TfL cycle lanes Tooting: 'I visited London's most dangerous junction for cyclists'

A junction in Tooting has been named London’s most dangerous for cyclists in a report by a campaign group - and I went along to take a look and to find out what people in the area say.

London Cycling Campaign (LCC) has identified the area where Ansell Road, Derinton Road, Price Close and Lessingham Avenue intersect with the A24, Upper Tooting Road as the most hazardous for people on bikes.

Using the latest emergency services Stats19 collision data, the charity found 11 serious and 18 slight injuries were recorded at the junction between 2018 and 2022.

'Something horrible'

Masood Momand, 28, who works at Daily Fresh Foods on Upper Tooting Road, said the previous week he witnessed a car collide with a cyclist, who was later taken to hospital.

Masood said: “I ran and stood there and I took some clothes and a blanket to cover the guy. Thank God he was safe.”

He continued: "I am new to Tooting, so I have just seen two accidents in the last 15 days. This happens more [often], but people are used to it.

“They say an accident happened and ‘oh’, it’s normal for them, but for me it was something horrible.”

Masood believes that the increasing number of one-way systems in the area has led to an increase in accidents.

“Before it used to be that you could go anywhere you could turn your car, but now people don’t have patience so that’s why these things are happening," he said.

“It’s not only the drivers’ faults, it’s the cyclists’ problem as well because they think this road is only for them.

“I don’t cycle but when I see this kind of thing, I don’t want to.”

Upper Tooting Road is part of TfL 'cycle superhighway' CS7, a 13.7 kilometre cycle route which runs from Colliers Wood to Cannon Street.

Tooting Junction

Tooting resident Gerald Kertsch said that the business of the junction had deterred him from getting back into cycling.

He said: “It is rather dangerous here. I’m 60 and would like to try and get back on my bike, but this main road is so busy. With St George’s hospital nearby, there are ambulances and police cars coming down the road so it is scary to cycle here.”

Other Londoners were less fearful of the junction.

Lucia Williams expressed her appreciation for the cycle lanes, which she said provide plenty of space and feel safe to cycle on.

“I am a confident cyclist anyway, so I’m actually more scared of pedestrians because they don’t listen and look,” she said. “We just need people to always keep an eye out, slow down and not be too quick.”

Rosie Barry, 25, expressed surprise at the Tooting junction being named London’s most dangerous for cyclists. She said: “I thought it would be further up towards Clapham and Oval because the roads are way more challenging there, but here there are bike lanes and it’s flat.”

Eliza Mould, 28, agreed that the lack of incline in the area made her feel safe cycling at the junction, and said she had not experienced or witnessed any issues.

She said: “I feel fine, you know, it’s not on a hill so you’re going at a nice speed. You obviously hear the ambulances and the buses but they’re mindful of the cyclists.”

She continued: “Obviously, if it’s busier times of day if you’re not a strong cyclist I wouldn’t recommend it, but it depends how competent you feel on your bike really. But I don’t think it has anything to do with this junction.”

London Cycling Campaign

Around 3,000 cycling journeys are made there daily, a spokesperson for the LCC said.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and Transport for London (TfL) have committed to a ‘Vision Zero’ by 2041, which they say will ensure all deaths and serious injuries are eliminated from London's transport network.

But the LCC urged for faster action on road safety to prevent dangerous junctions from causing further accidents.

LCC chief executive Tom Fyans said: “Behind this horrific data are hundreds of stories of families torn apart by tragedy and lives changed forever. The mayor has committed to a 'Vision Zero' for London by 2041 – but that would mean over 17 years more fatal and serious collisions for Londoners - we need to be faster and bolder.”

Transport for London - TfL

A Transport for London (TfL) spokesperson said when the LCC report was published: “Any death or serious injury on the roads is one too many and we are determined to end the devastating consequences of road danger by working with London boroughs to make roads safer, including at junctions.

"We have reduced danger at 44 junctions across London as part of our Safer Junctions programme and we continue to work on designs for a significant number of further locations in collaboration with our partners in the London Boroughs, including many of those highlighted by this data. We welcome London Cycling Campaign's research and will be working closely with campaigners, councils and local communities across the capital on our investment in new infrastructure over the coming years."

London's most dangerous streets for cyclists

The LCC named the following London junctions as the most dangerous for cyclists:

1. Upper Tooting Road
2. Lambeth Road & Kennington Road
3. Wandsworth Road & North Street
4. Mitcham Road & Leighton Street
5. Finsbury Park & Blackstock Road
6. Holborn (Station)
7. Holborn (Theobalds Road)
8. Queen's Circus
9. Shoreditch Triangle (Great Eastern Street & Curtain Road)
10. Knightsbridge (incl. Albert Gate)