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'I will make transport safer for women'
Pippa Crerar, Political Correspondent28.04.08
Ken Livingstone today pledged to eradicate "no-go zones" for women on London's transport network.
The Mayor said he would improve lighting and bring in more staff and extra police on buses, trains and platforms.
He would also crack down on illegal minicabs, introduce priority seats for pregnant women on the Tube and have more wardens patrolling parks.
Mr Livingstone, who was joined by actress Emma Thompson to launch his manifesto for women, said he would campaign for equal pay. He emphasised changes he has already made and warned that London would be a worse place for women under Tory rival Boris Johnson.
"I have used the full extent of my powers to deliver changes that women say their lives need: making transport fit women's lives, delivering better, affordable childcare, tackling pay inequality, policies that have seen a fall in the number of women killed by domestic violence," Mr Livingstone said.
"Much more needs to be done but it would be thrown into reverse by Boris Johnson, who has no record of supporting women's equality."
Mr Livingstone also promised a new London Skills Board code of practice to get more women into training and secure flexible working and apprenticeships. He said women would get an equal share of the 50,000 new jobs from the Olympics.
Reader views (12)
My experience on the 452 bus in Richmond Putney today was exactly why I'm voting for Boris tomorrow. Three incredibly loud, shrieking, swearing school kids in uniform got on the bus and intimidated a whole bus full of elderly, mothers with babies, handicapped people--and the bus driver as well. Enough.
- C M, London
Ken has done nothing to stop 2 of London's 3 rape crisis centres from closing due to lack of funds.
He has never even telephoned the one remaining centre, let alone visited it.
Boris, on the other hand, has visited the centre and promised to open more.
As has been happening a lot lately, Ken's just reacting to what Boris has said.
But bearing in mind Ken's record of not keeping his own promises (Tube fares, increasing the Congestion Charge, expanding the Congestion Charge etc) I don't believe him now.
- Robert Cunningham, Harrow, London, UK
Sarah you have got to be joking. I've seen more disrespect coming from young mothers (in their 20-30) than I have from young kids...not all teenagers are yobs and Ken is a waste of space. Why hasn't he done something to protect Londoners prior to now, he's done nothing to improve the average person living in London.
- Sarah P, London
Tina, I'm not meaning to be unkind, but isn't that just a little bit paranoid? The vast majority of public transport journeys pass without incident. Disabled people and families with young kids and frail little old ladies use public transport quite happily. Perhaps I've just been lucky but I've been travelling in London for eight years and never so much as witnessed a fight.
Do you really mean you wouldn't even get on a bus in Oxford Street in broad daylight? (actually I wouldn't either, but more because it's quicker to walk!)
- Alix, London
I felt reasonably safe on the buses until you extended unlimited free travel to yobbish teenagers. Vote Boris!
- Sarah N., London
Why hasn't he done this in the last 8 years? Seems this is only important this week as a desperate attempt to get women to vote for him.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, Scotland
Not only is he trying to bribe us, he is patronising us as well; in fact, the statistics show that young men are most at risk from violent attack. We would all benefit from safer transport - but remember, this is the man who got rid of bus conductors! What a hypocrite.
- Jo, Holloway, London
Since 2001 the following events happen that have ruined my life:
- a friend got murdered while jogging in the park in the morning,
- I have been woken up at night by a man wearing woman's stocking on his head
- my computer equipment got stolen
- my credit card has been used to buy air tickets
- a bomb exploded on the bus near my work
Is it just me who has a bad luck or is the city I have been living in? When will I finally feel safe?
- Adriana, Islington, London
He would promise you anything to get re-elected. What he will do afterwards is a completely different matter.
In fact, he will do what he has been doing for the last 8 years, or perhaps less, since he's now getting tired.
Bye, bye, please!
- Sandra, London
As a 35 year old West London women I can say that the only reason I am keeping my car is because I am too scared to use public transport. I am constantly on-edge whilst on board and on the defensive walking to and from bus stops or tube stations. Last night I went to a friend's place in East London, this was an outing I would not have taken if I didn't have my car parked outside waiting for me.
- Tina, London
He's only now deciding to do something about the fact that women don't feel safe in London? He has had 8 years to try and do something and hasn't bothered. He keeps claiming in TV hustings that the buses are already safe when Boris says he'll make them safer.
Too little, too late.
Only now that there is a serious threat to his position does he care about the issues that matter to Londoners. Hopefully in three days he'll be packing his bags and Boris will start actually making a difference.
- Louise, Camberwell, London
Livingstone I hope your not trying to bribe me in to voting for you. I m not gonna be one of your yes women, you have Jowell for that.
- Sally, London
