Youth organisation warns young people of “death-trap” at Bow roundabout

A youth organisation branded the Bow roundabout a “death-trap” and said it has been warning its members not to cycle there for years.

Charity Streets of Growth, based in Poplar, runs award-winning cycling courses for young people across Tower Hamlets but said its message has always been to avoid the junction.

Following the recent deaths of Brian Dorling and Svitlana Tereschenko the organisation has decided to include specific training in its classes about how best to tackle the roundabout if it is unavoidable.

Darren Way, founder of the charity, said: “That roundabout has always been dangerous. When I was a kid it was known as the risk and run. From day one the whole set-up there was dreadful.

“It’s so bad we have to say to our young people don’t cycle there. I think the blue lines have simply done one thing – give cyclists a false sense of safety and priority.”

Last year the organisation set up a programme which gave young people the opportunity to fix reclaimed bikes and learn how to ride their bike safely.

The project, Re-cycle, was named the Capital’s best cycling project for young people by the London Cycling Campaign last year.