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| London Cyclist Fatalities Bring Calls for Truck Limits | London Cyclist Fatalities Bring Calls for Truck Limits |
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| LONDON — Public transport in London is always expensive, often crowded and sometimes unreliable, so there is no mystery about why bicycle trips here in Britain’s capital increased by around a third in the decade up to 2011. | LONDON — Public transport in London is always expensive, often crowded and sometimes unreliable, so there is no mystery about why bicycle trips here in Britain’s capital increased by around a third in the decade up to 2011. |
| But the sixth cycling fatality within two weeks has highlighted the dangers of a battle for road space that takes place morning and evening on the streets and has raised the heat on London’s mayor and prompted calls for a partial ban on trucks. | But the sixth cycling fatality within two weeks has highlighted the dangers of a battle for road space that takes place morning and evening on the streets and has raised the heat on London’s mayor and prompted calls for a partial ban on trucks. |
| Even before the latest fatal accident, which took place Monday in Camberwell, southeast London, a commentary in The Evening Standard newspaper described the streets as a “war zone” and compared the fatal accident rate in London with deaths in the armed forces serving in Afghanistan. | Even before the latest fatal accident, which took place Monday in Camberwell, southeast London, a commentary in The Evening Standard newspaper described the streets as a “war zone” and compared the fatal accident rate in London with deaths in the armed forces serving in Afghanistan. |
| “Which is more dangerous? Riding a bicycle in a sophisticated, modern European capital or serving with the British Army in one of the most dangerous countries in the world?” the newspaper asked. It turns out that 14 cyclists have died this year in London as opposed to eight soldiers in Afghanistan. | “Which is more dangerous? Riding a bicycle in a sophisticated, modern European capital or serving with the British Army in one of the most dangerous countries in the world?” the newspaper asked. It turns out that 14 cyclists have died this year in London as opposed to eight soldiers in Afghanistan. |
| On Tuesday, the former British Olympic cyclist Chris Boardman called on the mayor of London, Boris Johnson, to consider banning large trucks from some of London’s roads during peak times. | On Tuesday, the former British Olympic cyclist Chris Boardman called on the mayor of London, Boris Johnson, to consider banning large trucks from some of London’s roads during peak times. |
| “There have now been six cycling fatalities on the capital’s roads in two weeks and a total of 14 so far in 2013,” he wrote in an open letter. “Heavy goods vehicles were involved in nine of the fatal crashes — that’s 64 percent of the fatalities — despite making up less than 5 percent of traffic. In Paris, last year there were zero cyclist fatalities.” | “There have now been six cycling fatalities on the capital’s roads in two weeks and a total of 14 so far in 2013,” he wrote in an open letter. “Heavy goods vehicles were involved in nine of the fatal crashes — that’s 64 percent of the fatalities — despite making up less than 5 percent of traffic. In Paris, last year there were zero cyclist fatalities.” |
| Mr. Boardman said that Mr. Johnson promised in March to examine the issue of a truck ban and added that he was disappointed by the apparent lack of progress. “Paris is a safer place to ride a bike and we believe that this is, at least in part, due to the restrictions on dangerous vehicles entering the city during peak hours,” Mr. Boardman wrote on behalf of British Cycling, the governing body of the sport in Britain. | Mr. Boardman said that Mr. Johnson promised in March to examine the issue of a truck ban and added that he was disappointed by the apparent lack of progress. “Paris is a safer place to ride a bike and we believe that this is, at least in part, due to the restrictions on dangerous vehicles entering the city during peak hours,” Mr. Boardman wrote on behalf of British Cycling, the governing body of the sport in Britain. |
| Mr. Johnson struck a skeptical note, telling the BBC that such a ban might damage companies and create the risk of a “serious influx as soon as the ban is over.” While the experience of other cities was being examined, he was “by no means satisfied” the idea was the solution, he added. | Mr. Johnson struck a skeptical note, telling the BBC that such a ban might damage companies and create the risk of a “serious influx as soon as the ban is over.” While the experience of other cities was being examined, he was “by no means satisfied” the idea was the solution, he added. |
| The recent series of deaths has put Mr. Johnson on the defensive over an issue that was once a strong suit. A cyclist himself, he started a public rental program for what became known as “Boris bikes” and has championed cycling “superhighways” in the capital. The dominance of the British track cycling team in last year’s Olympic Games here and the success of the British cycling team in the Tour de France have also contributed to the heightened popularity of bicycling. | The recent series of deaths has put Mr. Johnson on the defensive over an issue that was once a strong suit. A cyclist himself, he started a public rental program for what became known as “Boris bikes” and has championed cycling “superhighways” in the capital. The dominance of the British track cycling team in last year’s Olympic Games here and the success of the British cycling team in the Tour de France have also contributed to the heightened popularity of bicycling. |
| But Mr. Johnson has also been critical of the tendency of riders to take risks by ignoring traffic signals, and on Tuesday he suggested a ban on headphones. | But Mr. Johnson has also been critical of the tendency of riders to take risks by ignoring traffic signals, and on Tuesday he suggested a ban on headphones. |
| Many accidents have occurred at intersections when vehicles turn left without spotting a cyclist alongside. Critics claim that London has not invested enough in safety measures to keep up with the needs of cyclists, but the mayor’s office says he has plans to spend more than $1.5 billion on cycling infrastructure over the next decade. | Many accidents have occurred at intersections when vehicles turn left without spotting a cyclist alongside. Critics claim that London has not invested enough in safety measures to keep up with the needs of cyclists, but the mayor’s office says he has plans to spend more than $1.5 billion on cycling infrastructure over the next decade. |
| According to the European Commission, Britain has one of the better records in Europe on cycling safety, with two deaths per million inhabitants in 2012 as opposed to nine in the Netherlands, where cycling is also very popular. | According to the European Commission, Britain has one of the better records in Europe on cycling safety, with two deaths per million inhabitants in 2012 as opposed to nine in the Netherlands, where cycling is also very popular. |
| But other statistics paint a different picture: the Dutch have a low figure for deaths per billion miles cycled, around 21, as opposed to 38 in Britain. | But other statistics paint a different picture: the Dutch have a low figure for deaths per billion miles cycled, around 21, as opposed to 38 in Britain. |
| Because the numbers of deaths in London remain small, trends are difficult to discern. The 14 fatal accidents so far this year amount to the same number as during the whole of 2012, but there were 16 in 2011 and 10 in 2010. | |
| Britain’s Department for Transport also collates the number of those killed or seriously injured in cycling accidents in London. That number rose to 673 in 2012 from 468 in 2010 — though, during that period, the number of cycling journeys increased too. | Britain’s Department for Transport also collates the number of those killed or seriously injured in cycling accidents in London. That number rose to 673 in 2012 from 468 in 2010 — though, during that period, the number of cycling journeys increased too. |
| In any event, the huge increase in cyclists on London’s streets appears to have annoyed some drivers, increasing tension among commuters battling their way to and from work. | In any event, the huge increase in cyclists on London’s streets appears to have annoyed some drivers, increasing tension among commuters battling their way to and from work. |
| The latest controversy coincided with a case outside London in which a driver was fined and given penalty points on her license after posting on Twitter about striking a cyclist in Norfolk. The rider suffered bruises and minor damage to his bike but won little sympathy from the driver, Emma Way. | The latest controversy coincided with a case outside London in which a driver was fined and given penalty points on her license after posting on Twitter about striking a cyclist in Norfolk. The rider suffered bruises and minor damage to his bike but won little sympathy from the driver, Emma Way. |
| “Definitely knocked a cyclist off his bike earlier,” she wrote. “I have right of way. He doesn’t even pay road tax! #Bloodycyclists.” | “Definitely knocked a cyclist off his bike earlier,” she wrote. “I have right of way. He doesn’t even pay road tax! #Bloodycyclists.” |