Nigel Cliffe wrote:
> Jim Price wrote:
>> Link from the programme for anyone who missed it:
>> http://www.labour.org.uk/letstalkcycling
>
> Now expired. A mere 2hours after the broadcast.
>
> Oh, well, I did wonder what our representatives were saying in response to
> questions, but I guess I only have Alan's transcript to go by.
Here is what was left lying around in my browser cache FWIW
<don't know what the question was..>
Reply from Emily:
First of all, thanks for your support Sarah.
They say that the average, regular cyclist has the general level of
fitness of someone ten years younger.
The government is already doing quite a lot as we showed in the film.
But I'd be really keen to see cycling made part of the national
curriculum. We need to change the culture and convert people when still
young.
Question from Sarah:
emily - i could not agree with you more. I cycle to and from work - and
indeed most everywhere else bar the shops - and it's a joy. Even when
the traffic's bad you can get pleasure from overtaking cars at a
standstill. And, apart from the pollution, there's health benefits too.
How can the government encourage more people to take it up? It's so god
damned good for you and the environment. And it's really good for kids
as well.
Reply from Emily:
There is evidence from New South Wales, Australia that showed when
helmets were made compulsory the levels of cycling fell by 36% in one
year. With this in mind I don't think that making helmets compulsory is
a good idea. All the stats I've seen show that the benefits of cycling
outweigh the risks. So if helmets are a barrier to people getting on
their bikes we have to think twice about making it compulsory. But I'd
be interested to hear what other people out there think.
Question Dave:
What would be the impact on cycling levels if helmet wearing was made
compulsory? Would the benefits outweight the costs?
Reply from Emily:
I'm a sponsor of the climate change bill. Transport emissions now
represent 30% of the UK's carbon dioxide, up from 19% in the 1970s and
cycling can play an important part in reducing this growing sector of
our greenhouse gas output.
The new Secretary of State for Transport, Douglas Alexander, when he
gave evidence at the Environmental Audit Select Committee was very
impressive on this subject. He seemed to be genuinely committed to
tackling this issue and not scared of considering a number of radical
solutions including road pricing.
Question from Sarah:
Good for you for highlighting cycling - a carbon and pollution free way
of travelling in cities.
I'm sure you are concerned that under Labour carbon emissions are going
up not down. Wouldn't you therefore agree that at the first opportunity
Parliament should pass a Climate Change Bill that sets up the framework
to turn this around and get emissions going down year after year, rather
than up? Will you ask Tony Blair to include this in the next Queen's Speech?
Reply from Emily:
The difficulty is that it is local authorities who have responsibility
for roads. Whilst some like Oxford have put in excellent facilities,
others (mainly Tory controlled ones!) are rubbish.
I'd like to see what you're calling for and I'm happy to work with
others to put pressure on government and local authorities to build
cycle lanes as standard.
Question from Steven:
Cycle lanes should be included as standard in all new road building
projects where possible. How can we encourage this type of co-ordinated
approach to transport development?
Reply from Emily:
I make the point about cities outside London in the Channel 4 film just
now. But there are places like Brighton and Hove and Aylesbury where the
government has funded schemes to encourage cycling best practice and put
in cycle routes.
CTC - the national cyclist's organisation have a network of local
campaigners who lobby transport authorities. You can find CTC at
www.ctc.org.uk.
You can also lobby effectively too by joining the Labour Party and
working within it.
Question from Ben:
Do you think there are enough cycling routes in cities and town centres.
I know London has really improved its cycling routes over the last five
years, but where my parents live (a Tory council - quelle surprise!!!)
there are still no dedicated cycle routes and many cities across the
South and South East seem similarly underprovided for bikers.
What can people do locally to lobby for dedicated cycle paths/get more
safe routes to and from work?
Question from Brian:
I have noticed an increasing trend for cyclists - both young and old -
to ride their bicycles on pavements. Some cyclists seem to not to
realise that the proper place for their vehicles is on the roads!
How can we persuade cyclists to use the roads correctly? Can we "make
them" use the roads? I welcome the Government's increasing use of fixed
penalties (I've seen them used successfully in Sheffield) which are
helping to tackle those causing problems in our neighbourhoods and would
like to see these used for those who commit motoring and cycling
offences such as this. What do you think?
Reply from Emily:
Yes we should use fixed penalties to make people obey the law (although
I believe that primary school children should be able to use pavements)
but we should also look at why people are not using the roads.
In the City of London they recently did a clampdown of cyclists not
obeying the Highway Code. Two things were done. People were penalised,
but they were also asked why it was that they were riding on certain
parts of the pavement. The City has now looked into changing certain
road layouts as a result.
Question from David:
What is being done to make drivers take more account of cyclists on the
roads?
Reply from Emily:
There are more cyclists around and so, slowly, drivers are becoming more
aware of cyclists, but I think it's too slow and I agree that more
should be done. I'll write to Douglas Alexander, Secretary of State for
Transport, about this.
Question from Jamie:
For the majority of people, cycling is only suitable for short journeys
of up to about ten miles. In this country however we are lucky enough to
have a good train network that can usually get you to within cycling
distance of a destination. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to use
this as most train operators only take 2 bikes, with the exception of
the new virgin trains that take 4. I lost count a long time ago of how
many times I have been refused taking my bike on trains because there
are already to many bikes on there. If you want to encourage people to
not use their cars so much, then you should impose regulations on train
companies to allow more bikes on the trains.
Don't tell me to talk to the train companies instead, as this does not
work and I always get the same emails back saying thanks for your input,
yet never see any output from them. What can be done about this?
Cycling by train would encourage allot more people to use their bikes
and public transport rather than polluting our planet with their cars.
Please give me an answer as I am fed up with being ignored. Jamie
Reply from Emily:
I totally agree with you Jamie. In fact I put down an Early Day Motion
in the House of Commons about this issue. 170 MPs have now signed this
parliamentary petition.
60% of the population live within 2miles of railway station. This could
be an excellent opportunity for a 'doorstep to destination' green journey.
Question from Rod:
Two of the biggest indicators of a cycle friendly environment are the
percentage children cycling to school and the how naturally people dress
for cycling. Cycle friendly countries have lower speeds, just 18.5mph in
residential areas, and far greater liabilities for motorists coming into
contact with vulnerable road users. Both of these have been discouraged
by the current government. LA's are unable to put in default 20mph
without expensive vertical or horizontal calming and the government did
not introduce the EEC insurance harmonisation which would have corrected
the latter.
Will the government therefore take steps to address both of these issues.
Reply from Emily:
Rod, you have made two excellent points. This is one of the reasons why
I don't wear lycra(!) nor a helmet.
20mph zones are a great way to encourage cycling.
Question from Mark:
Emily, The emergency services, particularly the Police, are returning to
cycles as an effective means of response and community policing, some
within your constituency. What is Labour doing to support and promote
emergency services returning to two wheels.
Reply from Emily:
Community Support Officers are not given cars. They have to walk or go
on bicycles. We are brining back 'bobbies on bikes'.
Question from Carolyn:
Dear Emily, about two weeks ago I had an appointment with some officials
at the foreign office. unfortunately there was a fire drill on that day,
and the meeting was delayed for over half an hour. I could not join my
colleagues for a coffee because there is nowhere to park my bike near
the foreign office. To make matters worse, when I was actually able to
enter the building, I was told that I was not allowed to bring my bike
in to the courtyard of the foreign office to park it. no-one was able to
tell me why this was and I ended up meeting with the representative from
the foreign office on the pavement.
My question is, can you tell me as a political party rightly concerned
with putting bike riding on the agenda, why you have no place for
cyclists to park their bike in your very own offices.
Not amused
Reply from Emily:
We are negotiating with Westminster Council and the various security
services to install bike parking around Whitehall and Parliament for
visitors. There is currently bike parking for staff only. This is not an
example we should be setting.
Question from John:
How much money would I save if I cycled to work instead of driving? Is
it worth my while?
Reply from Emily:
John, you can get 20p a mile for cycling to work if you encourage your
employer to sign up to a government backed scheme brought in recently by
Gordon Brown. You can also buy a bike at half price through tax-free,
monthly deductions through your salary under the same scheme. Go to
www.lcc.org.uk for more information about this.
--
JimP
" " - John Cage
