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Tom Edwards
Transport correspondent, London
Campaigners vent anger at TfL over cyclist deaths
An unpublished report said "casualties were inevitable" at the site.
Local campaigners, cyclists and bloggers have highlighted the safety issues of the junction outside Kings Cross station where a cyclist died on 3 October.
In particular, an internal report from Transport for London (TfL) in 2008 highlighted how "aggressive" vehicles were and said "casualties are inevitable".
It also advised "the key crossing should be redesigned".
As yet this has not happened although TfL says there will be changes before the start of the London Olympics in 2012.
The question from campaigners is why has it taken so long. They are also suggesting TfL has failed in its duty of care.
I was shown the problems with the junctions by Sophie Talbot, a local cyclist.
This TV piece shows very clearly the issues faced by cyclists.
I have spoken to TfL which says it is consulting on changes at three junctions at King's Cross that should be ready next year, and the designs will reflect the needs of all road users.
The police investigation has yet to report on what happened on 3 October. The incident room number is 0208 9985319.
I also noticed a lot of cyclists were walking their bikes through that junction - I presume because it is so daunting.
Do you use that junction?
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Comment number 1.
thereverent18th October 2011 - 17:29
TfL have failed to do much about cyclist or pedestrian safety.
This junction is just one of many in London where cyclists and pedestrians are put at danger to try and get motor-vehicles moving slightly faster.
In the middle of a city is is not acceptable that we still have these 60s motorway inspired roads.
Link to this (Comment number 1)
Comment number 2.
Group51uk18th October 2011 - 17:37
The whole area is a lethal nightmare. Try taking a Borisbike and riding from e.g Russell Square to the bike docks across from Kings Cross Station, there is just no safe/legal way of getting there from the south. But I have to say, most gyratories feel lethal because you have to ride in the middle of traffic e.g. to go straight on, it breeds conflicts where the cyclist if they lose will die.
Link to this (Comment number 2)
Comment number 3.
willperrin18th October 2011 - 17:45
Tom thanks to you and the BBC for helping us bring this scandal to wider public attention. TfL has had years to sort out the junctions around Kings Cross which remain deadly for all road users and pedestrians. In the time TfL has been sitting on this report, out West an entire Olympics complex has taken shape. TfL could have sorted these junctions out, it just can't be bothered.
Link to this (Comment number 3)
Comment number 4.
recumbentsrcool18th October 2011 - 22:24
Transport for London simply continues to display its incompetence and unwillingness to take cycling seriously as a mode of transport. It can only demonstrate that it is incapable of thinking about anything other than motor traffic. It doesn't understand road danger reduction. Yet other European cities with more imagination effortlessly show us the way we should be doing things.
Link to this (Comment number 4)
Comment number 5.
Caroline Russell18th October 2011 - 22:34
I took part in the street audit for the '08 report & was surprised at the lack of immediate action to address the serious issues raised. The audit participants were all local and unanimous in their strength of feeling about the lethal state of the public realm at Kings Cross.
TfL's casual acceptance that people continue to die there with horrifying regularity can only be described as immoral.
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Comments 5 of 17