Cyclists slam protective concrete blocks and steel barriers installed on bridges saying they take up too much room

CYCLISTS have slammed protective barriers on key London bridges, moaning they take up too much room.
The concrete blocks, installed on Sunday night, are designed to prevent vehicles mounting the pavement and hitting pedestrians.

The barricades were installed on Waterloo, Lambeth and Westminster bridges overnight in the wake of the atrocity which left seven dead and 48 injured.

But bike campaigners reckon they are dangerous because cycle lanes have been narrowed to make room for the structures.

Sam Jones, the Campaigns Co-ordinator at Cycling UK, said: "Given the number, scale and type of attacks in the last nine weeks, it is understandable and right that the police and Transport for London are putting in measures to protect key points of infrastructure and the public from likely threats.

"Having been contacted by Cycling UK members about what this means for the current cycling infrastructure, there is clear concern what this might mean for protecting our most vulnerable road users on their daily and regular journeys as well.

"We are speaking with the London Cycling Campaign, and together we will look to contact TfL and the Met to work with them to ensure that high standards of cycle provision can be maintained while also preserving the necessary security measures."

It comes after authorities ruled out measures to install barriers on London Bridge just 24 hours before three terrorists went on a rampage and drove a van at crowds of people.

The City of London Corporation said there were "no current plans" to install bollards on the historic structure on Friday.

While barriers haven't been installed on London Bridge, it was reopened this morning as defiant Londoners returned to work.

Anti-terror barricades were installed at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle in the wake of the Westminster terror attack, but not on the bridge itself.