Caroline Pidgeon, Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group Leader, working alongside local MP Simon Hughes, is urging the Mayor to ensure that vital improvements are completed to the junction of Abbey Street and Tower Bridge Road within just a few months
After receiving a reply to a recent question (see below) Caroline Pidgeon has now written to the Mayor urging immediate action is taken and seeking assurances from Boris Johnson that the improvements will not be delayed by Transport for London (TfL) until after the Olympic Games.
Caroline Pidgeon said:
“TfL has a long record of dragging its feet when it comes to improving junctions for pedestrians and cyclists.
"It is vital that this does not take place with this junction. Some very basic safety improvements must be completed to this junction within just a few months – at the very latest. There can be no excuses for TfL delaying much needed safety improvements due to the Olympics.”
Simon Hughes MP further commented:
“There is great public support for improvements to the Abbey Street and Tower Bridge Road junction after the terrible death of a cyclist before Christmas. But making London roads safer for pedestrians and cyclists should not be about putting things right only after injuries or deaths.
“The campaign for the London elections this May must see safer roads, roundabouts and junctions for all London pedestrians and cyclists.”
You can read more on the London SE1 website here.
Caroline's question to the Mayor
Caroline Pidgeon: On Friday, 2 December 2011 there was a tragic fatal accident in which a cyclist was killed, apparently after a collision with an HGV, at the junction of Abbey Street and Tower Bridge Road. This follows many complaints from local people - both pedestrians and cyclists - about this junction which I have raised with you before. Do you accept that it is now time to take action to make this junction safer for pedestrians and cyclists? Will you ensure TfL makes improvements as a matter of urgency?Written response from the Mayor: My thoughts and sympathies are with the family of the deceased. Daniel Moylan, TfL’s Deputy Chair, met relatives of the deceased very recently on my behalf.
I have confirmed previously that TfL had planned to undertake a comprehensive study of this junction in 2011/12, to determine what improvements for pedestrians and cyclists were possible. TfL recognises that improvements are desirable here, although I do want to be clear that there is nothing within its collision history to suggest that cyclists are more at risk using this junction than others.
TfL is progressing its study and is seeking to develop a scheme that would provide push-button pedestrian crossings and Advanced Stop Lines for cyclists where doing so is found to be feasible. TfL anticipate that they will be in a position to outline their findings and present a scheme to stakeholders early in 2012.