Cycling campaigners push for safety measures around ‘hostile’ Shoreditch Triangle

A map of the Shoreditch Triangle. Image: London Cycling Campaign

Cycling campaigners want to see more safety measures on the roads around one of Europe’s most popular nightspots.

The Shoreditch Triangle – the area east of Old Street station – was named as one of the most dangerous junctions by the London Cycling Campaign (LCC).

One cyclist died there and 27 more were seriously injured between 2011 and 2020.

In February, a woman died after a collision involving a bus on Great Eastern Street during the morning rush hour.

The area spans the borders of Hackney and Islington and is a key route into the City of London and towards the West End.

LCC also highlighted Holborn Gyratory, which has claimed the lives of eight cyclists, and King’s Cross, where three people have died, as other dangerous junctions where it wants to see safety improvements.

It follows a report in July in which LCC set out its vision of road safety in the capital.

The campaign group said: “If this whole area (Shoreditch Triangle) had lower traffic speeds, shorter crossing points for pedestrians, and clear protected cycling routes, it would be much safer.

“When major intersections like the Shoreditch Triangle are made safe, the payback is huge – fixing this one junction unlocks miles of new cycle routes.”

It welcomed the major redesign of the 1960s Old Street roundabout, which sees one junction permanently closed to traffic and segregated bike lanes and cycle-only traffic signals. Some of the subways will also be closed and replaced with street-level pedestrian crossings.

Work was due to be completed in 2020 but was delayed.

The 12,000-strong LCC added: “The work at Old Street only highlights how hostile the system of junctions to the east of Old Street roundabout remains.”