Campaigners spell out their message in Clerkenwell Road

A WHITE “ghost bike” has been installed to mark the scene of a fatal cycling crash near Farringdon.

PhD student Cheistha Kochhar, 33, was cycling home from the London School of Economics on a Forest e-bike with her husband on March 19.

She was involved in a collision with a bin lorry in Clerkenwell Road, at the junction with Farringdon Road, and died at the scene.

Last week tributes poured in commemorating Ms Kochhar’s intelligence and warm heart. The behavioural scientist “always had a hug to spare”.

This week, the Tribune saw a bike covered in white paint had appeared near the scene of the tragedy. It is locked to a road sign and covered in flowers. Next to the haunting memorial, the words “another needless cyclist death” are painted on the road.

Cheistha Kochhar

The practice of putting up the eerie white bikes after a cycling death began in the US in 2003. Now, people around the world participate in the trend. The first recorded ghost bike in the UK was also in Islington, to remember James Foster, who died in Essex Road in 2003 after he was hit by a drunk driver.

Amitabh Kant, Ms Kochhar’s former colleague at a policy think tank in India, told the Tribune this week: “Cheistha was an extremely bright, brilliant and brave girl. She was full of life, energy, vibrancy and zest for contributing to society. She was always smiling, helpful and positive.

“Her going away at such a young age in a traffic incident while cycling is a huge loss for all those who believe in behavioural science, the nudge theory and those who believe in making a difference to environment. She was a catalyst of change and possessed great exposure in these areas.

“This tragic incident highlights the critical need for cycling lanes and for ensuring that cyclists are adequately taken care of. They must always get first preference and lorries should never be allowed to step into public spaces meant for cycling.”

Anyone who witnessed the incident, or road users who have footage which captured events, is urged to call the Met and quote CAD6903/19Mar.

There have been no arrests.