London Assembly votes to End Lorry Danger

Dear Friends,

Our call for the Mayor to End Lorry Danger is gaining momentum with cross party support in the London Assembly

In response to everyone who emailed the Mayor and London Assembly this summer (that means you!), our demands are being debated and supported in City Hall. Initially the Mayor's office responded with cautious support but no concrete proposals [1]. However our calls have now been taken up by Darren Johnson AM who bought together a cross party motion to the London Assembly which was passed unanimously [2].

This is a big step for the campaign and shows there is political will in the London Assembly to address HGV danger.

We need to keep up the pressure on the Mayor to ensure this is followed up by decisive action to address this endemic problem.

- No More Coffins Protest

Thankfully it's been several months since we've had a vigil on London's roads and while I hope that will continue for as long as possible, many of the dangers facing cyclists haven't gone away.

On Friday 27th November Stop Killing Cyclists are holding a demonstration outside Transport for London's HQ calling for action to make London's roads safe [3]. The event runs from 5-6:30 pm so please join after work to help maintain the pressure for safer cycling in London.

No More Coffins Protest event details - 27th November, 5-6:30 pm


- Demand Protected Cycle Lanes in Wandsworth

This campaign has always demanded safer roads for cycling in London, especially protected cycle lanes on main roads to make safe cycling accessible to all. Unfortunately although there has been progress in places many schemes still fail to provide safe space for cycling.

TfL's proposals for Balham High Road fail to provide protected space for cycling [4]. We want to send a clear signal to TfL that this level of provision just isn't good enough. All schemes like this should include:

• Continental style protected cycle lanes (as recently opened in Vauxhall, Embankment and Oval)
• Bus stop cycle lane bypasses

The consultation closes at the end of the week, so please respond now!

Thanks for all your support and I hope to see many of you on the 27th.

Kind regards,


Fred


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[1] http://saveourcyclists.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/our-2015-demands-reviewing-mayors.html
[2] http://www.mayorwatch.co.uk/boris-urged-to-ban-hgvs-from-rush-hour-streets/. The details of the motion and the Assembly members supporting our campaign are here: http://saveourcyclists.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/london-assembly-motion-on-hgvs-and.html
[3] No more coffins protest - https://www.facebook.com/events/1042166819129119/ in support of Stop Killing Cyclists' '10 by 2020' demands - http://stopthekilling.org.uk/direct-actions/10-by-2020-cycling-safety-challenge/
[4] http://traffikintooting.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/failing-to-deliver-for-balham-boulevard.html via the 38degrees petition https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/let-s-make-tooting-high-street-safe-for-all (please support!).

15th November Protest on Oxford Street

Dear Friends,

This time last year six cyclists died on London's roads in just two weeks [1]. That horrible sequence of tragedies was the impetus for starting this petition [2]. We have made a real impact over the last year and we are part of a large and growing movement for change on our roads. However right now the roads, drivers, vehicles and cyclists out there are largely the same.

We never want to see a repeat of those headlines and we will keep campaigning until people are safe to cycle in London. Today I'd like to share some advice which might be useful for you or a friend:

• Take extra care around lorries, trucks and buses - they are involved in over half of cyclist fatalities. Avoid the left of a lorries at junctions, many turn without indicating first. While the TfL adverts show an articulated goods lorry as the main danger, in reality lorries from the construction & demolition industry are most disproportionately implicated in cyclist fatalities.
• Turn on your lights. If your lights aren't working as well as they should change the batteries or buy new lights if needed. You can find good cheap lights on-line and there are (more expensive) USB powered lights if you don't like changing batteries. Unfortunately some lights are poor quality* and unreliable so check the reviews before you buy.
• Be patient. When the weather is bad and the traffic is jammed it can be frustrating, but it is better to wait a few seconds than put yourself at risk in the danger zone of a lorry or in someone's blind spot. Where possible make eye contact with stationary drivers before you pass in front of their vehicle and if they're not paying attention be very careful.
• Help us keep up the pressure for safer roads - share the petition and come to the demonstration (see below)!

Please join the November 15th protest on Oxford Street to demand Segregated Cycle Lanes, Action on HGVs and 20 mph Speed Limits: www.facebook.com/events/620158668053003

Last year we invited you to the mass 'die-in' outside TfL where over one thousand people protested against the danger on our roads [3]. This year the same group is marching along Oxford Street with a rally at Marble Arch to highlight ten demands for a safer road network [4]. The demands include many of the issues our supporters have told us are important [5], so please help make this protest even bigger than last year.

For further details click here [6]. Also on the same weekend, Sunday the 16th of November is the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims [7].

Many thanks again for your support and I hope everyone stays safe this winter,


Fred

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P.s. The call for safer cycling is now also coming from business groups thanks to cyclingworks.wordpress.com. The consultations are closing soon, so if your employer might be interested please let them know about it today.

* Lights are a safety device and it shocks me that lights from big manufacturers and sold by major retailers have been found to be unreliable and in some cases not even weather proof. This would not be acceptable for any other safety device and it's not acceptable for cycle lights - if you've had unreliable lights please let us know the brand and who sold them.

15th November, Oxford Street: Road Safety Protest

On the 15th of November there will be a protest march on Oxford Street with a die-in at Marble Arch organised by Stop the Killing. The event seeks to highlight the damage caused by motor traffic & the transport policies which prioritise it above all else. There is a particular focus on safety for people cycling and walking:

"The UK’s road network is not fit for purpose and must be fully reformed to protect road users, the public, society and the environment."

The protest meets at Bedford Square at mid-day and will proceed down Oxford Street which will be closed to traffic in one direction - which should be interesting mid-day Saturday on the lead up to Christmas! At Marble Arch there will be a rally, speeches and a die-in.

Join the protest on Facebook here: www.facebook.com/events/620158668053003