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Weekly launches safety drive after cyclists killed

A weekly newspaper has launched a campaign to reduce accidents involving cyclists, after three deaths within a year.

The Hackney Gazette has started its ‘Hackney Cycle Safe’ bid to raise awareness of road safety in the borough and has won the support of London Mayor Boris Johnson.

Its campaign comes after three cyclists died after collisions on the streets of the borough during the last year – with the latest fatality taking place earlier this month.

The newspaper is urging cyclists, motorists and lorry drivers to sign up to three ‘pedal pledges’ on its website, drawn up with help from the London Cycling Campaign, which are designed to make the roads safer for those on bicycles.

Mr Johnson said: “Whenever we have a cycling fatality in London it is a tragedy. Last year 10 cyclists were killed in the capital and TfL is doing its utmost to reduce that number.

“I hope everyone using the roads in Hackney will take time to consider and follow the three point pledge. My team will be in touch with the Gazette to see how we might assist them with their worthy campaign.”

The paper’s campaign was launched after the death of 28-year-old Daniel Cox, who was seriously injured in a collision with a lorry on 2 February and died two days later.

Last March, 28-year-old cyclist Shivon Watson died after a collision with a tipper truck on a roundabout, while in August last year, Arina Romanova, 24, was knocked down in an accident with a taxi and died two weeks later.

The Archant London title aims to bring different organisations together, calling on all road users to take joint responsibility for the wellbeing of cyclists in the borough.

It has designed separate sets of three pledges each for cyclists, motorists and lorry drivers, which include awareness about road positioning, using mirrors, avoiding distractions and getting training.

Hackney has more cyclists then any other borough in London and figures from Hackney Council show there were 197 collisions involving cyclists in 2009.

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