People's Question Time with Kenny Boy

roxy [quote]roxy [quote]roxy 1. Quoting Nick Lester, London's Director of transport, environment, and planning "Cars are not allowed to stop, park or drive in mandatory bike lanes at present. However, enforcement of this by police is limited. Councils do more enforcement of the parking restrictions."
While the key phrase here is "mandatory bike lanes" I'd like to know why this isn't enforced on all bike lanes, and what the point of a bike lane is if cars, lorries, buses, etc can use them as well.

A. We can only put so many resources in to this. However, if our traffic wardens see things like this they will ticket the offending vehicle and potentially tow it away. Also we have neighbourhood police in every ward and have never seen so many police in London enforcing the law etc etc but I take your point and will raise this with TfL.

1. Heavy Good's Vehicles are the number one killer of cyclists (after beer) in London. They are dangerous, unenvironmentally friendly, and downright ugly. What are you doing to ensure that these HGV's don't kill people and how are you looking to cut down, restrict, or abandon their use outright in London?
   
   

A. We have recently introduced the low emission xone in london which charges the most polluting vehicles much more for driving in London. This is to reduce both carbon emissions and the heavy vehicles on our roads, such as 4X4s and coaches which can only be a good thing for environment and other road users.

1. There seems to be a "blame the victim" approach to public services regarding cycling and motorcycling in London. Your television ad's show that when a motorcyclist is doored by a car and killed it is his fault. That wearing helmets is needed to protect from dangerous cars, and that cyclists should themselves come to Trafalgar Sq, get in a HGV and see for themselves what the driver can see through his mirrors so they won't get killed. What are you doing to increase penalties on motor drivers who hit and injure or kill cyclists and pedestrians? What are you doing to enforce this? And what are you doing by way of Public Services to spread the word that "cycling isn't dangerous, the cars and trucks that hit cyclists are." ?
   
   

A. I would cetainly encourage cyclists and motorcyclists to take as many precautions as possible and to drive safely and wear protective and visible clothing. The laws regarding punsihments for dangerous driving are made by our national legislature in Parliament. However, we have neighbourhood wardens in every ward in London and have more police than ever before ensuring that crime has dropped and the law is enforced as well as there being a visible presence on our streets deterring criminals and dangerous drivers.

4.In light of the most recent death of a cyclist on public roads who was killed by public transport, what is the Mayor doing to cure the aggression towards cyclists that drivers exhibit, especially those working on the streets daily such as cabbies and bus drivers. And because it is clear that whatever the Mayor is doing isn't solving the issue, what are you going to do to crack down on aggression towards cyclists.
Were you thinking about cyclists when you introduced the 'bus from hell' the bendy bus..?

A. I appreciate the difficulty some cyclists have on the roads which is why we have built (x) amount of cycle lanes and will be investing £500 million over the bext ten years on cycling and walking routes in and around London to improve conditions for cyclists. All people who use our roads should behave responsibly to other road users and TFL has a training scheme for bus drivers which is world reknowned etc etc

1. Does anyone with any actual power to initiate positive change in London actually ride a bike as their chief mode of transport, ideally on a daily basis and how far do they have to travel?[/quote]
   
   

A. no idea...for this one

1. Is it true that you have even considered allowing motorcyclists into bus lanes? An act that, if policed, they could get a fine of £120? This is clearly anti-cycling. Although everyone knows you can get across town faster by bicycle than anything else, in relative mph possible, bicyclists are the slowest thing on the road while Motorcycles whizz through London's streets at top speed. You now are considering putting them side by side. ARE YOU A FUCKING IDIOT?!?!??! [sorry]
   
   

A. there has been a pilot scheme looking into this in North London. We are evaluating the results and may commission a further review of this. Until we have all the eveidence we will not make a decision on a matter as important as this.

Who else is coming?!!?[/quote]

see above the answers that you will most likely get. Its still worth airing your concerns as they are your democratically elected representatives, but just don;t be surprised if you don;t get the answer you necessarily wanted or the change you demand straight away