Transport articles

The Big Switch – Lib Dems call for London’s buses and taxis to go electric

A Big Switch to electric buses and taxis can cut London’s appalling air pollution, dramatically reduce premature deaths and ill health, and help meet climate change targets. The London Assembly Liberal Democrats have put forward an ambitious programme to convert high mileage buses, taxis and light goods vehicles to electric power by 2020. The plan was launched with Caroline Pidgeon AM and Mike Tuffrey AM with support from the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Rt Hon Chris Huhne MP.

4 August 2011 - 8:58pm

Transport issues in Carshalton

Caroline Pidgeon joined Carshalton Lib Dem Councillors Hamish Pollock, Alan Salter, Jill Whitehead and Peter Fosdike along with local MP Tom Brake, and former Lib Dem Councillor and Sutton Seniors activist Chris Pennington, to look at a number of transport concerns in the Carshalton area on 19th July. Caroline walked around Carshalton Ponds and Carshalton High Street before attending a Carshalton Local Area Committee discussing a range of transport issues with local residents and councillors.

3 August 2011 - 10:56pm

High Speed 2 needs hard work to be made right for London

High Speed Rail has been a key policy for the Liberal Democrats for many years, as part of our plans to reduce domestic flights and get people out of their cars and onto rail. The Government has recently consulted on its plans for High Speed 2. As Liberal Democrat Spokesperson, Caroline has responded to the consultation.

In addition, the London Assembly Transport Committee held a hearing in July to hear from all sides about High Speed 2 and its impact on transport in London, as well as carrying out site visits to Euston and Old Oak Common.

It is clear that should High Speed 2 go ahead, a lot of investment will be needed in London’s transport infrastructure, including a new tube line, if London is to cope with the potential increase in passengers.

3 August 2011 - 10:40pm

How can Thames Water create so much havoc for so many people?

Thames Water bosses have been severely criticised by Caroline Pidgeon following a water burst that paralysed rail travel across a large swathe of the South-East on 1st August.

An estimated 80,000 pasengers faced hours of chaos and delays after a Thames Water pipe triggered a landslide that blocked a key commuter route in and out of Victoria.

Caroline has now written to Thames Water asking them to introduce some form of compensation for the thousands of passengers that faced what many people have described as nightmare journeys.

2 August 2011 - 10:28pm

Dangerous corner on the South Circular

Caroline Pidgeon AM joined College Ward Cllr Lewis Robinson, local resident Tania Wallden and an engineer from Transport for London to look at the various problems on the South Circular at the junction of Alleyn Park. The site visit followed a meeting earlier in the year where Cllr Robinson explained the problems at this junction as well as other transport concerns with Transport for London.

Since Transport for London removed railings along the side of the pavement at this dangerous corner, local residents have seen many accidents including several where cars have mounted the pavement and hit the boundary walls and fences of properties, causing real damage. Transport for London has responded to this by adding various bits of street clutter to try to resolve the problem.

2 August 2011 - 9:59pm

Mayor must answer questions over cycle hire scheme

Caroline Pidgeon, Leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, commenting on today’s announcement that London's cycle hire scheme will expand into west and south-west London over the next two years, said:

“Everyone wants to see the cycle hire scheme expanded. The scheme’s expansion is obviously great news for the areas of London that will now be covered, but the Mayor should have today told Londoners which other areas will get the cycle hire scheme as it is expanded in future years.

“The Mayor also needs to answer a key question - why has the sponsorship arrangement with Barclays has been so casually extended for a further three years, instead of being put out to a competitive tender when the five year contract expires in 2015?

29 July 2011 - 9:46pm

Olympia business and residents face Tube service loss

Caroline Pidgeon AM was contacted recently by Olympia Venues about the cancellation without consultation of the weekday District line service to their nearest station. The changes are scheduled to take place from December. Not only are local businesses such as Olympia upset by this, so are many local residents who currently use this service.

Caroline therefore arranged a site visit for the people from Olympia, a local resident who has been campaigning on the issue, and Richard Parry, a Director at London Underground and Rail, to look at the issues first hand and try to reach a solution.

22 July 2011 - 8:54pm

Assembly calls for review of Blackfriars Bridge speed limit

Seconding a London Assembly motion calling for consideration to be given to a permanent 20mph speed limit on Blackfriars Bridge, Caroline Pidgeon commented:

“A third of the peak time traffic across Blackfriars Bridge are cyclists and we already know that they are at significantly more risk when travelling across bridges than they are on similar city roads. That’s why we want Transport for London (TfL) to take a robust look at the safety of all users on Blackfriars Bridge and for the Mayor to use the facts to put safety first."

21 July 2011 - 9:39pm

Make Ealing Broadway station fit for purpose

Caroline Pidgeon has joined Ealing Liberal Democrats to launch a petition to get the Council and the Mayor of London to make a commitment for a fully integrated public transport interchange at Ealing Broadway.

The present station is no longer fit for purpose, say the Lib Dems. Rebuilding it for Crossrail is a once in a lifetime opportunity to make it a proper interchange we can be proud of, with step-free access for passengers to move freely between trains, tubes, buses and taxis.

19 July 2011 - 10:01pm

Assembly Transport Committee will review bank card payment plans

The London Assembly Transport Committee is reviewing TfL’s plans to make London the first city in the world where contactless payment is available on the entire transport network – starting with buses from spring next year.

The Committee will assess the benefits and the risks of using contactless bank cards to pay for travel, both for passengers and for Transport for London. TfL expects contactless cards will be cheaper to operate than Oyster, but the Committee will investigate security concerns that have been raised.

Chair of the Transport Committee, Caroline Pidgeon AM, said:
“Transport for London has big plans for the future of ticketing in the capital, but any changes must be geared towards increasing convenience and value for passengers.

“Security is also an issue. The use of contactless bank cards will be seen as a step forward by some people, but others may be reluctant to flash their debit or credit card at a ticket gate.

“We will review the benefits and risks of TfL’s short and long-term ticketing plans to ensure they are right for London.”

19 July 2011 - 9:33pm

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