General Election 2010

From Tower Hamlets Wheelers. George get's my vote.

Wheelers Election 2010 Canvassing

We asked the borough's parliamentary candidates the following questions:

Tower Hamlets Wheelers is the local branch of the London Cycling Campaign and promotes the use of cycling as a means of transport within the borough. We have over four hundred adult members within the borough. In view of the forthcoming general election, and as you are to be a parliamentary candidate, we would be grateful for your views on the following statements:

• It is necessary to reduce car usage in London and increase use of more sustainable transport means.
  
• Increased use of bicycles is desirable because it provides health benefits (exercise for cyclists, reduction in pollution for all), reduces congestion and thus leads to improvements in quality of life for both cyclists and non-cyclists.
  
• The budget for improving cycle facilities in London should be increased.
  
  
  

The responses received as of 19 April 2010 are:
Conservative

Tim Archer, Poplar and Limehouse
Thank you for your recent letter regarding my views on cycling. I apologise for the delay in responding to you.
I'm more than happy to respond to your questions as follows:

1. Reducing car usage. Yes I believe we should be reducing car usage for a variety of reasons - pollution, congestion and the wider health benefits of alternatives, such as walking and cycling. Average traffic speeds in London are as low as they were over 100 years ago, and cars form the majority of that congestion. An overreliance on cars means that all road users suffer and everyone is slowed down.
   Don't get me wrong I'm not anti-car, but I do believe we need to do more to get people out of their cars where practical and possible.
   
2. I support increasing the use of bikes. As Chair of the Tower Hamlets Health Scrutiny Panel this year, I have been leading a review into the causes of Childhood obesity in the borough (we are the 2nd worst in England for levels of childhood obesity). Encouraging healthier lifestyles is key and encouraging people to cycle has numerous benefits.
   
3. Yes I would like to see more money spent on cycling, but I think there is more we can do than just increase budgets. Appreciation of cyclists and cycling should be more important in the design of new road layouts and buildings in our area. I still see new buildings being built with not many cycle racks, or worse still nowhere to store bicycles at all. This is especially true of some of our social housing being built. Our stations also need better facilities. The new bike store at Shadwell DLR is great, and there is one on its way for Island Gardens DLR, but that still leaves a lot of stations without decent facilities.
   I would also like to see alternative arrangements being made for cyclists when the Greenwich foot tunnel is closed for repairs. I personally have written to DLR (Serco) already asking for passengers to be allowed to take bikes on the DLR between Greenwich and Island Gardens.
   I also believe that getting a bike usage scheme like the one Boris is just introducing working is critical - once its up and running and bikes are not disappearing, I believe it could really catch-on.
   
   
   

Zakir Khan, Bethnal Green and Bow
No response yet.
Green Party

Chris Smith, Poplar and Limehouse
I had actually sent an email to your organisation to see if any cyclists would like to join us on the campaign bus in a couple of weeks time.
As a daily cyclist in London I am appalled at the amount of traffic in London. For us cyclists the roads are filled with constant danger - I would like to see Gas Guzzlers 4x4 banned from Central London.
Currently 5000 children per year are getting pollution related asthma and the UK breached it's yearly EU pollution limits within the first months of this year.
As part of our Green Party pledge for Tower Hamlets we demand more cycle lanes, a 20 mph speed limit in residential areas, greater police action against drivers using mobile phones while in motion and better cyclist training for those new to cycling on our roads.
Cyclists must be given equal rights on our roads with greater penalties for those who have accidents with cyclists especially in road rage type incidents.
The cost and reliability of public transport must be improved to reduce the number of cars on the road.
I hope this answers your question sufficiently and please let me know if your members would be interested in joining us in a couple of weeks.

Farid Bakht, Bethnal Green and Bow
No response yet.
Labour

Jim Fitzpatrick, Poplar and Limehouse
I have been a supporter of the Wheelers in the past and indeed once took part in the "bagle" event from Brick Lane to Limehouse.
I am also a local cyclist and bought a new cycle from Bikeworks at Gun Wharf last summer. My front inner needs replacing and I hope to do it on Sunday so I can use the machine during the campaign.
I was road saftey Minister at DfT for 2 years until last year and was part of the decision making process there to invest heavily in cycling over the next 3 years.
I will write to you with more information in due course.

Rushanara Ali, Bethnal Green and Bow
No response yet.
Liberal

Jonathan Fryer, Poplar and Limehouse
No response yet.

Ajmal Masroor, Bethnal Green and Bow
No response yet.
Respect

George Galloway, Poplar and Limehouse
First of all thank you for your email, and apologies for not replying immediately - as you can imagine life is very hectic for MPs with very busy constituency offices in the last few weeks of Parliament.
It is very encouraging to learn that you have so many dedicated and organised cyclists in the borough, and I fully support your aims.
I have been shocked by the high number of cyclist deaths in London over the last five years - three in this year alone. This is surely indicative of an equally appallingly high-rate of injury that cyclists suffer on our streets. This is unacceptable, and can and must be stopped. Crucially I was signatory to Early Day Motions 2144 (08-09) and 600 (09-10) which specifically addressed these vexed matters - especially in relation to HGVs.
I have no hesitation in supporting the entirety of the LCC national election manifesto, and if elected I pledge to work to further your reasonable and just demands.
I wholeheartedly believe in a sustainable, integrated transport policy, to reduce pollution and congestion. This would include a range of measures from drastic public transport fare reduction (London had the highest fare in Europe, even before the inflation-busting January 2010 increases), taking back all public transport into public ownership and democratic control, restricting HGV access, reducing speed limits, and of course providing a range of well thought out and well funded measures to encourage cycling and walking as invigorating and sustainable alternatives to car use.
Please do not hesitate to contact me should you require any further information.
May I wish you and all your members many happy and safe miles of cycling in the years to come.

Abjol Miah, Bethnal Green and Bow

Thank you very much for your email. As cycling is an issue close to my heart I am more than happy to answer your points.

1. It is necessary to reduce car usage in London and increase use of more sustainable transport means.
   I agree. I support the congestion charge and am opposed to Boris Johnson's reversal of its extension to West London. Similarly, I am opposed to his abolition of the Low Emission Zone. I have also led campaigns in opposition to the Mayor's recent public transport fare rises.
   
2. Increased use of bicycles is desirable because it provides health benefits (exercise for cyclists, reduction in pollution for all), reduces congestion and thus leads to improvements in quality of life for both cyclists and non-cyclists.
   I agree. It is certainly for those reasons that I am a keen cyclist, in addition to the cost savings! A particular interest of mine for years has been in improving sport and health facilities for young people in the East End. This is more important than ever when low income households struggle to avoid the trap of obesity.
   
3. The budget for improving cycle facilities in London should be increased.
   I certainly agree with this. Again, Boris Johnson proved in my opinion that his pro-cycling agenda was just a gimmick. His plans for improved cycle schemes have been very poorly planned and do not fit at all with the rest of his transport agenda, which is to support car users and cut investment in buses and the tube. Additionally, his decision to rephase London's traffic lights to cut pedestrian and cycling crossing times was rightly condemned by cyclists' and road safety groups. In Parliament, I would be a powerful voice for better public transport, cyclists' rights and the promotion of cycling as a green, modern method of transport in a growing city such as ours.