More than 100 people attended an emotional vigil for the 86-year-old cyclist who died in Southall following a collision with a lorry.

The cyclist, who has been named locally as retired teacher Darshan Singh Heer, cycled every day in Southall Park and was “just given the all-clear from diabetes”.

Mr Heer, of Southall, died on Thursday (November 9) after a collision with a lorry at around 9am in South Road, at the junction with St Joseph's Drive.

At the vigil held on Friday (November 10), more than 100 people were standing at the scene of the fatal collision, laying flowers and holding a minute's silence.

The incident came four weeks after a former Metropolitan Police officer died in hospital following a fatal collision with a lorry.

Claudia Manera, a 51-year-old personal trainer from Ealing, suffered life-threatening injuries while cycling at the junction of Uxbridge Road and The Broadway in West Ealing.

Following Ms Manera's death, a petition was launched by residents calling for a review of road safety in Uxbridge Road in Ealing.

It has been signed by more than 1,000 people and asks Ealing Council and Transport for London to provide “protected spaces for vulnerable road users” in the borough.

The vigil in Southall

Ben Owen, a member of Ealing Cycling Campaign who organised the vigil, said 20 residents cycled from Ealing Town Hall to South Road ahead of the vigil.

“The vigil was very humbling and emotional,” Mr Owen told getwestlondon .

“The victim's son and daughter were there, along with his family and friends, who were all thankful for the group of 20 cyclists who attended.

“A minute's silence was held and we listened to an impassioned speech by the chair of London Cycling Campaign Terry Patterson, who pleaded for councils to listen to the need to have direct vision lorries."

The victim has been named locally as retired teacher Darshan Singh Heer

Ahead of the petition's deadline on November 27, Mr Owen added: “Enough is enough.

"We need people to start thinking about vulnerable road users, we can't carry on going from site to site, seeing cyclists needlessly losing their lives.

“When asking people to sign the petition , you hear so many people saying 'there's no way I would ever cycle down the Uxbridge Road'.

"The biggest thing that we can ask for is a change to the road design, more enforcement of parking, and attitude change by drivers."

More than 100 people gathered for the vigil on Friday (November 10)

Last week, Councillor Bassam Mahfouz hosted a meeting on cycling safety where attendees thrashed out what they want the council to do and how they can make improvements to make it safer for cyclists.

Speaking on road safety after Ms Manera's death, leader of Ealing Council Julian Bell said: “Every death on our roads is a tragic loss to our community, so increasing the safety of the borough's roads is a top priority.

“Last week, on the day of the launch of our traffic-free path along Ruislip Road East, I rode with London's walking and cycling commissioner Will Norman to the junction and raised our concerns with him.”

To sign the petition to improve road safety in Ealing, click here .

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