A young boy on route to school has been hit by a cyclist. The boy, aged 11, was knocked over on Cycle Superhighway 1 (CS1) in Hackney.
London’s cycle superhighways are designed to give commuters a faster, safer and more direct route into the city.
Yet concerns for the safety of cyclists in the community led to an introduction of the Experimental Trial Order (ETO) last month.
The ETO was proposed to residents and at consultation found under half of people supported, or “partially supported” the closures.
Despite public opposition, the ETO has been imposed for 18 months and sees limited vehicle access across the whole of Hackney.
Residents’ worst fears confirmed
At the time, several campaigners expressed concern about danger to pedestrians, especially children, due to speeding cyclists. Residents’ worst fears were confirmed when the Hackney lad was knocked over by a cyclist on Wordsworth Road.
Hackney’s councillor for Neighbourhoods, Transports and Parks Feryal Demirci released a statement expressing her sorrow about the injuries sustained in the incident.
Councillor Demirci added that works had already been undertaken to improve pedestrian safety including “raised crossing and humps at junctions” as well as “wider pavements with tactile paving at key crossing points”.
“I’m scared to be hit”
But Mrs Dermirci’s claims that the council will monitor the road over the next 18 months did not calm local residents.
One mother in the area expressed her worries yesterday.
Mrs Hall, whose two children walk to school, said: “the area needs to be safe for cyclists but at the moment, children and other people walking are in much more danger.
Cyclists go so quickly that even I’m scared to be hit.”
Anti-ETO campaign misleading
Mr Jono Kenyon, the co-ordinator of Hackney Cycling Campaign, dismissed concerns in the community and said that the area’s 20mph speed limit was doing enough to keep cyclists and drivers in check.
Mr Kenyon expressed doubts that cyclists travel too fast down Wordsworth Road. Instead he suggests that the anti-ETO campaign is led by residents wanting unrestricted vehicle access to neighbouring roads.
In light of the accident, the council have still not commented whether they will scrap the remaining 17 months of the ETO, construct new road crossings or simply carry on as normal.
Where road safety measures could be seen as failing, perhaps the task should be to educate more cyclists in Hackney on the importance of cycling safely in the borough.
Cycling conference announced
The council has now announced the 6th annual Hackney Cycling Conference, which will take place on Thursday 27th April 2017.
The event will be co-hosted by Hackney Council, Steer Davies Gleave and the Hackney Cycling Campaign to discuss road safety, road danger reduction and policy for the year ahead.
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A young boy on route to school has been hit by a cyclist. The boy, aged 11, was knocked over on Cycle Superhighway 1 (CS1) in Hackney.
London’s cycle superhighways are designed to give commuters a faster, safer and more direct route into the city.
Yet concerns for the safety of cyclists in the community led to an introduction of the Experimental Trial Order (ETO) last month.
The ETO was proposed to residents and at consultation found under half of people supported, or “partially supported” the closures.
Despite public opposition, the ETO has been imposed for 18 months and sees limited vehicle access across the whole of Hackney.
Residents’ worst fears confirmed
At the time, several campaigners expressed concern about danger to pedestrians, especially children, due to speeding cyclists. Residents’ worst fears were confirmed when the Hackney lad was knocked over by a cyclist on Wordsworth Road.
Hackney’s councillor for Neighbourhoods, Transports and Parks Feryal Demirci released a statement expressing her sorrow about the injuries sustained in the incident.
Councillor Demirci added that works had already been undertaken to improve pedestrian safety including “raised crossing and humps at junctions” as well as “wider pavements with tactile paving at key crossing points”.
“I’m scared to be hit”
But Mrs Dermirci’s claims that the council will monitor the road over the next 18 months did not calm local residents.
One mother in the area expressed her worries yesterday.
Mrs Hall, whose two children walk to school, said: “the area needs to be safe for cyclists but at the moment, children and other people walking are in much more danger.
Cyclists go so quickly that even I’m scared to be hit.”
Anti-ETO campaign misleading
Mr Jono Kenyon, the co-ordinator of Hackney Cycling Campaign, dismissed concerns in the community and said that the area’s 20mph speed limit was doing enough to keep cyclists and drivers in check.
Mr Kenyon expressed doubts that cyclists travel too fast down Wordsworth Road. Instead he suggests that the anti-ETO campaign is led by residents wanting unrestricted vehicle access to neighbouring roads.
In light of the accident, the council have still not commented whether they will scrap the remaining 17 months of the ETO, construct new road crossings or simply carry on as normal.
Where road safety measures could be seen as failing, perhaps the task should be to educate more cyclists in Hackney on the importance of cycling safely in the borough.
Cycling conference announced
The council has now announced the 6th annual Hackney Cycling Conference, which will take place on Thursday 27th April 2017.
The event will be co-hosted by Hackney Council, Steer Davies Gleave and the Hackney Cycling Campaign to discuss road safety, road danger reduction and policy for the year ahead.
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