Tributes have been paid to a designer who died after colliding with a car while cycling through Clerkenwell.
Soren Aarlev was riding home after an evening out with friends when he crashed with a Toyota Prius, less than half a mile from his workplace.
His girlfriend Alice Lariviere, 26, today told the Standard: “There was never a boring moment with him. He was a fun, happy, compassionate guy.
“He loved travelling and was really politically engaged. He taught me a lot about travelling and politics. He had a lot of kindness in him.”
Mr Aarlev spent his childhood on a farm in Denmark and a houseboat before moving to Helsingør to study.
He moved to the capital 12 years ago and worked as an interactive designer for Clerkenwell-based Graphic Alliance, where he met Ms Lariviere. She said the pair would cycle to and from work on the same route every day together, and that he rode a fixie-style bike, which had brakes.
She added: “He loved cycling, skateboarding and photography. Hip hop was his passion and he DJ-d for fun.”
Describing his death, she added: “It is horrible. It felt like it was never supposed to happen.”
Mr Aarlev, who studied graphic and web design, is survived by two half-sisters, a half-brother and four nephews.
Linford Haggie, of Graphic Alliance, said: “Soren worked at Graphic Alliance for eight years and was one of our most popular and talented designers.
“He worked on some of our most important digital projects for Temperley, Chanel, JM Finn, and Hiscox. He will be hugely missed by his colleagues and mates at work.”
The driver of the car stopped at the scene of the crash, which took place in Goswell Road at the junction with Percival Street, and was not arrested.
Anyone with information should contact the Serious Collision Investigation Unit at Alperton on 020 8991 9555 and quote CAD 97/6Jul.
