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rages as death toll rises
By Chris Druce
TWO LEADING London politicians have called for a ban on LGVs during commuter hours after the death of six cyclists in the capital in the past fortnight.
Mayor Boris Johnson has come under intense pressure to act after the death of a cyclist on Monday (18 November) took cycling deaths in the capital to 14 this year—with nine involving LGVs — the same as for the whole of 2012.
London Assembly members Darren Johnson and Jenny Jones have criticised the mayor's cycling policies and called for a default speed limit of 20mph across the city. Jones called for a ban on LGVs during commuter hours, a move that won the support of former Olympic medal winning cyclist Chris Boardman and the leader of Southwark Council,
Peter John.
"It is time to look at more radical action to keep cyclists safe," said John.
"We need new ideas: I propose banning LGVs London-wide during the rush hour," he said. Speaking on LBC radio last week, mayor Johnson said that cycling in the capital was,
becoming safer in the long term, and reiterated that he had pledged around £933m to improve infrastructure. "You cannot blame the victim in these circumstances. But what you can say is that when
people make decisions on the road that are very risky — jumping red lights, moving across fast-moving traffic in a way— it's difficult for traffic engineers to second-guess that. "I'm appealing to all cyclists,
as well as all motorists, to think of the laws of the road, because if you take these hasty, rash decisions that we're seeing sometimes, then you will be endangering your life," said the mayor.