Transport articles

Government bans wheel clamping daylight robbery

Writing for Liberal Democrat Voice, Caroline Pidgeon says:

I spend most of my time arguing for our roads to be made safer and more attractive for cyclists and pedestrians and making the case for improvements in public transport.

However, reducing car traffic and making our towns and cities more attractive for local residents does not mean defending indefensible practices against motorists.

From today one of the worst injustices facing motorists has been ended, with a ban on wheel clamping on private land coming into force in England and Wales. North of the border this activity has been banned on private land for the last two decades.

10 October 2012 - 12:15am

Bleak journeys for Christmas travellers

Speaking to the Evening Standard about the extensive train and Tube closures that passengers will suffer over the December holidays, Caroline Pidgeon said:

"Of course engineering work is necessary over the Christmas and New Year period, however the extent of the train and Tube closures this year could well be unprecedented."

"Many people travelling to see loved ones face some very bleak journeys this year. At the very least Network Rail should publish their closure plans as soon as possible to give people as much time as possible to plan ahead."

You can read the full story here.

10 October 2012 - 12:05am

TfL needs to catch up with global cycling best practice

Speaking to the Wharf website on cycle safety issues, Caroline Pidgeon said:

Clearly there is much London needs to learn from Holland and other European cities to make our roads safer and more attractive for cycling. In particular I think we should be considering wider cycle lanes and where possible the greater use of totally segregated cycle lanes.

Many of London's junctions would benefit from additional traffic lights which are at the eye-level for cyclists and ideally giving cyclists a staggered start. The Department for Transport must allow TfL to catch up with best international practice.

Read the full article here.

23 September 2012 - 8:27pm

Transport discussion in Merton

Caroline Pidgeon was guest speaker at an evening of politics organised by Merton Liberal Democrats.

Caroline was joined by local and some London Liberal Democrats to discuss the state of transport in London and how we can increase capacity in the short and long term. Particular discussion featured around the issue of expanding the cycle hire scheme, aviation and the extension and improvement to the south London tram.

23 September 2012 - 8:22pm

Cycle safety visit to Bow

Caroline visited the Bow Roundabout on Friday afternoon as part of a Transport Committee visiting looking at cycling in London and how to make it safer. Last year there were two tragic cyclist deaths at the roundabout. Transport for London has put in some new measures to try to make the junction more negotiable for cyclists.

"It was interesting to see the junction and see how it is being used in practice compared to seeing the computer modelling and the paper drawings. The innovation at TfL did not seem to work as well in practice and
pedestrians are all but forgotten at this junction. I hope we can put pressure on Department for Transport for more creative signalling solutions so that this and other areas can be made far safer for vulnerable road users," commented Caroline.

16 September 2012 - 8:26pm

The future of Thameslink - don't cut off south London

Caroline has responded to a national public consultation on proposed changes to the Thameslink train service, raising concerns that it will severely hit thousands of people in south London, especially in Sutton, Lambeth and Southwark.

At present the Department of Transport is consulting on the specifications for the new rail franchise that will see Thameslink and Southern services operated by a single company. A key element of the consultation involves the suggestion that trains which run through Sutton on the Wimbledon loop, and then through south London, should terminate at Blackfriars, rather than continuing on through central London to St Pancras and beyond. Such changes would create havoc for many people in south London wanting to travel to north London every day.

1 September 2012 - 3:59pm

Westfield pays nothing as London taxpayers subsidise cycle hire

Commenting on the news - revealed in a Freedom Of Information request - that the Westfield shopping centre in Stratford has contributed nothing to the cost of cycle hire stations in Shepherd's Bush, Caroline Pidgeon said:

Westfield have had a year of favourable publicity from the bike hire scheme, yet incredibly have not yet coughed up a penny towards supporting it.

15 August 2012 - 10:38pm

Olympic cycling legacy must be a bold, permanent change

Caroline Pidgeon, Leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, commenting on the Mayor’s proposals for London’s Olympic cycling legacy, said:

“A two day world class festival of cycling next year is clearly welcome and will be a great addition to Skyride.

“However the Mayor has merely re-announced existing plans. Incredibly the proposed event will now also be smaller than what was first proposed back in January.

“Today’s rehashed proposals expose the Mayor’s lack of vision. A real cycling legacy for the capital must include far more than just a two day festival.

10 August 2012 - 11:45pm

Pages