Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport Spokesperson, commenting on Boris Johnson’s speech at the Conservative Party Conference, said:
“Boris Johnson can try to peddle the line in Manchester that he is controlling costs and giving Londoners a good deal. However, there was one vital word missing from the Mayor’s speech – fares.
The Romford Recorder reports on the failure of TfL's Dial-a-Ride service to meet elderly and disabled residents' needs in Havering.
Caroline is quoted saying:
It is time that Boris Johnson stopped making excuses over Dial-a-Ride and instead honestly admit that its service falls a long way short of what is necessary for some of the most vulnerable people in London.
Disabled and elderly people across the whole of London have faced a growing number of refused trips from Transport for London’s Dial-a-Ride service.
Following extensive questioning by Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport Spokesperson, the Mayor has been forced to release figures showing that over the last two years there has been more than a 50% increase in the number of trips refused to disabled and elderly people who rely on the Dial-a-Ride service.
Commenting on the figures, Caroline Pidgeon said:
“Three years ago Transport for London promised disabled Londoners a far better deal from Dial-a-Ride. They specifically promised that the number of refused trips would halve in just two years. Yet instead of falling the number of refused trips have actually gone up by more than 50%. It is simply appalling every day of the year more than 400 trips are now refused to Dial-a-Ride users.
Caroline Pidgeon joined other Assembly members from the Transport Committee for a tour around the congested shopping streets of Central London as part of a new investigation into Oxford Street congestion.
The investigation will be looking at the best ways to sort out the chronic traffic congestion that plagues the retail heart of London on Oxford Street, Regent Street and Bond Street. The Transport Committee is examining current initiatives aimed at reducing congestion and establish what further action could be taken.
In an article for Lib Dem News, Caroline discusses future directions for congestion charging in London - and road pricing in general.
She says:
...what we chiefly need now are technologies that give us many more options.
In London, we feel that better technology, and a charging system that is graded so that the worst polluters pay most, is the way forward. Revenue from congestion charging has by law to be spent on transport improvements for London - an essential element of fiscal transparency sorely needed for national politics.
Caroline Pidgeon joined Camden Lib Dems at the Marchmont Street Festival in the King's Cross area. She appears in the Lib Dems' video of the event, talking about the "Twenty Is Plenty" campaign for 20mph speed limits to make the area's roads safe for pedestrians and cyclists.
An independent and wide ranging review of the licensing of cab drivers is now necessary following the recent reports of an individual convicted of manslaughter applying to become a taxi driver and having already received a private hire driver’s licence, says Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport Spokesperson.
The London Assembly Member, who chairs the London Assembly Transport Committee, has now written to Boris Johnson urging him to ensure that changes are made to the proposed review being undertaken by the Public Carriage Office (PCO).
Caroline Pidgeon, as Chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee, has written to Transport for London to raise concerns that current plans to increase capacity at London Bridge station do not include extending all the platforms for twelve carriages.
The letter highlights the Transport Committee’s recent report, The Big Squeeze: Rail overcrowding in London, which urged the Department for Transport (DfT) to fully extend all platforms at London Bridge as part of the Thameslink project.
Current plans will see two platforms remaining shorter. The Committee is calling on TfL to consider the consequences of this, and possible funding options, as part of its South London line study.
On Friday 4th September Caroline visited Forest Hill with local Lib Dem Councillors John Russell and Alex Feakes to look at a number of transport issues.
Talking to local residents and members of the Forest Hill Society, Caroline heard about several key transport issues, several of which Caroline has tabled questions to the Mayor about:
1. The proposed reduction in train services from Forest Hill at peak times and in evenings and weekends to Charing Cross;
2. The dangerous junction of Forest Hill Road and Sydenham Rise;
3. The virtually invisible bus stops on Sydenham Rise due to overgrown trees, bushes and no dedicated bus space to pull in by the kerb; and
4. Issues of visitor traffic around the Horniman Museum, congesting local streets.
Caroline Pidgeon AM set up a site visit with Transport for London and Southwark Council at the end of August to listen to local concerns from Cllr Lewis Robinson, a local Police Community Support Officer and local shop keepers at parking restrictions on Lordship Lane, outside AM Express Dry Cleaners.
The group discussed the concerns about the tight restrictions which affect local businesses. Following the meeting, TfL and Southwark Council officers have agreed to do some traffic modelling of options including whether the red route bays could allow stopping for 20 minutes between 10am and 4pm and also between 10am and 12 noon and 2 to 4pm.
“I was delighted to help College Ward Councillor Lewis Robinson and local businesses to set up this site visit and to have a look again at options for short term parking for the local passing trade for this parade of shops. I hope that all options can be considered” commented Caroline.