.: White bike memorial to a cyclist killed by a lorry at Middleton Rd in Hackney in 2008.

'There have been so many deaths, hell drivers up against the ticking clock and inoffensive or impatient cyclists. Sometimes, as at the junction of Middleton Road and Kingsland Road in Hackney, a young man is dragged under those red-hubbed wheels without the driver feeling a thing. Chasing another project, [photographer Stephen] Gill found himself at the corner of Whiston Road, near St Leonard’s Hospital, where cellophane bouquets were being woven into the fence. He met a group, about twelve people, attaching cards and tributes. To a young man of 17, extinguished in an instant by a left turning juggernaut with no way of registering his presence. ‘They were wailing,’ Gill said. ‘Yes, wailing.’' Iain Sinclair, The Olympics Scam

Transport for London (Tfl) said the number of people seriously injured in Hackney leapt by an astonishing 86 per cent during the first three months of 2008, compared to the same period the previous year. Transport for London's road safety unit showed that accidents involving cyclists increased by 30 per cent, pedestrians by 24 per cent and mopeds or motorcyclists by 36 per cent compared to the same period in 2007.

The statistics have fuelled fears the roads have become more dangerous for cyclists and pedestrians since construction work began on the Olympic park site in Hackney Wick and the East London line extension in Shoreditch.

Supt Mark Bird, of Hackney police, said:"We are seeing an increasing number of people commuting by bike, moped and motorcycle and with the construction of the Olympic site in the east of the borough, I cannot stress enough the importance of cyclists hanging back when faced with a large vehicle next to them."

From: Hackney Gazette 3 Oct 2008

On 30th March 2008 The London Cycling Campaign published the following:

London Cycling Campaign says well done to Transport for London, who have distributed 10,000 safety lenses for lorry drivers as part of a campaign to help cut collisions between cyclists and heavy goods vehicles.

The lenses stick on to the passenger window of a truck cab, improving lorry drivers’ vision of cyclists who come within close proximity of their vehicles. The lens is one of the tools of the Freight Operator Recognition Scheme, which encourages operators to ensure best practice both for driving standards and vehicle safety.

Mayor of London Ken Livingstone said: "Cycling in London is getting much safer, but one safety issue that has been very difficult to address until now is the fact that more than half of cyclist fatalities on the Capital's roads involve a collision with a goods vehicle. These safety lenses are a simple measure that will help drivers of these vehicles to see cyclists. This will save lives and make cycling safer for both cyclists and lorry drivers."

Jenny Jones, the Mayor of London's Road Safety Ambassador, said:

"This is one of those simple ideas which will make a huge difference to Londoners' lives. It is a relatively cheap way for lorry drivers to avoid stress for themselves and death and injury to others. All lorries in London should have these lenses and all drivers should be reminded regularly to use them."

Transport for London are also giving away free wind-up powered secondary bike lights to cyclists.

More at: London Cycling Campaign

On October 1st 2008 the 'london 2012' website said:

The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has launched a new campaign to help improve safety for cyclists in London by focusing on lorries travelling to and from the Olympic Park in Stratford. ODA Chairman John Armitt and cycle safety campaigner Cynthia Barlow will be helping distribute Fresnel lenses to lorry drivers, which are a simple and effective measure that can be used to increase safety for cyclists.

The ODA will distribute 1,600 Fresnel lenses in the first stage of the campaign.

The ODA has also established a forum with VOSA (Vehicle and Operator Services Agency) Metropolitan Police and the construction industry to examine a range of initiatives to ensure the safe operation of vehicles on the road network leading to the Olympic Park.

'VOSA and the Highways Agency are issuing lenses throughout England in a campaign to reduce blind spot incidents and congestion. It is important that large construction projects like London 2012 are leading the way in the industry with this campaign.'

The ODA have also installed cycle improvement measures around the primary access junction on the A12 in consultation with TfL and the London Borough of Hackney, with more improvements being installed next month.

More at: London2012

.: Photo taken in Homerton Road at midday.

Homerton Road in the vicinity of the Olympic construction site has become significantly more constricted and therefore dangerous for cyclists and and other road users as a result of both sides of the road now being used as a car and lorry park by workers at the site. Danger for all road users is increased when drivers are getting into/out of their vehicles along this kerbside car park. Hazards become more acute when vehicles are arriving or leaving the car park on Hackney Marsh which exits into the middle of the Homerton Road parking.

There is a popular tea bar at the entrance to the Marsh car park which has been there long before the Olympic construction traffic arrived. There are 100 plus vehicles using the parking and refreshment facilities in this area during the day. The place is busy all day with a lot of coming and going.