”: A white bike tribute marks London’s first recorded cyclist fatality of 2026
Short HeadlineLondon's First Cyclist Fatality of 2026
Standfirst A 39-year-old cyclist was killed in South East London after a collision with a lorry. A "ghost bike" has been placed near the site of the collision to warn future riders.
On Friday night, friends and residents held a vigil for Irene Leardini, an experienced cyclist and bike mechanic, who died following the collision between her bicycle and a lorry. Those at the gathering paid tribute and said they wanted to draw attention to what they describe as persistent safety issues on the route.
“We agreed that [a white bike] would be the best way to mark it, to highlight the ongoing danger to people nearby what had happened.”
Lewisham Cyclists
Credit: Alex Raha, Lewisham Cyclists
Vicky Foxcroft, MP for Lewisham North, attended the vigil, as well as the Deputy Mayor of Lewisham, Councillor Louise Krupski, alongside ward councillors.
“We are now meeting with London’s Walking & Cycling Commissioner Will Norman and TfL engineers to urgently explore what more can be done to improve safety on the A2”.
Cllr Louise Krupski, Deputy Mayor for Environment and Climate Action
But, local cycling campaign group Lewisham Cyclists suggested more needs to be done, “As far as politicians are concerned, actions speak louder than words”.
Alex Raha, Co-ordinator of the Lewisham Cycling Group, said this is the second time there’s been a fatal collision in the Lewisham borough involving an HGV and a cyclist in the last four years.
Lorries drive just 4% of vehicle miles in London but are involved in over half of fatal collisions with cyclists, according to the London Cycling Campaign.
Credit: London Cycling Campaign
The major arterial road is a key corridor for cyclists travelling between South East London and the city centre. Local riders say they feel vulnerable when cycling along the road, particularly at traffic-heavy junctions and in sections where cyclists and HGVs share limited space.
“Because of the layout of the roads, cyclists end up in blind spots through no fault of their own from sharing space with lorries and HGVs.. Ultimately the A2 is a TfL controlled road, it’s down to TfL and City Hall to make it safe”.
Alex Raha, Lewisham Cyclists
London Cycling Campaign’s ‘Dangerous Junctions’ data shows 6 serious collisions (not including this fatality) along the Lewisham stretch of the main road. They are calling for a long-term plan for the busy A2 that is safer for both cyclists and pedestrians.
Cycling more, but protected less?
Meanwhile, cycling is on the rise in London. TfL data shows that cycle journeys have increased by 43% over the past six years, reaching an estimated 1.5 million journeys per day.
Credit: AP
Recent figures from TfL reported to LBC, suggest cycle safety issues in the capital remain significant, with a 14 per cent year-on-year increase in serious injuries to all cyclists – up to 878 in the first nine months of last year.
“TfL haven’t really done anything, to make the roads that they are responsible for, safer within Lewisham”
Lewisham Cyclists
TfL has previously stated it is committed to reducing road danger and has introduced measures such as safer junction designs and lower speed limits.
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