Transport articles

Assembly rejects Heathrow expansion

Despite opposition from the Conservatives, the London Assembly has voted to reaffirm its opposition to the expansion of Heathrow Airport and suggest that more use could be made of spare capacity at other airports serving the South East. It was reacting to the interim report published by Sir Howard Davies’ Airports Commission and the options proposed for expanding Heathrow and Gatwick.

Caroline Pidgeon AM, who proposed the motion, said: “I am really disappointed to see Heathrow back on the table. Airport capacity in London is currently under-used, in fact some London airports have more than half of their runway slots free. Rather than inflict further misery on the residents of West London, the Davies Commission should rule out expansion of Heathrow and focus on better use of capacity at other South East airports.”

19 January 2014 - 6:52pm

Mayor needs to end his denial over plummeting cycle hire figures

Official cycle hire figures published today show that there were 1,473,824 (1.5 million) fewer people using the bikes in 2013 than during the previous year. The figures show that 2013 saw a 15% fall in people hiring bikes compared to 2012.

The London Datastore statistics further reveal that during 2013 there was a total of nine months with less people using the bikes than during 2012, including eight months in a row since May 2013, confirming that the fall is a clear trend and not due to any exceptional factors.

19 January 2014 - 6:49pm

Victory for A5 pedestrian crossing campaign

Following months of campaigning by local Liberal Democrat Councillor Alison Hopkins and the local Lib Dem Team including Sarah Teather MP, a new pedestrian crossing will be installed on the busy A5.

Caroline joined campaigners in 2012 looking at this very dangerous road and saw clearly the need for an urgent pedestrian crossing to stop people taking their lives into their own hands trying to get from one side of the road to another.

11 January 2014 - 9:47pm

Supporting pedestrian safety at Dulwich Common

Deputy Chair of the Transport Committee, Caroline Pidgeon AM has received a petition from College Ward Conservative Councillor Lewis Robinson calling for improvements for pedestrian safety at the notorious Dulwich Common junction with the South Circular.

Caroline has visited the site many times, including previously with Cllr Robinson and has supported his work calling for a “pedestrian phasing” onto the traffic lights at this busy junction. Many local residents believe they are “taking their life into their hands” using the existing crossing. The campaign is also supported by the Dulwich Society, which has over a thousand local members and in their latest journal said “The danger to pedestrians in this situation is very clear”.

11 January 2014 - 9:43pm

Public transport should be safe and accessible for all Londoners

As a Transport for London report showed that 25% of Londoners - and 35% from black and minority ethnic communities - are deterred from public transport by the fear of crime, Caroline Pidgeon commented:

“One can speculate that the variation in fear of crime is due to such factors as greater dependence on public transport by some communities, however speculation will only get us so far.

11 January 2014 - 9:34pm

Mayor must listen to the coroner and admit mistakes

As Boris Johnson disputed the conclusions of a coroner's report finding that cycle superhighways create a false sense of security for cyclists, Lib Dem London Assembly leader Caroline Pidgeon said:

“The Mayor is simply wrong to question the views of the independent coroner who listened to expert witnesses before publishing her report. His inability to admit fundamental mistakes were made is a serious hindrance to improving road safety.”

5 January 2014 - 7:28pm

Sentences for cycling deaths are far too lenient

Speaking to the Evening Standard on figures showing that of 40 deaths of cyclists on London's roads between 2010 and 2012, only 4 resulted in prison sentences for careless driving, Caroline Pidgeon said:

“All the evidence does suggest that far too often lenient sentences are being handed down to motorists and lorry drivers who have been convicted for careless driving which has contributed to the death of a cyclist.”

5 January 2014 - 7:25pm

All new look for Tolworth

Caroline Pidgeon AM was delighted to join local Lib Dem Councillors and the Mayor of Kingston at the official opening of the Tolworth Greenway project. The project is an innovative design of the pavement and cycle ways linking up Tolworth station with the shopping high street, making the area much safer to get around across the busy A240 roundabout.

"Previously local residents and shoppers only had underpasses to get around this dangerous junction, but now they have a wonderful bright and inviting green walkway with wonderful planting and light" commented Caroline Pidgeon AM.

"Other Boroughs are already interested in this innovation and I hope that this will really help to bring more shoppers to the Tolworth High Street" added Caroline.

19 December 2013 - 11:15am

Lib Dem success on Picadilly line for Turnham Green

After a lengthy campaign by Ealing Liberal Democrats and Caroline Pidgeon, the Mayor has announced at December's Mayor’s Question Time that Piccadilly line trains will stop properly at Turnham Green once modernisation work is complete. Although this may be a number of years off, he has made a commitment that tubes will stop all night when the Piccadilly line becomes part of the “Night Tube” in 2015.

19 December 2013 - 10:59am

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