New EDM: Cyclists' Safety and Heavy Goods Vehicles

i received a reply from my mp today (sir malcolm Rifkind) reguarding an email i sent a few months back about a previous edm about the withdrawl of funding for the comercial veichle education unit (i.e. the unit who check for defective hgv's). he has received a reply from bo jo which he enclosed in the letter

i'm not gonna retype out the whole 2 page letter but to summarise:

• according to tfl research less than 1 in 20 cyclist deaths are as a result of a defective hgv.
  
  

*over a fifth are caused by lane changing/turning left.

*therefore the priority is the hgv's turning left/changing lanes.

• they are gonna continute advocating the retro fitting of mirrors and safety sidebars, and rasing awareness of cyclists and drivers of undertaking on the inside.

• there will be contractors (who they are isn't mentioned) who will continue some of their functions. (again not mentioned who/what)

*the MPS (met police) are apparently taking over the road side stops of hgv's for prosecution purposes and provide spot check and instruction to companies involved.

the rest is a bit waffley, but i can always scan a copy into a jpeg or something if people want.

i know this was a different, and older edm to the one mentioned here, but i didn't want to bring up the od thread, and even if it takes a while you can get a reply. the original thread is here

http://www.lfgss.com/thread32098.html

at the end of the day if your mp lobbies enough (or is a senior member of the tory party) they can get a response from the mayor

if anyone is interested in reading the 3 pages that robvalentine mentions of, then i uploaded them in this thread, in links.

I finally got a reply from Siobhan McDonagh yesterday, I think this was only prompted by the fact that one of her 'team' knocked on my door canvassing and I gave him a piece of my mind. Turns out he's an ex Gurkha and actually a lovely and interesting chap (I still wont vote Labour thou).

She's kinda got the right idea..I've checked and her name isnt on the list yet - not sure how long these things take to appear.

Dear **********
Thank you for writing to me about cyclists’ safety, asking me to sign a Parliamentary Early Day Motion. I have now signed this motion.

As I said before, these deaths are very worrying. I think it is important that cyclists, particularly young cyclists, should wear helmets, and should have good training. Sadly, many accidents appear to happen when people cycle along the inside of a large vehicle, where they are much less visible, and are horribly exposed. Anything to improve their visibility to lorry drivers would help, but it’s also true that most lorry drivers are remarkably highly skilled, so I do hope cyclists themselves will remember that if they cannot see a driver, the driver won’t be able to see them. Although I am afraid I have not been a cyclist for some time, I support cycling, and am pleased that more and more people are travelling in this way, but I really want this activity to be as safe as possible.
I hope this helps, and if there is anything else I can do for you please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Yours sincerely,

Siobhain McDonagh

James Gray MP declined on the grounds that he thinks that this is not the most important way forward with cycling safety and wrote at length on Boris's cycle superhighways etc.

Just got a reply from Tessa Jowell MP:

**Thank you for your recent letter regarding Early Day Motion number 600. I am afraid that, as a Minister, I am unable to sign Early Day Motions.

I have however, raised your concerns with Rt. Hon. Lord Andrew Adonis, Secretary of State, at Dept. for Transport and I will get back to you when I have a response to pass on.

I do hope this is helpful.

With best wishes,

Yours sincerely,

Rt. Hon. Tessa Jowell MP
**

Huh, you got a reply from Tessa?
Both times I've hassled her I've received a reply from her Assistant.

"As Tessa Jowell is a Minister she is unable to sign EDMs. Would you like Tessa to forward your concerns to the Dept for Transport?"

Uhm, yes please.

Now, wtf do we do about Robert Syms MP?
Srsly.

Now, wtf do we do about Robert Syms MP?
Srsly.

See if its the party policy. With elections coming up how about a cyclists are voters campaign.

See if its the party policy. With elections coming up how about a cyclists are voters campaign.

All being done.

http://www.lcc.org.uk/index.asp?PageID=1740

Party responses now out in the latest issue of the London Cyclist, the LCC's member magazine.

For the national elections, the CTC have a piece in Cycle.

Another way of dealing with Robert Syms MP is to write to his local paper. He most likely has former constituents who now live and cycle in London. I wrote to him a few months ago asking that he reconsider and not just take the party line, as this issue must be apolitical. No reply. I believe Tories have been told to steer clear of this EDM... real shame. I'd hoped that Gwyn Prosser MP sponsoring it as a member of The All Parties Cycling Group would be ok.

Won't be voting for them.