Cyclist Victoria Lebrec lost her leg in a collision with a skip lorry in 2014

A CYCLIST who lost her leg in a road collision returned to the scene of the crash yesterday (Thursday) as protesters made their own bike lane as part of demands for safety measures.

Demonstrators in high-vis jackets formed a human barrier in Old Street where they are ­calling for a segregated route to be installed.

Victoria Lebrec – one of three female cyclists to have lost a limb on the same stretch of road in the past eight years – said: “There’s been so much inaction I’m convinced someone else is going to get killed or lose a leg.

“We have protested about it and nothing has happened. It doesn’t feel like there’s much urgency around it. Transport for London has done some good stuff, such as the cycling lanes in Blackfriars, but this is a priority too.”

The 31-year-old’s pelvis was crushed after she was knocked over by a skip lorry on her way to work in 2014.

Her leg was later amputated and she now has a prosthetic leg and uses a walking stick.

The lorry driver later pleaded guilty to careless driving and was fined.

Ms Lebrec told the Tribune she was shocked that it had happened on a route she travelled every day.

Cyclists stand together to mark out a bike lane in Old Street during yesterday’s protest

“I was aware that it wasn’t particularly safe to cycle in London but I didn’t think this would happen to me,” she said, adding that she attended meetings with Islington Council which “had all the plans” to put in a lane – but nothing has happened.

Since 2016 there have been 194 bike crashes in Old Street, which caused 30 people to be seriously injured. More than 800 people per hour cycle on the Old Street to Clerkenwell Road corridor at peak times.

Two other cyclists, Julie Dinsdale and Sarah Doone, also had legs amputated after being hit by lorries.

Yesterday’s protest took place between the junctions of Honduras Street and Domingo Street, as campaigners carried signs and blew whistles. A man with a megaphone called out to passing commuters: “Good morning. Welcome to your new cycle lane. You can be safe and happy on your bike.”

It was a familiar scene to the Cycle Islington and Camden Cyclists campaigners who first did a “Make The Lane” protest three years ago to raise awareness of the many accidents that have happened on the road.

Green councillor Caroline Russell said: “We have to do everything we can to prevent people being killed. It’s just not OK that someone lost their leg.

Sian Berry, Caroline Russell and cycling instructor Suami Rocha join calls for roads to be made safer

“Every week there is an accident that is absolutely heart-stopping, that’s incredibly upsetting.

“It’s possible we can change our roads and we just need to get on with it.”

London Assembly Member Sian Berry said the timing of the protest was “perfect” because TfL’s funding deal has been finalised and the authority must spend £80million a year on walking and cycling in London. She added: “Victoria shouldn’t have to wait eight years for the route she was using to be made safe.”

A spokesperson for Islington Council said: “The Old Street-Clerkenwell Road corridor is an important part of the borough’s strategic road network, and is one of the most heavily utilised cycle corridors in London.

“The council is currently working, alongside TfL and Camden Council, on proposals to introduce segregated cycle lanes on the corridor, to make cycling easier and safer while protecting bus journey times.

“Given the corridor’s status as one of London’s most heavily used cycle and bus corridors, devising these ambitious proposals is likely to be challenging, complex, and time-consuming, involving the re-designing of several key junctions.”