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Oxford University's 'push for change' after cycling deaths

BBC Vigil on The Plain roundaboutBBC
A vigil was held for Dr Ling Felce at The Plain roundabout

Oxford University says it will "push for investments" to improve cycling safety after two employees were killed on city roads in less than a month.

It said staff were "horrified" to hear of the deaths of Ellen Moilanen, who died near Oxford Parkway Station on 8 February, and Dr Ling Felce, who died on The Plain on 1 March.

A lorry driver has been charged in connection with Dr Felce's death.

A vigil was held for her at The Plain roundabout earlier.

The husband of an Oxford academic who died while cycling talks of the impact on his family

The university said it had requested an urgent meeting with authorities to "push for investments" that would improve safety at roundabouts.

Mrs Moilanen, who was in her 40s, worked as an academic administrator at Reuben College, Oxford.

In a statement, the college said she would be "fondly remembered as a friend to all, resourceful, funny, kind, to the point and endlessly patient".

"Never could the college expect to have been blessed with such a wonderful colleague, and never could we have dreamt she be taken so suddenly," it added.

Family handout Dr Ling FelceFamily handout
Dr Felce was an "incredibly kind and delightful colleague"

"Our thoughts are with her husband Karo, family, friends and with all those for whom and with whom she worked so happily."

Dr Felce was a postdoctoral scientist at the Nuffield Department of Medicine and Radcliffe Department of Medicine.

Prof Tao Dong, in whose lab Dr Felce worked, said she was an "incredibly kind and delightful colleague".

"Ling was a very bright young scientist, excited about the future and everything it may bring for her and her young family," she said.

"We are devastated by this tragedy that has taken her at such a promising point in her life."

Cyclox Residents at the vigil near Oxford Parkway stationCyclox
Residents gathered near Oxford Parkway station to remember Mrs Moilanen on 15 February

Dr Felce's husband James said she was a "brilliant" scientist "who had a really good heart".

She had cycled in Oxford for 17 years and was a "strong believer in the need to change cycling infrastructure", he said.

"If we can get some positive change out of this, it will be something," he added.

"If it means that one day I can take my children [to The Plain roundabout] and show them all the people cycling safely and all road users using it safely, and say, 'look, no-one else dies here because of Mummy', then [Tuesday's vigil] is a big part of us getting us to that point."

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