As part of the on-going efforts to improve cycle safety, Met Police will be holding cycle event in KINGS MEWS, WC1.

London's cyclists are invited to see what the view is like from an HGV cab - offering an unparalleled insight into what a driver can and can't see on the road.  Cyclists will be encouraged to sit in the driver’s seat of a HGV to experience this for themselves, and become more aware of the dangers of cycling too close to a lorry.

You can also have your cycle security marked. If you're unlucky enough to have it stolen this give the police more chance to reunite you with it if it's found.

The Cycle Task Force  set up ‘Exchanging Places’ events to raise awareness of cycle safety. These events allow people to sit in the driver's seat of a HGV or bus to get a better understanding of what the driver can and can’t see, especially in regards to cyclists on the nearside and directly in front of the vehicle.

This Met Police video explains the issues for cyclists and HGV drivers and how Exchanging Places signifcantly helps.

For more information, click this Cycle Safety link to the Met Police webpage.

Sarah Barth has been to a Changing Places session run by Downton Haulage. She writes:

The opportunity to sit in the cab of an HGV is one of the most significant things I've done to improve my safety on the streets of London.
 

The cab is filled with mirrors, so it is possible to see the sides of the lorries from most angles, but it's not always easy.
 

A cyclist is just about visible coming up on the left -- but the improvement once you add a high-viz jacket is astonishing. If you've any sense though, you'd ride up the right, or go nowhere near.
 

There clearly are blind spots, and these are different on different vehicles, so you come away with the impression that the safest place to be is well out of the way.
 

And the safety features only work if the driver is using them - one can only imagine the dangers posed by a tired or distracted driver.