large increase in the number of cyclists killed or seriously injured on London roads was revealed on Monday.
The number of cyclist deaths increased from six to 10 last year, compared to the 2021 calendar year, while the number of serious injuries rose from 862 to 989, jumping by 15 percent.
However, the total number of road deaths in Greater London dropped from 96 to 75, a decrease of 22 per cent and the lowest annual number on record.
The reduction, in contrast to a seven per cent increase nationally, was largely due to the pandemic constraints that led to fewer trips. Accident data has started to increase since most restrictions ended in July last year.
Transport for London said there was a 54 per cent increase in serious injuries to cyclists compared to the 2004-‘9 “baseline” against which progress on road safety is measured.
TfL said the increase in injuries partly reflects the growth in popularity of cycling, with the number of paddles made by bike almost doubling to four percent.
But it acknowledged that the increase makes it more challenging to reach Mayor Sadiq Khan’s “Vision Zero” target to eliminate all road deaths in London by 2041.
Across all modes of transportation, the number of people killed or seriously injured increased by 17 percent, from 3,070 to 3,580.
There were 23,131 reported collisions – more than 2,130 (10 percent) compared to the previous year. There were 3,505 serious injuries (up from 2,974) and 23,096 minor injuries (up from 21,275).
The 10 cyclists who died last year include Imelda Seymour, who was hit by a minibus on the A316 at Richmond, Evelina Hospital pediatrician Dr Marta Krawiec, who was killed by a left-turning HGV at Holborn, and Imperial College PhD student Christina Kong, who was hit by a truck in Wood Lane.
Fighters have warned that delays in the government offering TfL a long-term funding deal to repair roads and replace dangerous junctions are putting Londoners at risk.
Adam Harrison, Camden’s cabinet member for sustainability, said it was “impossible” to introduce a “Vision Zero” transformation of high-risk areas like Holborn without government support for TfL.
Kingston Cycling Campaign said the lack of funds prevented the completion of “mini Holland” safer routes in the city.
The figures, released on Monday to mark the start of Vision Zero Week to highlight the problem of road danger, show that pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists or motorcyclists were responsible for 81 per cent of all people who went to the capital last year. roads dead or seriously injured. .
Cars were involved in 64 per cent of all collisions resulting in death or injury, compared to 62 per cent in 2019. Speed remains the biggest risk, with half of the 2021 fatal collisions in London (37 out of 75) being speed as a contributing factor reported factor.
TfL has worked with the Met to enable it to enforce up to one million speeding offenses by 2024/25. In 2021/2022, the Met enforced 476 685 speeding offenses, 199 105 more than in the previous year.
Mr Khan said: “Every death and serious injury on our roads is a tragedy and I refuse to believe that it is something we should accept as inevitable.
“There is still much more to be done to eradicate road deaths and serious injuries in our streets, but I am determined that together we will help make London greener, more sustainable and safer for all.”
Jeremy Leach, co-founder of Action Vision Zero, said: “The increase in serious injuries is a real concern. We will struggle to get people out of their cars and choose to walk and cycle if they run the risk of getting serious injuries, especially due to speeding vehicles. ”