It’s Official: Street Named After Lara Croft

Thanks to the Internet, a new road in Derby, England, will be dubbed “Lara Croft Way.” The name of the city’s 36.2 million-pound project to connect Osmaston Road and Burton Road was thrown open to a Web vote last December, Derby apparently not realizing that fans of the busty Tomb Raider star would overwhelm the procedure. “The vote really captured the imagination of people from across the world and, despite my lack of gaming knowledge, I accept that a majority of 89% for Lara Croft is too overwhelming to ignore,” Councillor Lucy Care, cabinet member for planning and transportation, told the BBC. More than 27,000 participated in the vote.

The name isn’t without justification. Core Design, the now-closed studio that created Lara Croft, was based in Derby. That explains why Croft’s name appeared on the ballot to begin with. And even though Derby had some other local heroes in the running, including soccer player Steve Bloomer, astronomer John Flamsteed and engineer George Sorocold, I doubt they’ve got any fanboys trolling around the Internet. For what it’s worth, I cast a ballot for Lara in December, so you can count me in that group. No word on when Lara Croft Way will be ready to ride on. [BBC via Joystiq]