Boris not against rush hour ban

Boris Johnson defended his Cycle Superhighways, but also said he was not against banning lorries during peak hours. During a rather tense Mayor's Question Time, the Mayor said he 'bitterly regretted' the recent deaths but insisted cycling in the capital was safer than in previous years.

Our Political Correspondent Simon Harris reports.

One Londoner tweeted this picture of another challenge facing cyclists. A puddle, over 7 centimetres deep in one of the capital's Cycle Superhighways.

Green Party Assembly Member, Baroness Jones, became embroiled in a row with Boris Johnson at Mayor's Question Time after telling him to "apologise to Londoners" for his record on cycling safety, and his "flawed and dangerous (cycling) policies".

Boris Johnson says he is not against the idea of a lorry ban at rush hour. The Mayor says 2 out of 14 recent deaths were during the morning peak. But Boris warns a rush hour ban would risk a "great glut of lorries" the minute the peak was over.

The Liberal Democrat's Caroline Pidgeon questions why it took 18 months to build a cycle lane. Boris Johnson replies we have "shifted heaven and earth to get these things installed". Caroline Pidgeon says it's "not fast enough", adding:

Mayor Boris Johnson is facing questions from the London Assembly about the spate of cycle deaths. He repeats the line that overall the number of fatalities is declining, saying:

Olympic cycling champion Chris Boardman has ridden to the defence of Boris Johnson over cycling safety.

Chris Boardman, who is British Cycling's policy adviser, said:

"I don't want to join in with this 'Boris bashing'. Boris is the only person who had the guts to do something about cycling in London. Boris said he was actually going to put money into cycling in the capital. He appointed Andrew Gilligan as cycling commissioner.

"I have a lot of time for Boris and Andrew. Boris has a really tough job. Cyclists are vulnerable and it's tough cycling round the capital. All road-users must obey the rules of the road. It makes me mad to see cyclists behaving badly on the road."

Boris Johnson has waded into the debate about cycling deaths - calling for headphones to be banned. Boris Johnson said those who ride while listening to music were an 'absolute scourge'. But it's not yet clear whether the Mayor actually has the power to enforce a ban, as Luke Farrington reports.

You've been telling if you think cyclists should be banned from wearing headphones. Tweet us @itvlondon or go to our Facebook page.

Martin Webb Whats the difference in a car driver blaring out music then? They can't hear other traffic either, but that's ok is it?

David Cavanagh while we are at it, ban all car users throwing out load music in their cars, its disturbing and not wanted on our streets.

Robert Dallenger Finally Boris says something I agree with, but the headphone ban shouldn't be just for cyclists, it should be for ALL road users.

The Transport Committee wants to hear views on:

• Whether cycling is safe, particularly in towns and cities
• What central and local Government could do to improve cycling safety

• Ideas could include better training and advice for drivers and cyclists, better enforcement of the law applying to drivers and cyclists, and better vehicle and road infrastructure

• Whether it would be feasible to segregate cyclists from other road users