A likely reason a cyclist would be here in the first place is to avoid Parliament Square. People take the quiet roads round here to avoid the multi-lane gyratories, but the drawback is that you have to negotiate junctions like this one, on busy roads where the priority is against you. You will find a route on the official TfL London Cycling Guide (#14) along John Islip Street and crossing into Dean Bradley Street at this point. There is nothing whatever to moderate traffic speed or help cyclists cross here except a rather useless, very narrow strip in the centre of the road. It typical of the kind of junction that is dangerous - very dangerous in fact - but not dangerous enough to get into the TfL junction review.
Thoughts with the victim, I tend to use Horseferry Road if heading towards Victoria St as I can then avoid the roadworks at the station. Never bothered using John Islip tho as I tend to just head along and instead take on Lambeth Bridge r/b which isn't too bad if you're turning left :-)
ReplyDeleteAs with most roads in London there is plenty of space however there is parking down either side which is clearly more important in a capital city then safe cycle infrastructure!