The brother of a cyclist killed in a crash with a lorry has criticised a walkout by politicians that prevented a debate on cycle safety.

Former Kingston University student Eleanor Carey became the 16th cyclist to be killed on the capital’s roads this year when she was struck by a lorry two weeks ago.

The 22-year-old’s death has sparked renewed pleas by the London Cycling Campaign, calling on Mayor Boris Johnson to consider improved safety measures on roads.

Miss Carey’s brother Peter was with his family visiting the site of the accident in Southwark when members of the London Assembly were due to discuss the issue.

However, Conservative members walked out of the chamber on Wednesday, December 7, in a dispute over the chairmanship of committees, leaving the meeting unable to continue.

Writing on Twitter, Mr Carey said: “Very disappointed that petty party politics got in the way of this issue being debated. We will take this further.

“Tories walk out of debate on cycle safety whilst my family visit site where my sister was killed on Friday.”

Conservative leader James Cleverly said his members did not lack regard for cyclists killed in London, and on Wednesday the assembly called for a review of design safety at the most dangerous junctions.

Transport for London (TFL) later said safety improvements at the spot would be delayed until after the Olympics.

It confirmed it had been carrying out preliminary design work at the junction of Tower Bridge Road and Abbey Road since October, but the design would not be completed until March 2012.

Maryka Sennema, a member of Kingston Wheelers, said poor road design and infrastructure, careless drivers and general bad road conditions were the biggest problems in Kingston.

She said: “I’d personally rather not see bike lanes at all than see bike lanes done poorly (eg, Kingston bridge, the lanes through the town centre).

“Pinch-points, roundabouts and speed bumps are particularly dangerous to cyclists, especially those on main roads.”