Rosa Exelby, left, and her friends Sofia Akbar and Nancy Jaques at the junction in Angel

THE mother of a teenage girl knocked off her bike at a junction in Angel has called for safety improvements.

Rosa Exelby, 13, was cycling home from school with three friends last month when she was struck by a left-turning van at the junction of Penton Street and Pentonville Road.

Her mother Rachel Hanks said a work colleaue had died at the same corner nearly 30 years ago after being hit by a lorry while cycling.

“I fear for my daughter’s life. Rosa did not know that about this lady who had died and I didn’t really like the fact that she and her friends were even using that junction,” Ms Hanks said.

“I could see that there was a logic to why they did, because to get from where we live to the school, the only other way is to cross Upper Street – and there’s no proper safe crossing on a bike there.”

In May 1995, while she was working at The Big Issue magazine in Finsbury Park alongside Ms Hanks, Kate de Pulford was killed by a left-turning lorry at the same junction.

“Because my colleague died at that same place and now it’s my daughter getting hit by a van in the same way, I’m obviously a bit pissed off,” Ms Hanks said.

“It’s not a safe junction. It should be segregated bike lanes, and they should be trying to encourage more children to cycle without their parents around.”

As Rosa moved off ahead of the van, it drove into the back of her and knocked her to the floor.

She bruised her knees and was scratched by the gears but did not sustain any serious injuries and her bike was not damaged. The driver stopped and waited with her until she felt better.

Rosa said: “After it happened, I was like, in shock for a bit and I sat there for 20 minutes until I was able to cycle back again, because it was just at the very start of our route. I wouldn’t say I’m not scared, I think I’m a bit like fearful when I’m on the road, but it’s kind of just turned me into being aware.”

The Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School student, who started cycling to school from her Angel home two years ago, said the junction was a “big problem.”

Ms Hanks said: “I’m really happy that she cycles to school because I think cycling is brilliant. However, it’s always in the back of your mind that it’s also dangerous.”

While she celebrated School Streets, an Islington programme that closes streets at certain times to allow children safer passage to school, she said schools should work with Islington to come up with practical ways to support children cycling to school.

“Only 2 per cent of kids cycle to school, while something like 30 per cent are driven,” she said. “Surely that’s one of the most healthy barometers of a cycling city is if teenagers are able to go school on their own?”

Nick Kocharhook, a committee member for Cycle Islington, described the junction as “dangerous” and insisted it needed to be remodelled to make it safer for cyclists.

He called for bollards – known as “wands” – to be installed to better protect cycle lanes, and said more space needed to be given over to accommodate cyclists waiting at the lights.

Penny Rees, TfL’s Head of Healthy Streets Investment, said: “Our thoughts are with the girl who was involved in a collision while cycling. We’re determined to make roads across London safer and ensure that nobody is killed or seriously injured on the capital’s streets as part of our Vision Zero goal.

“We are working with the London Borough of Islington to make safety improvements for people cycling along Penton Street, which will include a review of this junction, and have recently announced proposals to make significant safety improvements at the nearby junction at King’s Cross Road and Northdown Street. This is part of a phased approach to make the corridor safer for those most at risk from road danger.”

Cllr Rowena Champion, Islington’s Environment and Transport chief, said: “Our thoughts are with the girl involved in the accident while cycling on Pentonville Road. We will continue to work closely with TfL to make safety improvements for cyclists and other road users.”