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We could hold balance of pedal power at election, say cyclists
Mark Prigg and Pippa Crerar29 Apr 2010
Pedal power could help to decide the outcome of the election, campaigners said today, claiming that cycling policy could be the key to winning marginal seats.
"This could really be the cyclist's election, and in marginal seats both locally and nationally we believe our members can really make a difference," said Tom Bogdanowicz of the London Cycling Campaign.
It has produced an eight-point manifesto for cycling in the capital, and is asking all of its 11,000 members to quiz candidates about it. "It's virtually impossible to find an empty bike-parking space in London at the moment, and we believe that if we elect people who get cycling wrong, London will grind to a halt," Mr Bogdanowicz said.
"It's very encouraging that we regularly see the likes of David Cameron and Boris Johnson cycling, as it shows cycling issues affect everyone."
The campaign's demands include free bike training for all London children; returning many one-way streets to two-way use for cycling, and special awareness training for HGV drivers. The calls follow the death on Monday of massage therapist Zoe Sheldrake, 31, from Borehamwood, the seventh cyclist killed in London this year. She was in a collision with a car on the northbound A41 Edgware Way, close to junction 4 of the M1. Her death prompted Mayor Mr Johnson to call on the Government to change driving tests, making motorists pay greater attention to cyclists.
CTC, the national cyclists' organisation, has also launched a "Vote Bike" campaign aimed at raising the profile of cycling in the election.
All of the major parties have pledged to improve cycling conditions. Lord Adonis, the Transport Secretary, has said he is "determined cycling should be at the heart" of Labour efforts "to put local transport on a more sustainable footing".
Theresa Villiers, shadow transport secretary, said the Tories' goal would be to make cycling "safer and more attractive". And Norman Baker said the Lib-Dems "need to do all we can to make sure cycling is as safe as possible".
But Rob Spedding, editor of Cycling Plus magazine, claims the major parties lack clear cycling policies. "We want a party who will come out and say they'll turn London into the new Amsterdam for riders, for instance, and have the infrastructure plans to back it up."
London manifesto: Cycling campaign's eight demands
1. TRAINING FOR CHILDREN
Provide free on-road cycle training for all schoolchildren, and free or subsidised training for adults.
2. MORE CYCLE PARKING
Deliver sufficient cycle parking for staff and visitors at all council, NHS and school buildings, and make it a requirement in all relevant planning applications.
3. IMPROVED LOCAL ACCESS
Make local cycling journeys easier by returning borough one-way systems and streets to two-way operation.
4. REDUCED LORRY DANGER
Reduce casualties involving lorries through a driver-cyclist awareness programme for all council HGV drivers, and by council membership of the Freight Operators Recognition Scheme.
5. SAFER STREETS
Lessen danger, particularly to children, by setting a 20mph speed limit where people live, work and shop.
6. CYCLING TARGETS
Back an investment plan that will enable the boroughs to surpass the Mayor's target of a 400 per cent increase in cycling by 2026.
7. HEALTHIER STAFF
Encourage council staff to cycle by signing up to the government Cycle To Work Guarantee scheme.
8. LOCAL EVENTS AND PEOPLE-FRIENDLY STREETS
Promote healthy living by running regular cycling events such as car-free Sundays, reducing car dependency and re-allocating road space to cycling and walking.
Party pledges: What they will do
Conservative
* Stop any more building on disused railways still in public ownership so they can be re-opened as cycle paths in future.
* Push the concerns of cyclists up the highway planning agenda by encouraging officials to “think cyclist” when managing roads.
* Reform the Transport Innovation Fund so local councils have cash to develop green schemes, such as cycle routes and corridors.
* Bring in other unspecified road safety measures to get more people to take to their bikes and reduce congestion.
Lib-Dem
* All train and coach operators to accommodate bicycles on all new vehicles and improve cycle storage and parking at stations.
* Promote cycling competency schemes and make sure road traffic law is enforced equally for cyclists and motorists.
* Expand National Cycle Network, particularly off-road routes.
* Safer cycling and walking routes to be included in all local transport plans and new developments.
* Improve road network in recognition of majority of cycle trips being commutes to work or school.
Labour
* Increase cycle training with 500,000 extra children taking part in the Bikeability scheme by 2012.
* Bring in a new urban transport fund with targeted investment to get more people on their bikes.
* Build on the increase in cycle funding from £5 million to £60 million in the last five years.
* An extra £10 million on better bike facilities at railway stations; secure storage and on-site repair shops.
* Introduced Cycle To Work scheme, a tax break allowing employers to lend cycles and safety equipment to employees.
Green
* Cut speed limits in built-up areas to 20mph for safer walking and cycling.
* Divert the road-building budget into public transport, specifically local projects that promote cycling, walking and buses.
* Support tax relief for work-related cycling on a scale no less generous than car allowances.
* All councils, private landlords, rail stations and large employers should provide safe and dry bike parking.
* Promote a stronger local economy to reduce the need to travel long distances for leisure and shopping.
Reader views (17)
Couldn't agree more with Janet.
As I recently converted cyclist I'm appalled by the behaviour of many of my fellow two-wheeled commuters. The arrogance and disregard of pedestrians, buses and cars is breathtaking. Don't talk to me about traffic lights.
Until many cyclists realise there are such things as laws that dictate their behaviour on the road it's quite hard for them to put a strong case for making roads more bike friendly.
- Phil Clark, Tooting, London, 03/05/2010 15:35
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It seems to me that cyclists and mumsnet is going to be the deciding factor.
All the top three polititians though have avoided transport issues though other than saying they're "committed".
Often Amsterdam is mentioned as a rule of thumb. I think we can go better than that.
- DJC, Hampshire, 01/05/2010 19:56
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The root cause of the problems many people here are ranting about is the constant "cycling is dangerous" propaganda. It puts off risk-averse people, who if they cycled would cycle considerately.
It makes many who do cycle think they're safer on the pavement. It makes traffic engineers create pavement cycle paths which encourage people to cycle on all pavements.
Far more pedestrians than cyclists are killed in London, and all of them by motor vehicles. Even more motorcyclists, in proportion to numbers, are killed. But only cyclist deaths get relentless press coverage.
Cycling is about as safe as walking. It's generally safer on the carriageway than the pavement. It's far safer than motorcycling. The extra fitness you get means that cyclists live longer on average. Stop whingeing, get some Bikeability cycle training if you're nervous, and get out there and cycle!
- Colin, London, 30/04/2010 21:09
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Katie, well said.
Also, many motorists have a total disregard for cyclists, which no training/insurance will ever change. They are the dangerous motorists, as they do not care about anyone/thing apart form themselves. "All other road users better get out of my way" sort of attitude.
- Cylist/Motorist/Pedestrian, London, EU, 30/04/2010 10:07
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I second DC. Very well put, Katie.
- HC, Somerset, 30/04/2010 09:34
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- Katie Smith
Couldn't agree more, at last an intelligent comment on this subject.
- DC, London, 30/04/2010 08:43
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It often seems to me that motorists complain about congestion but are unwilling to support any attempts at a solution if it slightly inconveniences them. As a pedestrian, cyclist and motorist I think these '8 demands' seem sensible.
Ultimately we want our public highways to be as safe as possible for *everyone*. We all have a responsibility to look out for those who are more
vulnerable. Yes, irresponsible cycling is dangerous, but invariably irresponsible driving is much more so. Every time I take to our highways I see (supposedly trained) motorists speeding, yacking away into mobiles, nipping through lights which have just turned red, overtaking dangerously, I could go on...
Less cars on the road can only be a good and safer thing for everyone; pedestrians, cyclists and motorists alike. With such a high proportion of car trips being less than 3 miles, *responsible* and safe cycling should be made a more appealing alternative, and the 8 points above are attempting to support that. Education and training is important for everyone (it's shocking the number of pedestrians who seemingly haven't heard of stop, look and listen), and penalties for *all* who break the law.
By the way, in regards to insurance, I think you'll find a large proportion of cyclists do actually have 3rd party cover. I do, as do most other people I know who ride bikes. How do you think I feel on my cycle commute that takes me through an area of Bradford where apparently 50% of drivers are uninsured?
- Katie Smith, Bradford, West Yorkshire, 29/04/2010 23:54
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Pedestrians have been completely abandoned by the government, councils and police. Where I live there are more cyclists on the pavement than in the road and they ride aggressively fast and do not give a damn about anyone that they hurt or frighten.
I know many people who used to feel tolerant about pavement cyclists but as an increasing number of them or their relatives have been “clipped” by cyclists this tolerance is evaporating.
A blind person of my acquaintance has been hit three times while walking on the pavement with her guide dog. Who is protecting her rights and safety? She is beginning to reach the point where she is afraid to go out.
- Flora, East London, 29/04/2010 22:35
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Before this article, I always put the arrogance claim made by foaming at the mouth motorists about the foaming at the mouth cyclists down to - well - foaming at the mouth rhetoric. If this article is for real, then it sounds like the drivers have just scored a goal (or at least, the cyclists have scored an own goal).
There's all kinds of pressure groups for this or that who feel THEIR 'cause' will be the deciding factor to influence the marginals outcomes. The making of a claim like this, of course, deliberately sets out to influence policy BEFORE elections, just when even the most secure incumbents can be expected to be experiencing pre-election jitters. In the end though, the only people who really get excited about these aspirations to influence are the yo-yos who make the claims.
- Rogan, Irving, 29/04/2010 15:45
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It seems to be one-way traffic with the cycling lobby: do as we say and don't expect us to do anything in return.
For once I find myself agreeing with a sentiment from Basildon Dhan. Must be something in my tea.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, the Scottish one, 29/04/2010 15:05
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Graham starts off badly, and deteriorates from there... ipayroadtax.com offers a better, more logical starting point. Read, digest, engage brain...
Then use brain each and every time you travel - that applies equally to cyclists and motorists.
I always stop at red, I never ride on pavements, I always communicate amiably with pedestrians crossing so they know I've seen them; often, my slowing down is a signal to motorists behind me to check why, and to give way also.
Demonising cyclists is a short cut to thinking; don't let it be you!
- E Roberts, London, UK, 29/04/2010 14:21
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All highway users (all bikes/cars/people) are being played off against each other.
The truth is that this country's roads are woefully under invested in.
Where are the cycle lanes?
Having been to continental Europe occasionally our roads are appalling!
- bobby, berks, 29/04/2010 14:14
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Strikes me that there's little point in creating new traffic laws for cyclists, or road user, when the current laws are rarely enforced. Perhaps a more robust and dedicated traffic police presence enforcing all traffic laws across the board might be beneficial to all. I would have thought that creating better cycling conditions to encourage more people to use a bike for the occasional trip would benefit all road users; an adult on a bike means one fewer car in that queue, surely.
Can we have a little less of the pointless and unproductive cyclist v. motorist rhetoric, please. Neither group are paragons of virtue.
- HC, somerset, 29/04/2010 13:58
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I´m with Dhan Raj of Basildon. I think motorists should have more say here. After all, they need to pass a driving test to show their proficiency, pay road tax and need insurance to take their vehicles on the road. Cyclist do not. So, what do motorists think of the eight points above?
- Graham Rodhouse, Helmond, Holland, 29/04/2010 12:45
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THE PEDESTRIANS MANIFESTO:
Cyclists are only concerned with their own safety and show little regard for the safety of us pedestrians.
Stop the arrogant cyclists who nearly run me over when I am trying to cross safely on a zebra crossing because the green arrow says it is safe for me to cross and which they ignore.
Stop the arrogant cyclists who ride on the pavement and expect me to move out of the way for them. Pavements are meant for pedestrians to walk safely.
Some hopes!
Stop the arrogant cylists who go through red traffic lights on the road and cause accidents.
Make all cylists have and display a registration number to be earned when they have passed a proper proficiency test.
- Janet, London, UK, 29/04/2010 12:29
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I would like to see Dhan Raj pass a spelling test, and display it where his brain should be.
- JAMIE, WOOLWICH, 29/04/2010 12:20
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It takes two to tandem. I would also like to see every cyclists pass their cycling profiency test and display it on their panier, and be insured.
- dhan raj, basildon, 29/04/2010 11:47
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