A petition demanding Boris Johnson improve safety on a Streatham road has reached more than 1,000 signatures from concerned road users.
The petition was set up by Charly Lewis after an increase in the number of accidents outside her flat on the A23 Streatham High Road in the last two years.
Miss Lewis, 26, is calling for stricter enforcements on the perilous stretch to reduce the number of collisions.
She said: “I’ve lost count of the number of accidents that I have seen, many of which are fatal – seeing it outside your window is just horrible.”
Another accident this evening. 3 fire engines, police and ambulance #Streatham #A23Safety pic.twitter.com/YQ92knKYzT
— A23 Streatham (@A23Safety) June 18, 2015
The road is a busy high street for residents and cyclists and a popular thoroughfare towards Croydon for drivers, something Miss Lewis said can’t go hand in hand.
Miss Lewis, who cycles to work every day, revealed that she didn’t feel completely safe riding on that stretch of road.
She said: “As a cyclist I don’t feel like the roads are safer, I don’t feel safer on my bike than I did two years ago.
“If we can slow the cars down then that will go some way to making the roads safer.”
Horrible collision on #Streatham High Road this morning. This is why we need action. (Via @TfLTrafficNews) pic.twitter.com/lWmVflqlUe #A23Safety — A23 Streatham (@A23Safety) March 29, 2015
Miss Lewis is planning to meet with Streatham MP Chuka Umunna to get his backing for the petition.
She said: “I really hope we can get together and put pressure on TfL and the Mayor of London to make something happen.”
Director of Road Space Management at Transport for London, Alan Bristow, said: “We are aware of local aspirations in the Streatham area and in recent years have already invested in significant improvements to sections of Streatham High Road.
Campaign just got official… We have a campaign poster designed by @robandale Look out for these around #Streatham pic.twitter.com/PibMcJ45cq
— A23 Streatham (@A23Safety) March 29, 2015
“This work has helped improve the local area and provide better crossing facilities along this busy corridor.”
Cabinet member for Environment & Sustainability, Councillor Jennifer Brathwaite, said: “We have lobbied TfL on the issue of 20mph for some time and I was delighted when they announced earlier this year several 20mph pilots – two of which are in Lambeth. I hope the scheme is extended in the near future.”
You can sign the petition here https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/make-the-a23-in-streatham-safer?bucket=
