A letter from Gerry Matthews
People with long memories on the history of TfL cycle superhighways in Tower Hamlets may recall late 2011 when two cyclists died and one was very seriously injured in the borough, all within a few weeks in late Octorber and early November. The deaths of Brian Dorling and Svitlana Tereschenko (Bow roundabout) and severe injury to Mary Bowers (crossing The Highway on her way to work in Pennington St shortly after leaving CS3) occurred during a period of protest about TfL plans. or lack of, elsewhere that led to the very well attended flash rides over Blackfriars Bridge and the Dangerous Junctions tour (14th November 2011).
It was on the way back from the latter with a 30 strong 'feeder' that THW members planned the vigil at Bow roundabout for Friday 18th November, which was attended by over 200 cyclists and local residents. The happenstance of the other protests and the opening of the London Mayoral election brought attendance commitments from borough politicians and mayoral candidates and resulted in a great deal of media attention and late on the same afternoon TfL announced the programme reviewing junctions on the CS and TLRN. The subsequent history of which is another tale to be reviewed elsewhere.
However this Monday, 11th November, is the second anniversery of Svitlana's death and her friends have invited us to be at the commemorative events. This includes a small gathering that will take place at the roundabout on Monday evening at about 18.30 (exit Stratford High St). Another happenstance with the opening of the CS2 'extension' and the announcement of the upgrade Aldgate to Bow. All welcome to stop and chat.