The cyclist died after a collision in Clerkenwell Road – near the junction with Farringdon Road

A BUNCH of tulips mark the spot where a cyclist was killed in a collision on Tuesday evening.

Police said they found a “seriously injured” 33-year-old woman in Clerkenwell Road near the junction with Farringdon Road at around 8.20pm on March 19.

Despite the efforts of emergency services, she died at the scene.

Simon Munk, head of campaigns at London Cycling Campaign (LCC), told the Tribune: “It’s horrific and deeply upsetting every time this happens, and it happens too often. We still see seven or so cyclists die every year on London’s streets.

“Cycling remains incredibly statistically safe despite these collisions, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that each one is horrendous. We see too many people whose lives are being cut short.”

Student Mel Zhang, 23, who lives in a flat above where the collision took place, said she did not know anything had happened until she got a call from a Deliveroo driver saying he was unable to reach her front door because the road was blocked off.

She said: “I went downstairs and we saw a kind of little tent set up by Pret. Usually when you see those kinds of closure, you think some kind of stabbing or something happened. My housemate walked past on the way home from the gym and saw people looking really pale and upset.”

Ms Zhang said she was knocked over by a van when she was cycling on a Santander bike on Clerkenwell Road two years ago and has never cycled since.

“I was lucky,” she said. “I injured my knee and still have a scar. I was trying to stop because it was just the road next to the Leyland shop and a driver was turning. It was scary.

Flowers at the junction

“That was the first night I was thinking maybe I could commute in London. And then I immediately stopped. I wouldn’t like to cycle again, especially on the main roads unless there were cycle lanes. But [cycle lanes] are not very popular in London.”

Mr Munk said that while it used to be the case that more women were killed in collisions with vehicles than men, this has now evened out, in part due to changes in cycling habits thanks to the introduction of safety measures.

There have been two other fatal collisions, back in 1999 and 2001, at the Clerkenwell Road/Farringdon Road junction.

Mr Munk said he cycles down the Clerkenwell Boulevard every day to get to his office off Leather Lane. He said the sheer number of cyclists that pass through and the lack of cycle protection, such as segregated cycle lanes, as well as no northbound cycle route, make it dangerous.

He said: “Very simply this is a kind of crossroads between two massively well-used cycle routes. If you look at the junction nearly every turn but one is banned to motor vehicles, so there is clearly a massive attempt to reduce road danger at the junction.”

Camden Council has just closed a consultation that will make cycling safer on Clerkenwell Road. Proposed measures includes building separate cycle lanes and installing cycle reservoirs.

Eilidh Murray, chair of the board of trustees at LCC, said: “We’re very sad to hear the news and our thoughts are with the family and friends of the cyclist. What a waste of a young life. We don’t have all the facts yet but we’re concerned that Clerkenwell Road is in the news again for the wrong reasons.”

Mel Zhang, who lives close to the scene of the collision

The lorry, which is believed to be a rubbish truck, stopped at the scene and the driver is helping police with their enquiries. It was not an Islington Council bin lorry.

Mr Munk said he was surprised to learn the vehicle was a bin lorry as they tend to have good visibility of the road. He added: “I’ve been at LCC for 10 years. I’ve not seen a bin lorry fatality. From what I understand they’re quite rare.

“Bin lorries are very good for direct vision because their cab is much lower than a tipper truck, for example, where the driver is sitting way up above you. Bin lorries’ windows are usually really big and they’re covered in mirrors. It’s very early days to know exactly what happened but generally speaking bin lorries seem to be safer.”

An Islington Council spokesperson said: “We’re shocked and saddened to hear that a 33-year-old woman has died following a collision at the junction of Clerkenwell Road and Farringdon Road. Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this very difficult time.

“We’re working with Transport for London and the Metropolitan Police to understand more about how this collision took place.

“As a council, we’re determined to ensure that Islington’s roads and streets are as safe as possible for everyone. Alongside both TfL and Camden Council, we’re looking carefully into how we can improve safety at this junction.”

The woman’s next of kin has been informed.

There have been no arrests and enquiries into the circumstances continue.

Anyone who witnessed this incident, or road users who have footage which captured events, are urged to contact police and quote CAD6903/19Mar.