Bank Intersection Halted As Thousands Of Protesters Mark Death Of Ying Tao In Central London

Thousands of people stopped traffic at a notorious City intersection Wednesday to remember Ying Tao, the eighth cyclist to be killed on London roads this year.

The recently married management consultant collided with a dump truck at Bank on Monday morning and later died at the scene.

Cyclists met at two locations - the south side of Finsbury Circus, and the north end of London bridge - and cycled to Bank Junction where they remained for 15 minutes from 8.30am.

All six arms of the Bank junction - home to the Bank of England and a large Tube station at the heart of the City - ground to a halt as the flash protest called by the London Cycling Campaign took place.

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The protest was organised by the London Cycling Campaign, which said: "More must be done to create high quality space for cycling across London, to enable people of all ages and abilities to ride safely in our city. This includes making lorries safer."

Of the eight fatalities on London's roads this year, seven have involved heavy goods vehicles.

Many cyclists stood quietly during the event, while others rang bicycle bells and raised placards.

The protest also marked the death of Clifton James, 60, who was killed in a collision with a car in Harrow in the early hours of Sunday morning.

And it followed one earlier this month in Camberwell where cyclists held a "die-in" to remember Esther Hartsilver who died on May 29 after being struck by a lorry in Denmark Hill.

Cyclist Ying Tao was killed after being crushed by a tipper truck at Bank on Monday

A bike officer from City of London Police has described the Bank junction as “probably the most dangerous in London” for cyclists, according to a report from roadcc.

Building work is currently under way in several London locations on segregated "cycle super highways" and protected junctions. Bank is not currently included.

Wednesday's protest was attended by Labour's Christian Wolmar, who is seeking a Labour nomination for the London mayoralty, and his party rival Ivan Massow. Both tweeted about the event.

Yao, a 26-year-old Oxford graduate, has been remembered by her employer Price Waterhouse Coopers.

Neil Hampson, a partner at the company, said: "We are shocked by this tragic news. Ying was a bright and popular colleague with a promising career in front of her.

"She excelled at everything she did, with a passion for life, for work and for the friendships she made. It is a tragedy that a wonderful young woman should lose her life at such an age.

"Our thoughts go out to Ying's family and friends and we will do anything we can to help her family at this very sad and difficult time."

Building work is currently under way in several London locations on segregated "cycle super highways" and protected junctions. Bank is not currently included.

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