A Croydon councillor who holds the transport portfolio at the London borough has promised cycling campaigners and fellow council members that an “urgent review” will be conducted over the road layout at a location where a woman was killed in a collision with a lorry earlier this week.
The victim, aged 25, had been riding over a railway bridge on St James’s Road, Selhurst, close to the junction with Gloucester Road on Monday afternoon when the collision took place. Her next of kin have been informed, but she has not yet been named.
> Young woman killed cycling in London lorry collision
The driver of the vehicle involved, a 48-year-old man, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by careless driving and failure to stop. He has been bailed while police continue their enquiries.
Both Croydon Cycling Campaign and a local councillor have said that the location where the cyclist was killed, opposite the Windmill pub, is dangerous, reports the Croydon Advertiser.
Austen Cooper from the campaign group explained: “The painted cycle lane disappears as the road starts to narrow, effectively diverting the unwary cyclists into the nearside of vehicles travelling alongside or just behind.
"This is very poor design, and needs to be reviewed urgently."
Addiscombe councillor Sean Fitzsimmons described the railway bridge as “not safe for pedestrians or motorists, let alone cyclists.
"It's just too narrow for a major road and my view is it should be rebuilt like the Tennison Road bridge, with a separated cycle lane, but it will need Network Rail support and finance."
He and other councillors from Addiscombe and Selhurst have asked for a meeting to discuss the site and Monday’s fatality.
Confirming that he would meet them as well as Mr Cooper, Croydon’s cabinet member for transport, Stuart King, said: “I am very saddened to learn of this tragic death. My thoughts and sympathies are with the young lady who lost her life and her family.
"We take our responsibility to provide a safe environment for road users very seriously.
"I am looking to talk to the council's transport staff but I will be arranging meetings with Austen and also the ward councillors in the area who have also got in touch with me about the issue.
"I understand there is an ongoing police investigation so it would not be appropriate to comment further at this stage," he added.
Meanwhile, it has emerged that another cyclist in London lost their life earlier in May.
Christopher Holt, aged 58, died in hospital on 15 May from injuries sustained four days earlier in a collision with a car at the junction of Rainham Road and Sowrey Avenue.
The London Evening Standard reports that the female motorist involved stopped at the scene, adding that police have asked witnesses to contact them on 020 8597 4874.