Members of Cycle Islington, Camden Cyclists, Hackney Cycling Campaign and LCC’s CEO Tom Fyans held a short ceremony on 26 March at 8.20 pm to mourn Cheistha Kochhar who was killed while riding her bike on 19 March at 8.20 pm. While full details of the incident aren’t yet known, the location was the junction of Clerkenwell Road and Farringdon Road and police are appealing for witnesses.
The ‘Clerkenwell Boulevard’ has long been of serious concern. It has an appalling record of being hostile for cycling. People have lost their lives, and women have lost limbs, using this route on their bikes. Its long sad history here.
As at the time of writing, Camden Council and TfL are currently working on improvements at the Holborn gyratory end and have a joint consultation (closed 11 March 2024) with Islington Council to make improvements in the middle section. Islington Council has confirmed that they are currently working on plans for their section of Clerkenwell Road and these will be consulted on in due course.
We remain fully committed to campaigning to make the whole route safe for cycling; as a key east/west cycling route it is currently not fit for purpose.