Rally calls for safer cycling streets in London

The rate of cycling deaths or serious injuries in London has increased since 2010

About 5,000 cyclists have taken part in a rally calling for more space on London's roads.

The Space for Cycling Big Ride started in Park Lane and finished at Victoria Embankment.

Campaigners want more protected lanes for cyclists and 20mph speed limits on some of London's busiest roads.

Meanwhile, a cyclist was taken to hospital after he was injured in a collision with a van on Shoreditch High Street at 08:40 BST.

The incident happened at the junction with Great Eastern Street.

The London Ambulance Service said the cyclist was in a serious condition and the Metropolitan Police said the driver of the van had been arrested.

The rate of serious injuries and deaths among cyclists on London's roads has increased since 2010, according to figures from Transport for London (TfL).

The number of individuals killed or seriously injured per million journeys was 2.37 in 2010, but that rose to 3.17 by 2012.

The mayor of London's cycling commissioner said earlier this year that steps were being taken to improve safety.

'Positive message'

London Cycling Campaign's chief executive Ashok Sinha said: "Our ride will send a positive message to politicians as to how they can improve streets so ordinary Londoners can cycle more safely - preventing the kind of tragedy that we've again seen on London's streets this week after the death of another cyclist at Elephant and Castle."

Cyclist Abdelkhalak Lahyani, 47, from Walworth was killed in the crash with an HGV at the Elephant and Castle junction with Newington Butts on 13 May.

Mr Sinha added: "Our Space for Cycling Big Ride is a fantastic opportunity for thousands of people to join together to send a powerful message to politicians and the media telling them we want real change on London's streets."

Riders cycled through Hyde Park Corner, Parliament Square, Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, finishing at Victoria Embankment.