More than 200 cyclists lay down in the street as if they were dead in Stamford Hill to protest about road safety following the death of Stephanie Turner who died in the same spot a week ago.
The 29-year-old health worker suffered critical injuries on Tuesday January 20 following a collision with a lorry in Amhurst Park near the junction with Seven Sisters Road - the first cyclist to die on London’s roads in 2015.
Campaign group Stop Killing Cyclists (SKC) organised the vigil last night, lying down in the road in a powerful display calling on councils, Boris Johnson and TfL to take urgent action to improve safety for cyclists.
The group want to see ‘Dutch-style infrastructure’ like segregated cycling lanes, mandatory improvements to help lorry drivers see cyclists and more investment from the government.
Tom Kearney, who has campaigned for road safety ever since spending two weeks in a coma after being struck by a bus in 2009, told the participants in a speech that: “We shouldn’t have to be here today.”
He continued: “We shouldn’t have to evoke fond memories and the happy life of a fellow human being.
“We shouldn’t have to bid farewell to a kind soul, loving child, and loyal friend.
“As we quietly evoke Steph Turner and silently rage against the wittingly-enforced conditions that caused her entirely preventable death, she’ll live again in our thoughts and she’ll inspire us to keep on fighting for safer roads for all.”
Ted Brown, SKC volunteer, told the Gazette: Heavy goods vehicles are responsible for almost 50 per cent of serious injuries and deaths on the road even though they only account for eight per cent of the traffic.
“Technology exists to make lorries safer but the EU has pushed back the introduction of safer lorries until 2022 - we need them now.”
Ms Turner’s death means 13 cyclists have already been killed in the UK since the start of 2015.
Detectives launched an investigation and arrested the 47-year-old driver of the lorry on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.
He has since been bailed until early April pending further enquiries.
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