Note to Wheelers - three things you can do
Three quick things you can do to help increase support for a better city for us to cycle and walk in.
- Support the Go-Dutch campaign at lcc.org.uk/pages/go-dutch by signing the petition
- Support the Times Safer Cycling Campaign at thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/contact
- Email or write to your MP, asking them to sign early day motion 2689 - in support of the Times campaign, and to attend the associated debate on 23 February. Check their progress on the EDM at www.parliament.uk/edm/2010-12/2689
Poplar and Bow: Jim Fitzpatrick fitzpatrickj@parliament.uk
Bethnal Green: Rushanara Ali rushanara@rushanaraali.org or via her website's contact form
Remember to include your full postal address when contacting your MP about any issue.
Here's my version - please feel free to use any bits, or write your own:
I am writing to ask if you would be prepared to support the Times "Cities fit for Cycling" campaign, and the London Cycling Campaign's "Go Dutch" campaign. For the former, are you able to support Early Day Motion 2689, or attend the associated debate on 23 February?
I believe that increasing the modal share of cycling in London will contribute to an improved quality of life for all who live and work in the city - this is because it will help reduce pollution and noise and will ease overcrowding on public transport. In addition, if people feel it is practical to switch to using a bicycle for daily transport, they will benefit in terms of fitness (in the long term reducing the burden on the Health Service) and financially (particularly important for low-paid workers for whom travel-to-work costs form a major part of their expenditure).
However, the current state of London's cycling infrastructure deters the majority of Londoners from switching to cycling on the grounds that it is too dangerous. A number of recent incidents in Tower Hamlets (e.g. the recent Bow Roundabout fatalities) make this an understandable position. Cycling in London has increased in recent years, but is still far below the levels achieved in "best-practice" cities, and I believe the level will soon reach a plateau because the majority of Londoners - many of whom would like to use a bicycle - believe it is just too risky.
Unfortunately the Mayor of London has delivered a number of poorly-engineered and under-developed schemes during his period of office. The flagship Super Highway scheme is poorly implemented, and does little to give cyclists confidence. Schemes need to be properly engineered, and properly funded. I believe the current approach to providing cycle facilities in London needs to be challenged, and these campaigns are a good way of doing this.
Full details of the campaigns are at: http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety and http://www.lcc.org.uk/pages/go-dutch. The Times campaign contains an 8-point manifesto calling for cities to be made safe for cycling, and the LCC campaign calls for infrastructure to be engineered to a similar standard to the Netherlands - with clear space for cycling along major roads in all London boroughs.
Whilst these two campaigns are focussed on cycling, I believe that they can also bring substantial benefits to pedestrians as well. Better cycle infrastructure would reduce conflict between cyclists and pedestrians, and reduced motor traffic would make London's environment more pleasant for walking.
As a member for an inner London borough, where congestion, traffic noise, pollution, health problems arising from lack of exercise are all important issues, and where many residents are on low incomes, I hope that you are able to support these campaigns. I would be interested to hear your views on the subject.
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