Pictured above it the ghost bike at King’s Cross, installed for Min Joo Lee – called Deep Lee by her friends , 24, who was killed by a lorry on the junction of Euston Road and York Way on 3 October. According to her friends, she was a very experienced cyclist and “always careful and aware”.
For years, pedestrian and cycling campaigners have severely criticised the road design around King’s Cross. A 2008 report commissioned by TfL came to the conclusion that the whole area was highly dangerous and should be re-designed. I’ve written several times about the danger in the area – the first post was six months before Deep Lee’s death.
A number of cyclists have shared their experiences in comments on this blog. All agree that the area is a complete nightmare for cyclists.
I think those views deserve more attention. Hence, I chose to document them in a separate post.
And, of course, I’d appreciate if more cyclists shared their views about the road design around King’s Cross. Write in the comments, please, I’ll add it to this post.
The entire junction is a deathtrap. Having been forced to use it in 2004 and 2005, when it was on my route to work, I now avoid it whenever possible, and will take a detour of a mile or more to do so.
This is after I was nearly crushed by a bendy bus in (I think) 2005; having dismounted to point out to the driver his lack of care, he got out of his cab and shoved and shouted at me. This case was sorted by a complaint to TfL, and the driver was disciplined, but it says something for the atmosphere created by a supremely badly-designed junction, possibly the most aggravating in London.
There is not enough space and cyclists are extremely vulnerable to other vehicles, a fact that anyone who has cycled there can see immediately. The fact that it is taking a human toll in terms of deaths for this to attract attention is a sad indictment of TfL’s priorities.
I am surprised to read over the last few days about the suppression of the report that was critical of this junction. Let’s hope it won’t take a further tragedy before TfL get off their dots and try to do something about this.
Construction traffic [around King’s Cross] is lethal. Whether it is because of the fact that they are paid by the lorry load or whether it is because the drivers are neanderthals or both, means they should not be on the roads at all. They are violent and aggressive drivers and will threaten anyone who dares to question that. Same around the Blackwall Tunnel.
That junction [Euston Road/ York Way] is a nightmare, I have the privilege of it using everyday..along Euston Road, then up York Way, skimming along the white line of the bus lane whist trying not to get run over by motorised traffic hearing past at way faster than 30 miles an hour, not indicating etc. Continue reading “TfL, listen to the riders please – The cycling nightmare that King’s Cross is”
Cycling Intelligence 