Ellie Carey: dozens gather for vigil at Bermondsey junction

Ellie Carey died from head injuries after her bicycle collided with a lorry at the Bermondsey junction as she cycled to London Metropolitan University from her home in Peckham.

Ellie's father Allister and brother Peter travelled from Guernsey to be present at the gathering.

London Assembly members Jenny Jones (Green Party) and Caroline Pidgeon (Liberal Democrat) were in attendance along with several Southwark Labour and Liberal Democrat councillors.

Grange ward councillor Mark Gettleson, who has been campaigning for safety improvements at the junction for more than a year, introduced the event and led a minute's silence to remember Ms Carey.

Simon Hughes MP then addressed the crowd and expressed the hope that Ellie's death would lead to much good.

"We have had far too many unnecessary cyclists' deaths in London," he said.

The MP added: "Many of us cycle often and we know London needs to be safer."

He urged politicians of all parties to work with the London Cycling Campaign and other to ensure that road safety is a key issue during next year's elections for the Mayor of London and London Assembly.

"There's plenty of wisdom around us here; there's plenty of commitment. And now there's both emotion and passion – and love and concern as well," he said.

"We cannot have more years in this capital city where so many young people have their lives ended – not by what they do but by what other people do which impacts on them."

Earlier in the day the London Assembly unanimously passed a motion which – among other things – called on the Mayor of London and Transport for London to bring forward proposals to improve cycle safety at the junction of Tower Bridge Road and Abbey Street.

The Conservative group had initially indicated that it would oppose the motion. Assembly member Andrew Boff described the motion as "reactionary" and warned that it would send a message to the public that cycling in London is unsafe.

Mr Boff also defended the Mayor's controversial "smoothing traffic flow" policy which he said made conditions safer for cyclists by reducing the stop-start effect.

• Next week City Hall will publish written answers from Boris Johnson to questions about the Tower Bridge Road junction tabled by assembly members Val Shawcross and Caroline Pidgeon.