Family of killed cyclist Janina Gehlau speaks out

Yet again another family has travelled to London to find out why and how their daughter died cycling in the city.

Over the past year a French, Ukrainian and now a German family have been told their daughters have died after being in collision with an HGV.

Today the family of Janina Gehlau spoke out.

'Like a jungle'

The 26-year-old died after an incident on Friday at the notorious Ludgate Circus junction.

Her mother, Andrea Tasic, and husband Marcel Gehlau, told me they had concerns about cycling in London and that Janina had bought a smaller bike so she felt safer and closer to the ground.

They also raised the issue of some cyclists riding too fast and said that "it was like a jungle".

Janina Gehlau was studying for a masters degree and completing her dissertation in London

When I asked her if the authorities needed to do more, Janina's mother said: "Most certainly."

She added: "They need to seize this opportunity because this issue is affecting parents who are losing children on the streets of London. The city has got to stop it.

"The whole mentality needs to change and road users need to be more considerate to each other."

Of course we do not know what happened in this case, but messaging around cycle safety and HGVs is not getting through.

Ms Tasic and her son-in-law also wanted to place on record their thanks to the City of London Police without whom they would not have been able to say a dignified goodbye to Janina.

Leon Daniels from Transport for London said: "We are deeply saddened that a cyclist has lost their life after a collision with a HGV... and our sympathies go out to her family and friends.

Janina's close family said they were able to say a dignified 'goodbye' to her in London

"The safety of all road users is and remains a key priority for us and we will be assisting the City of London Police with their investigation into this terrible incident."

All of this will raise concerns and questions again about having large vehicles with blind spots on the capital's roads yards away from vulnerable road users.

Officers are appealing for witnesses to contact them on 0207 601 2222.