London Assembly elections In late February I wrote to four of the local candidates representing; Labour, Conservative, Lib-Dems and The Green Party. I asked five questions, three on London wide issues and two on local subjects. By their nature, my questions were loaded toward cycling and pedestrian transport, and designed to provoke a response from the individual candidate (I did not want to reprint a spiel from a party manifesto). All candidates had the same questions and all questionnaires were posted on the same day. At the time of sending this newsletter to the printers for copying, (29th March) only two candidates had replied - Peter Howell, candidate for The Green Party and John Biggs, candidate for Labour. Below in bold are my original questions, followed by their replies. 1. The LCC manifesto proposes a reduction in the standard road speed across London to 20mph? what are your thoughts on this? Peter Howell, Green Party: The Green Party has also proposed such a reduction, with direct support to help this happen in those boroughs that need it, funded by congestion charging in Central London. The biggest problem I have encountered in proposing this measure is the commonly-held misconception that it would mean more congestion, significantly longer journey times, and therefore more pollution; it is this prejudice that needs most urgently to be addressed before implementing such a scheme. John Biggs, Labour Party: I in principle support the proposal, certainly for minor and side roads. Indeed I can see no reason why lower limits could not apply in some streets. I have a feeling that a higher limit than 20mph on some major roads might be reasonable, however. Partly this is because of the need to act incrementally and take the public with you. It seems to me that a number of other related issues demand urgent action and are as important as the levels of speed limits. The first is the enforcement of current speed limits, which at present are routinely breached and appear to be rarely enforced. The second is action against thoughtless and dangerous drivers, who are of course a particular danger to pedestrians and cyclists. The third is to give greater resources to the provision of cyclist and pedestrian priority. The collective purpose of such actions is to create a reprioritisation of our roads away from the car and towards pedestrians and cyclists, and to change the behaviour of people to support this. 2. Would you make the London Cycle Network a flagship project for the Mayor, which would deliver a 2000 mile network of safe cycle routes by 2005? Peter Howell, Green Party: Yes indeed. This was one of the first policies launched by Darren Johnson, the Green Party Mayoral Candidate. In fact, Greens in the GLA will push to have the Cycle Network completed by 2003, so urgent as we feel the task is. One word of warning, however, from personal experience: Encouraging though the recent progress in the Network has been, many of the 'miles' talked of are spoilt by the fact that, at major interchanges, the cycle lanes seem to disappear. I cycle from Bethnal Green into the West End three or four times a week, and much as I enjoy it, sometimes the prospect of taking on the five or six lanes of traffic around the Shoreditch area fills me with dread! The Green Party is committed to a major re-allocation of road space away from private motor vehicles to cycles; we are the only party with the political will to make these dangerous sections of the Network more attractive to potential cyclists. John Biggs, Labour Party: I support the continuing implementation of the London Cycle Network as a priority, and it is important that the mayor is seen to be a champion of this. 3. Would you require all public authorities to promote cycling and walking via green transport plans? Peter Howell, Green Party: Greens in the GLA will in fact lead the way by replacing the usual car pool for Mayoral and Assembly staff with a cycle pool, wherever practicable, and there will be no Mayoral car should Darren Johnson be elected Mayor. These commitments foreshadow a policy of auditing both public and private organisations to ensure best practice - for example, it would be a condition of planning for new business developments that facilities should be available for at least 10% of employees to cycle to work. We will also give financial assistance to boroughs, and ultimately require them to play their part, in implementing our sustainable transport policy. John Biggs, Labour Party: I support such a policy. Obviously, promotion must run alongside actions which make walking and cycling more attractive and feasible for ordinary people with the various demands on them and their time. 4. The Tower of London is a major tourist attraction, visited by thousands of people from the UK and abroad, yet it is surrounded by fast moving traffic, has a very narrow footway running alongside it and there are a number of pedestrian injuries here each year caused by motor vehicles. It is also accessed from public transport via an unpleasant subway, can we improve this? Peter Howell, Green Party: I quite agree that it is something of a national disgrace that the environment around the Tower should be so unappealing and dangerous, for pedestrians and cyclists. It's part of a common problem in the 'twilight zones' that surround Central Business Districts in most cities, that is, the ubiquitousness of multi-lane carriageways and intersections. The areas around Aldgate and Shoreditch are similar, of course. Decreasing speed limits and re-allocating road space to create dedicated and safe cycle lanes would be an immediate help; a general reduction in traffic - promoted by our policies of Central London congestion-charging, unapologetic subsidising of public transport, and improved cycle provisions - would be a longer term solution. How wonderful it would be to narrow those wide, windswept roads and replace many of their lanes with public spaces where people can meet and commune at leisure! John Biggs, Labour Party: Yes. I believe there are a number of further changes that can be made to improve pedestrian priority and safety. However, this is one of the worst spots in London for pedestrian/traffic conflict and the dream of many, to bury the road or divert it elsewhereis a distant prospect. 5. Although Tower Hamlets has one of the lowest levels of car ownership in the UK, our borough planners appear to demonstrate contempt for pedestrians and cyclists in local transport initiatives. New developments rarely show consideration for access by anything other than motor vehicles. (This question was accompanied by a schematic plan from LBTH of a road junction reworking, now being implemented. Which appears to slow pedestrian movement, by forcing pedestrians to negotiate 900 turns inside a number of 'pig pen' type street barriers , where currently they are able to cross the road without hindrance.) Can this attitude towards local pedestrians be revised? Peter Howell, Green Party: I think that the main problem with 'attitude' is the belief, which I have come across in talking to people in the area, but which I believe to be mistaken, that policies favouring public transport, cycling and pedestrians are a threat to local communities (The car = personal freedom, family mode of transport, etc.) An example of this is the group of Bow shopkeepers who have set up a group called the Motorists' and Small Shop Owners' Party. They wish to get rid of parking restrictions and traffic-calming measures, believing that this will help local businesses. What both the Green Party and the LCC have to (continued) (continued) get across is that cars harm local communities, because they are dangerous, dirty and encourage out-of-town centres like Lakeside. Buses, walking and cycling encourage local economic activity because they facilitate travel within the borough. The other point is that, especially after the completion of the M11 link road, it is all too easy for our borough's main roads to be treated as nothing more than arteries into the City, which again has very little to do with local communities. The GLA can help by giving the 'big picture' of transport policy, but we must work to show people how sustainable ways of getting around can be really positive and beneficial (not just negative, as with clamping) at a local level, too. John Biggs, Labour Party: I do not accept the opening sentence but do accept that pedestrian facilities are not friendly to the less mobile and do not give in many instances sufficient priority to pedestrians. There is much to be done to improve the design and priority of pedestrian facilities and I certainly support the principle that pedestrian facilities are there to control traffic and not pedestrians. I think this is an area where progress can be made. I would refer you to my first answer.

East London Cyclist | top

Millennium festival of cycling meeting and AGM The current issue of London Cyclist should give you an outline of all the wonderful events happening during this year's Millenium Festival of Cycling. As the national launch of this event is taking place in our borough - we will be starting off the festivities at 10am on Saturday 17th June with our annual 'Great Beigal Challenge'. This will begin in Brick Lane, with the finish line in Mile End Park. Later on we hope to hold another race, a 100m dash, on rickshaws called 'Curry in a Hurry'. During the same week there will be a borough cyclists' breakfast, our almost traditional history ride and a few Dr Bike surgeries. Of course we will need help in preparing these events, and assistance on the day. There will be a meeting - to discuss the plans, followed by the Tower Hamlets LCC AGM on Wednesday, 12 April at 7.45pm at: 7 Bellevue Place, London, E1 4UG 020 7265 9095

East London Cyclist | top