Cyclists rode in force on east London’s notorious ‘super cycleway’ on Saturday to ‘love bomb’ traders and get the route along the busy A11 Whitechapel Road made safer.
Members of Tower Hamlets Wheelers lobby group arrived at Whitechapel Market to win over stall-holders who have objected to Tfl plans to upgrade “this dangerous stretch” where six cyclists have been killed since 2011.
The traders fear a segregated route would cut into the street market and block their deliveries.
“The plans have faced tough opposition and stall-holders say their trade will be affected,” the Wheelers group’s Helen Ashcroft said.
“We wanted to show this isn’t the case. Cyclists and the whole community love Whitechapel market.”
The Wheelers are riding hard for the cycle upgrade and are confident that more people will visit the market — especially by bike if it’s made safe.
Many of the 30 campaigning cyclists arrived with baskets on their machines and filled up with shopping while trying to convince the traders about how upgrading the current CS2 route would be “good for business”.
The group talked to stall-holders about their concerns and promised they would work with them to make sure the upgrade “benefits all parties”.
TfL’s public consultations on the proposals to segregate the cycle route along the A11 end this coming Saturday.
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