Transport articles

"Gearing Up" proposals are a big positive step for King's Cross

The King's Cross Environment blog has a report on the London Assembly Transport Committee's report "Gearing Up", and what its proposals could mean for cycling safety around King's Cross.

Blogger Sophie Talbot says:

On first reading it’s a report that appears not to pull its punches. Clear in its message that London needs to take action and fast. It’s timely too. Right now Transport for London is consulting on the changes it will propose to the road system in King’s Cross. This report certainly appears to summarise the vast majority of changes our community has wanted for many, many years and more. Importantly it includes a very clear and highly appropriate timetable against which the Mayor and TfL should report progress

31 December 2012 - 10:24am

Caroline formally raises Northern Line Extension concerns to TfL

Responding to Transport for London's consultation on the extension of the Northern Line to Battersea, Caroline Pidgeon has set out concerns in a number of areas:

  • The value-for-money case for this scheme compared to alternatives
  • Capacity on the Northern Line and at Kennington station
  • Temporary shafts
  • Kennington Park shaft
  • Noise mitigation measures
  • Local area improvements
  • Considerate construction
21 December 2012 - 8:18pm

Overground link is welcome - but we need the South London Line back

Caroline was joined by Simon Hughes MP trying out the new London Overground Service from Surrey Quays in Rotherhithe to Clapham Junction. The team went out on the new route on its first day of operation on Sunday 9th December. Simon and Caroline had also been out the day before supporting local campaigners against the final day of the South London Line from Victoria to London Bridge. The new line does allow many more journeys to be made in Zone 2 avoiding busy Zone 1.

15 December 2012 - 11:44pm

Mile End plans offer little for cyclists

Proposed improvements to the Mile End Road and Burdett Road junction are totally inadequate and fail to provide any significant benefits for cyclists, claims Caroline Pidgeon AM, leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group and chair of the London Assembly’s transport committee.

Responding to Transport for London’s (TfL) consultation on the review of this junction, which is part of a wider exercise to review the safety of 100 junctions across London for cyclists, Caroline Pidgeon said:

“Quite frankly these proposals appear to be the weakest plans to have emerged from TfL’s junction review so far. The introduction of mandatory cycle lanes is welcome, but there is little else that will benefit cyclists. Indeed some of the changes will make the junction more intimidating and potentially even more dangerous."

14 December 2012 - 9:33pm

‘Wave and Pay’ must give passengers the best deal, says London Assembly

The London Assembly today welcomed the introduction of 'wave and pay' cards on London's transport network, but warned that Transport for London must ensure that the new technology does not disadvantage any passengers.

In 2011, the London Assembly's Transport Committee published "The Future of Ticketing", which set out how 'Wave and Pay' could be made fair to all passengers and not disadvantage those who continue to use Oyster. The Assembly heard confirmation from TfL that it will review and act on its recommendations as the new technology is rolled out.

14 December 2012 - 9:29pm

Cable car is little more than a tourist attraction

Caroline Pidgeon, leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, commenting on the latest figures for ridership on the cable car which show that daily ridership has fallen to as low as 301 passengers on one day and that just 16 Oyster card holders used the cable car more than five times in the week ending 21st October 2012 said:

“Outside of weekends and school holidays the passenger figures for the Thames cable car are pitiful. It is now increasingly clear that the Thames cable car is little more than a tourist attraction and not proving a useful link for people who regularly commute across the Thames.

“Of course if the Mayor had just been honest about this from the outset and honoured his claim that the scheme would be funded entirely from private funds there would be no complaints. But that is not what he promised Londoners.

“Having poured so much public money into the scheme the Mayor must now ensure it operates like an integral form of public transport. A good start would be to ensure that people with a relevant Travelcard are not charged again for using a publicly funded transport scheme.”

2 December 2012 - 5:06pm

Gearing Up for a safe cycling city

A report from the London Assembly Transport Committee, which is chaired by Caroline, warns that the number of cycling injuries on London’s roads has risen by 50 per cent since 2006 and recommends doubling funding for cycling and targets for the number of journeys made by bike.

Gearing Up calls on the Mayor to respond to falling cycle safety by prioritising ways to encourage more people on to bikes and reduce serious cycling incidents on London’s roads.

The Assembly’s recommendations to the Mayor, Transport for London (TfL) and the Government include:

22 November 2012 - 12:01am

Cable car needs to be a serious mode of transport

Speaking to the BBC about the extremely low passenger numbers on the Thames cable car, Caroline Pidgeon said:

"All we're seeing is a publicly funded tourist attraction rather than a serious mode of transport. What the Mayor now needs to do is to incorporate it in the Travelcard network, to make sure people are using it, rather than the handful that are today."

19 November 2012 - 11:44pm

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