Tessa Jowell today pledged that the Met Police would enforce 20 mph speed limits in the same way as 30 mph ones to help improve cycle safety in London.
Officers would target 20 mph roads with similar numbers of random patrols and set their cameras to catch drivers breaking the lower limit.
A number of boroughs including Camden, Islington and Southwark, have introduced 20mph speed limits on all roads while others have brought them in on residential roads.
However, there are some concerns that police enforcement of the lower speed limits does not happen universally.
The Labour mayoral hopeful also set out a timetable to bring in cyclist-safe lorries which would be fitted out with new ‘direct vision’ driver cabs that improve visibility and eliminate blind spots.
These could include lower seating for drivers, larger windscreen and side windows, an automatic gearbox so the driver could concentrate on the road and lane departure warnings. Lorries could also be fitted with side guards and an active brake system.
Seven of the eight cyclists killed on London’s roads this year have been involved in collisions with HGVs.
Dame Tessa would push for all primary and secondary schools to offer “bikeability” cycling proficiency courses - and promote them among adult cyclists too.
She would also continue the expansion of the cycle network begun by Boris Johnson - but claimed just six of the Mayor’s 33 most dangerous junctions would be reconfigured by the end of his term next year. She pledged to complete the rest by 2020.
Transport for London figures show the number of cyclists killed or seriously injured in London in all collisions fell 11 per cent last year to 432 but the total number of cycling injuries rose to 5,146.
People on bikes represent just 2 per cent of journeys but 20 per cent of those killed or seriously injured.
She said: “More and more Londoners are cycling - but cycling in London is still far too risky. I want to champion cycling safety so that more people in London, particularly women and older people have the confidence to cycle.
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“Cycling is win-win - good for health, reduces demand on congestion on buses tubes and roads, and reduces air pollution. We should be doing everything we can to ensure this is a welcoming city for cyclists. London today is not truly fit for cyclists and lives are being put at risk.”
Supporting her plans, former world pursuit champion Tony Doyle said: “Tessa understands the importance of cycling and keeping cyclists safe. Her plan for bike ability training, cyclist-safe HGVs and safer junctions is exactly what our city needs”.
