London junction shut after Chinese cyclist death

Buses and London Taxis cross a junction near the Bank of England in London, UK. [Photo: Bloomberg via Getty Images/Chris Ratcliffe]

One of London's busiest traffic interchanges - Bank junction - was closed on Monday for an 18-month trial period.

Between 7am and 7pm, the junction may now only be used by buses and cyclists - even taxis will not be permitted.

The trial closure, which has been condemned by taxi drivers but supported by cyclists, will lead to fines of £130 for anyone who flouts the ban.

It aims to reduce the number of casualties at the complicated junction by over 50 percent.

One of the key motivations behind the desire to reduce casualties was the death of a Chinese resident in London in 2015.

Ying Tao, a graduate of the University of Cambridge, was travelling by bike to her workplace when she was killed by a lorry at the interchange.

In total, between 2011 and 2015, 65 cyclists and pedestrians were injured at Bank junction.

The new ban, which took effect at 7am Monday morning, will be subject to monitoring by local authorities, who will then decide after the 18-month trial whether or not to make it permanent.

Taxi drivers continue to protest that they have been excluded from driving in the area during the ban, insisting that they are amongst the safest drivers on the roads of London.