Cambridge: Cyclists Hurt At Junction

6 October 2013, 11:34 | Updated: 6 October 2013, 11:43

Two cyclists have been badly hurt in a crash at a busy city centre junction in Cambridge.

Cambridgeshire Police say the two men collided at the junction of Hills Road and Gonville Place on Friday evening.

The junction was recently altered to become the first piece of road in the UK to trial new safety measures.

New traffic lights at the junction saw commuters on bikes given an extra five seconds to cross before cars were allowed to move. 

It was thought that the additional phase for cyclists would reduce altercations between motorists and those on bikes. 

However on Friday, emergency services were called to the crossing after two cyclists collided at the junction. 

One of the riders is reported to still be in a critical condition in Addenbrooke's Hospital while the other is stable but suffering from serious injuries. 

Inspector Mick Bruce, from Cambridgeshire Police, has now confirmed that those involved were two men and that they were still in a serious condition. 

He said: "Officers were called at 6.57pm on Friday to reports of a collision involving two pedal cycles at the junction of Hills Road and Gonville Place in Cambridge. 

I can confirm that they are both male and that they suffered head injuries..

We attended with the ambulance service and the incident is now being investigated by our collision investigation unit." 

The accident blackspot has already seen 11 cyclists seriously injured in the last five years with another five cases of serious car collisions. 

The trial was welcomed by campaigners at the time and came as part of a £900,000 improvement scheme for cycling in the city. 

After the scheme was given the go-ahead in August, Councillor Ian Bates, the Cambridgeshire County Council's cabinet member for planning, said: "This trial is a UK first and shows our commitment to get more people on their bikes.

It should improve safety for all users at this very busy junction, giving some separation between riders and other motorised traffic."

If the trial is successful, the lights could be used elsewhere in Cambridgeshire and the UK.