I have to admit that I have only browsed through the article but I really don't think cycling in London is dangerous. I have been cycling in London since the the age of around seven years old. During my younger years (I am now 47) I did not wear a helmet back then, I don't even think you could get them back in the late 70 early 80's from what I could remember. There is very few parts of London I hadn't explored as young man and very keen cyclist. The fact is i have clocked up more hours riding through North London A406 (Yes you could cycle it back then) central London Trafalgar square and South London including Elephant and Castle than most people. I even cycled London to Brighton on the A23 back in the day.
During my 30's 40's I cycled into Fleet Street and Liverpool Street and Knightbridge for work frequently (wearing a helmet now) but doing the cardinal sin of wearing headphones. I love my music.
What makes cycling dangerous in London I think is the following.
1. Cyclist taking risks.
I've seen cyclist during the morning rush try and squeeze through gaps between buses and lorries which are side by side. Why would you do this for the sake of 10 yards waiting for the traffic lights to change. It is just not worth it.
2. Lack of respect for other traffic users (Pedestrians Cyclist and Cars)
cyclist's drivers and pedestrians need to respect each other. Obiviously there are just people in the world that think they are either indestructable of don't care about other people and they think they own the road. If you don't take risks then you will always be ready for the twat pedestrian or road rage car/lorry driver that want's to ruin your day.
3. Bad road posistioning.
Everytime I hear on the news a cyclist has been killed by a lorry turning left I think this is a death that could have been avoided. It's simple you need to be infront or behind any vehicle that might turn left at any junction, never be by the side of them. What are you going to do if they forget to indicate when they are turning left. For the sake of 10 yards is it worth it. The traffic in London is moving (or should be) so slow these days that your going to make time up if you need it. Your already on a winning streak with the health benifits of cycling as well as probably moving faster than most cars.
4. Not indicating as a cyclist what you intend to do.
You realy do need to let other road users what you intend to do. You need to pull around a bus so let the road user behind you know via hand signals that you intend to do this.
Today I have cycled through London (see strava below) on a training ride for the first time in two years. I was worried that after my cancer and bone marrow transplants that my confidence would have gone but I still have it. London for me is the greatest city in the world to explore on a bike. Yes we need to do more to make cycling safer and more enjoyable for casual cyclists but there are simple rules all road should try and adhere to.
Hopefully I will get another 40 years cycling through London.
https://www.strava.com/activities/328671625
