Elizabeth Webb

Elizabeth was killed at the junction of Burdett Road and Mile End road on Friday 24th September 1999 at 1.00 pm. The incident involved a 38 ton lorry turning left from Mile End Road into Burdett Road.

Elizabeth was 21 and has a twin sister Angela, they were both student nurses at Guys Hospital. She was travelling from halls of residence in Devas Street to the City University to submit a project paper. Elizabeth had a love of horses and had worked in France looking after them. Her father Robin lives in Colchester where she grew up. Her mother died of cancer between two and three years ago and this seems to have prompted Elizabeth to begin training as a nurse.

Elizabeth's funeral took place on 4th October and a member of the LCC/Wheelers was in attendance. Her father has requested that friends and family send donations to The London Cyclists Trust to enable the LCC to continue to work toward road safety improvements.

For the past five years I have been requesting cycle facilities on the Mile End Road, which is used daily by up to 1100 cyclists. From initially being told by local officers that this was impossible and unnessesary for engineering or safety reasons, Wheelers are now being shown detailed plans of proposed new facilities, including advanced stop lines and an advisory cycle lane, which we hope will be installed next year.

While these facilities will improve the current current situation, (an advanced stop line may have saved Elizabeth Webb's life) they will by no means be comprehensive. I am asking you to lobby your own councillor as well as the:

Borough Transport Officer, Tom McCourt,
The Cycling Officer, Gwyn Owen,
both addressed at; THP&E (Transportation) 60 Southern Grove, E3 4PN
and; Derek Turner, Director for Traffic in London, College House, Great Peter Street, SW1P 3LN

• Ask for the current plans for an advisory cycle lane travelling east on the Mile End Road to be upgraded to a 24 hour mandatory lane.
• Tell them the proposed new bus lane travelling west/east on the Mile End Road needs to be a 24 hour lane - not just business hours.
• Ask them why it is not against the law for a motorist to ignore a 'cyclists advanced stop line at a junction'.
• Ask them why motorists no longer stop at 'stop' lines in Britain, and routinely roll across the line with little fear of prosecution.

Some of these above elements were factors in Elizabeth Webb's death.

We have arranged for Critical Mass to attend the scene of the incident on Friday 29th October. Meet as usual at the National Film Theatre at 6pm to join the ride to the scene, where members of Elizabeth's family will be present.

If you would like to contact me for more details of this tragedy, prior to writing a letter please do so.