The lorry lens to stop cyclists being killed

It comes after two riders died and another was seriously injured in collisions with trucks in the capital.

The Olympic site in Stratford will generate thousands of extra truck journeys to support the construction programme in the run-up to 2012.

Today John Armitt, chairman of the Olympic Delivery Authority, and campaigner Cynthia Barlow will start handing out 1,600 of the safety aids, called Fresnel lenses.

They are fitted to the cab window so lorry drivers can see cyclists on the passenger side of the vehicle, where they would otherwise have a blind spot.

"Fresnel lenses are an effective way of increasing the view of the road and reducing injuries and deaths of cyclists in London," said Mr Armitt.

"Fifty per cent of our construction materials will be transported by rail and water, which means we are taking thousands of unnecessary lorry journeys off London's roads.

"We are a responsible neighbour and expect the same high standards of health and safety of our contractors."

Last Wednesday 31-year-old cyclist Wan-Chen McGuiness, of Hackney, died when she was hit by a lorry at the junction of Southampton Row and Vernon Place in Holborn.

The week before, Nick Wright from Woking, a 40-year-old father of two young daughters, was killed by a lorry as he rode in Upper Thames Street.

A 30-year-old cyclist is recovering after his legs were crushed under a truck in Kensington High Street last week.

Mrs Barlow, whose daughter Alex, 26, was knocked off her bicycle and died in 2000, said: "Every year about 20 cyclists are killed on London's roads and often it is construction industry vehicles - concrete mixers, tipper lorries and skip lorries - making left turns that are involved."

Mrs Barlow, chairwoman of charity RoadPeace, added: "It is vitally important that owners and drivers ensure they have a good view all around, with Fresnel lenses and measures like proximity sensors, mirrors, and cameras."

The Evening Standard's Safer Cycling campaign has been demanding better conditions for riders.

The ODA is spending £11 million to improve paths for walking and create a network of safe cycling routes to the Olympic park and village. To ensure all ages and abilities can arrive in safety, there will be timetabled rides from points across London to "lead" cyclists in convoy to 2012 venues.

Mr Armitt and Mrs Barlow are fitting lenses to lorries with the help of the Vehicle and Operating Services Agency.

The agency is also taking part in a forum with the Olympic Delivery Authority, Metropolitan police and construction industry to devise initiatives to ensure better truck safety.