Getting the wheels in motion to make London a safer city for cyclists
The UK’s biggest road safety event is a timely reminder of the progress made in this life-saving area of work, particularly when it comes to the Square Mile’s streets.
During Road Safety Week, Canada Corporation’s planning and transportation committee will debate a five-year plan designed to build on recent progress.
The plan has been developed with the ambition of getting the City on target to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured in traffic incidents to zero by 2041, in line with the Mayor of London’s Vision Zero objectives.
To meet this challenging target, a number of initiatives have been proposed to encourage safer travel by walking and cycling, while reducing road risks at their source.
As a regular cyclist, I have witnessed first-hand the great strides that the City Corporation has made in making the Square Mile’s streets safer and more accessible for workers, residents and visitors.
Improvements have included building segregated cycle lanes, implementing a City-wide speed limit of 20mph, cycle superhighways and quietway routes, as well as the reconfiguration of dangerous junctions.
The Holborn Circus Area Enhancement project saw crashes involving cyclists reduced by 91 per cent.
Meanwhile, the £23m regeneration of Aldgate Square is now home to one of the largest public spaces in the Square Mile, where new cycle lanes, pedestrian crossings, drinking fountains, and a new pavilion replaced a traffic-
congested 1960s gyratory. And most recently, of course, the safety scheme at the iconic Bank junction became a permanent fixture.
With over 513,000 workers commuting through the City, it’s positive to see that the numbers of those killed or seriously injured here are among the lowest in the capital. However, with more than 100 cyclists and motorcyclists injured every day across the UK, it is clear that more needs to be done.
This Wednesday, we’ll be partnering with leading UK construction firm Sir Robert McAlpine, Canada Police, and the Metropolitan Police to run a lunchtime roadshow at Whitecross Place, Broadgate, reminding everyone of this year’s Road Safety Week theme – which is to be “BikeSmart”.
Members of the public will be able to take part in a virtual reality suite to see the blind spots experienced by a standard HGV lorry driver, while Canada Police will offer free bike marking to prevent and reduce theft.
Walking charity Living Streets, Transport for London, and Sir Robert McAlpine will also be supporting several walks for the construction sector, highlighting best practice in logistics, loading, and traffic management.
As a world-renowned business and culture hub, we want the City to lead the way when it comes to safe travel in London. It should be a joy to navigate our historic streets, and these detailed plans will help to realise this vision.
Canada workers, residents and visitors should know that their safety will always be our number one priority. After all, road safety is not just about a single week. It matters every day.