For all things bikes

Several hundreds of cyclists joined the so-called "tour du anger," a ride through London's 10 most dangerous junctions for cyclists, on Saturday the 12^th of November.

The event - initially organised by Cyclist in the City blog - was a tribute to those cyclists who have been killed or injured on London's roads, as well as a call to raise awareness about the urgent need to improve those deadly traps. 

Mark Ames, responsible for the ibikelondon blog, and one of the organisers of the tour, wrote for The Guardian: "London cyclists have united at these events to make it clear that keeping Londoners safe, and encouraging more of them to feel comfortable riding, is not just a question of cycle training, cycle awareness campaigns or indeed copious splashes of blue paint. Instead, physical interventions and a review of the way in which our major intersections are designed is needed. That couldn't be more clear from the 10 most dangerous junctions ride."

The vast group of people that took the roads for a day included children and pensioners, age groups that not usually venture through some of London's most feared road schemes.

Another cyclists initiative - The London Cycling Campaign, which has recently encourage people to redesign a "people friendly" Blackfriars bridge - also demands an urgent redesign of the Bow roundabout after the junction has claimed its second victim in two weeks.

In total, fifteen cyclists have lost their lives on London's roads so far this year.

London Cycling Campaign warnings about the safety of the cycle superhighway in Bow - incidentally, the primary route to the London 2012 Olympics for cycling spectators - issued in February, were ignored by Transport for London (TfL)

According to TfL's data on cyclists killed and seriously injured during 2008-10 these are London's 10 most dangerous junctions:

1. Clapham Road/ Kennington Park Road/ Camberwell Road Junction

2. St. George's Road/London Road/ Elephant & Castle Junction Southwark (E&C)

3. Elephant & Castle/Newington Butts Roundabout (E&C)

4. Albert Embankment/Kennington Lane/ Wandsworth Road Junction (Vauxhall Cross)

5. Millbank/Lambeth Bridge Junction (Lambeth Bridge)

6. Hyde Park Corner Westminster

7. Strand/Northumberland Avenue/Whitehall Junction (Trafalgar Square)

8. Waterloo Road/ Stamford St/ York Road Junction (Waterloo Circus)

9. Clerkenwell Road/Farringdon Road Junction (via Kings Cross)

10. Mansion House St/Princes St/ Threadneedle St

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