Front page news!

Dear Friends,

On Friday, the front page of the Evening Standard read 'Major Changes To Cut Cyclist Deaths'. [1]

This headline came just days after we handed in our 36,000 strong petition.

Following intense public pressure, Boris Johnson and the Government have agreed to "new measures to save the lives of cyclists on London's roads", including an overhaul of safety rules, to be updated in favour of cyclists.

Although the plan we want to see still remains to be seen, right now this is news that we can be proud of; our campaign is effectively and meaningfully contributing to change for London's cyclists.
The petition hand-in last Tuesday was a great milestone. An impressive number of you came down to City Hall with your beautiful placards and jolly santa hats; thank you! We were joined by the London Cycling Campaign, Stop Killing Cyclists and full Cross-party support from the London Assembly - a great show of support from the various groups we are working with. You can see the pictures [2] and read the blog [3] by clicking the links below.

Careful not to make any firm commitments, Andrew Gilligan re-iterated that our demands are "entirely reasonable", and that he is keen to meet them. We can expect a formal reply in the new year, and we'll keep you updated on any developments.

For now, I would like to say a big thank you for your support for and work towards this campaign. In the last month, we have come such a long way! Across London, a movement building. You can't plan that. It's exciting. Collectively, we've kept London cycling in the media for weeks, we've taken all kinds of action, kept up the pressure, and we're starting to see some small concessions.

There is a lot more work to be done, but not without some much needed rest. I'll be taking a break over Christmas, looking back on the month we've had and planning ahead for the next steps of the campaign.

I'm wishing a warm Christmas to all those that are celebrating, and I look forward to working with you all in 2014.

Rhiannon

P.S.
For the last cycling protest of 2013, Stop Killing Cyclists are holding another demonstration on Thursday morning 7:30-8:30am at South-side of Vauxhall Bridge, opposite Vauxhall tube. For more information, visit the Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1486869428205268/?fref=ts

NOTES:
[1] Evening Standard, New safety plan to save lives of London cyclists, http://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/new-safety-plan-to-save-lives-of-london-cyclists-9002928.html
[2] Facebook, Save Our Cyclists petition hand in https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10153595825300788.1073741830.200006375787&type=1
[3] 38 Degrees blog, 'Save Our Cyclists' Petition hand-in http://blog.38degrees.org.uk/2013/12/13/cby-cycling-petition-hand-in/

Petition hand over: join us!

Dear Friends,

Next Tuesday, 10th December, at 9:00 am, we are going to hand over our 36,000 strong petition to Cycling Commissioner Andrew Gilligan at City Hall.

I would love for you to be there.

Come down to City Hall with your bicycles, placards, red flashing lights, tinsel, reindeer antlers and santa hats. Join us for a festive petition hand-in before you pedal off to work. Bring mince pies and your favourite Christmas songs to sing.

Location: City Hall, The Queens Walk, London, SE1 2AA
Time: Arrive 8:45 am for a 9:00 am start

We're going to gather from 8:45 am outside City Hall, to meet with Gilligan members of the London Assembly Transport Committee for a short hand-over ceremony at 9:00 am. We will finish promptly, and you can expect to be on your way to work before 9:30am.

You'll see us - we'll be the ones with bikes and placards, gathered outside City Hall, by the river Thames.
We have come far over the last three weeks, and this is the moment we've been building up to. It's our chance to tell Boris and Gilligan that All We Want For Christmas is...cycle safety. Can you be there with us?

I hope to see many of you there!

Cycle safe,

Rhiannon

P.S. If you have any questions, please contact me on: saveourcyclistslondon@gmail.com
P.P.S Over the weekend, do continue to share the petition far and wide! You're doing amazingly - thank you for all you have done so far.

Let's make this the biggest petition Boris receives

Dear Friends,

Incredible! In just three weeks over 35,000 of us have signed the Save our Cyclists petition and last week over one THOUSAND of us joined the mass Die In outside of Transport for London HQ, making headline news. [1]

But it's not over yet.

Next Tuesday, we are going to get on our bikes, cycle down to City Hall, and deliver our petition to the doors of the Mayor and the Cycling Commissioner. With a huge petition, we can show them that we don't want "panic changes", we want real change.

Can you help make our petition even bigger by asking your friends to sign? Click the links below to share via Facebook, email and Twitter:
SHARE on FACEBOOK
SHARE via EMAIL
SHARE on TWITTER

We are campaigning on this because enough is enough. We know that London can be the cycling city that we want it to be and every signature is a wake up call to Boris and Gilligan. If you get your friends to join us, it shows that we are growing, and we are not going away.

When you tweet about the petition, the newspapers report it. When you chat about the campaign to your colleagues, you spread the word. When you share the petition, people sign it. 

Your actions make a difference. Can you make a difference again and share the petition with your friends and family using the links above?

When you signed the petition you became part of a 35,000 strong community. We've flooded the media, we've attended public meetings, we've laid down on the streets of our city. We are changing the way people think about transport in London. We are gaining momentum every day. Now is the time for change. Let's make it happen.

Cycle safe,

Rhiannon
38 Degrees Member and Save Our Cyclists campaigner


P.S. We will circulate details about the petition hand-in soon, we want you to be involved! For now - keep Tuesday morning free.


NOTES:
[1] BBC, London cyclist deaths, hundreds take part in 'die-in' protest http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-25160874

Press coverage - November 2013

15th November:
Die-in planned at Transport for London headquarters as ‘save our cyclists’ petition hits over 18,000 names
Road.cc - John Stevenson

Also

Over 20,000 sign petition as pressure mounts on Boris Johnson to improve cycle safety in London
Cycling Weekly - Laura Laker