Caroline's news

Boris Johnson has admitted that from this weekend capacity will be cut back on the 436 bus route, a key route which runs from Lewisham through Southwark and Lambeth and onto Paddington. A reduction in capacity is likely to mean more crowded buses as people travel on smaller sized vehicles.

Following questioning from Caroline Pidgeon, the leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group at Wednesday's Mayor Question Time, the Mayor accepted that at all times of the day there would be less capacity on the route. The Mayor conceded that reductions in capacity have also taken place on some other bus routes.

Caroline Pidgeon said:

“The key issue is not whether bendy buses are good or bad, but simply whether people can get on a bus. The Mayor promised to get rid of bendy buses - he didn’t promise to make bus journeys more crowded.

The decision by Network Rail to include the words “London Blackfriars - for Bankside and South Bank” on platform signage on the southern side of Blackfriars has been warmly welcomed by Caroline Pidgeon, the leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, along with Simon Hughes MP. The changes follow Caroline and Simon's long campaign for a changed name to Blackfriars station.

Commenting on Network Rail's proposals Caroline said:

Commenting following the tragic death of a cyclist on a cycle superhighway in Bow - the 15th cycling death in London this year - Caroline Pidgeon said:

"With London roads seeing a 50 per cent increase in cycle deaths this year it is time the Mayor accepted the need to urgently examine the design of London's most dangerous junctions.

"Instead of lecturing people about cycling the Mayor must start to listen to the concerns of cyclists."

Caroline, along with Simon Hughes MP, and Lib Dem London Assembly candidate for Lambeth and Southwark, Rob Blackie, joined several hundred local cyclists on a bike ride around London's ten most dangerous junctions, to raise awareness of cycle safety issues and protest at TfL's lack of progress in safeguarding cyclists and pedestrians.

Caroline Pidgeon, leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, commenting on the Mayor’s reply to her questions about cycle safety and TfL’s limited proposals that were announced today to improve conditions for London cyclists, said:

“The harsh fact is that 14 cyclists have already died on London’s roads this year compared to 10 last year. These figures speak for themselves about the need for urgent action.

“Today’s measures announced by TfL are therefore welcome, but there is still much more that must be done to ensure London’s roads are far safer for cyclists.

The London Assembly has unanimously backed Caroline Pidgeon's motion calling for cash payments for scrap metal to be outlawed - alongside the introduction of tougher penalties for metal and cable theft - to help end the increasing disruption and distress thieves are causing.

Proposing the motion, Caroline said:
“The theft of metal is costing the economy around a billion pounds and causing serious disruption to passengers – and it’s getting worse.