Cycling UK Forum

Hello,

I wrote to my MP, Sir George Young (Leader of the House) after hearing* about what the Roads Minister Mike Penning said at the All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group meeting in Westminster earlier this week.

I asked him:
- Does this Government have an anti-bicycle / anti-pedestrian roads minister? Will the minister explain his position and statements?
- Will any of the further infrastructure projects (first set announced last autumn) embrace people who walk or use bicycles?

The written letter I just received last night (the word 'not' was underlined in pen):
"I [Sir George] just wanted to drop you a line, in response to your email, to say that my ministerial colleagues at the Department for Transport are not anti cycle -- on the contrary, they are very anxious to take all reasonable steps to promote this means of transport."

He went on to say:
"Schemes to improve cycling in my own constituency would mainly be the responsibility of Hampshire County Council, and Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council."

He attached an annexe that outlined the Coalition Government commitment to 'sustainable travel initiatives' (attached)

Judge for yourself.

~Andrew~

Audio recording of what exactly the minister said is here:
* Ref: http://ipayroadtax.com/no-such-thing-as ... for-roads/
Follow-up article: http://www.bikebiz.com/news/read/cycle- ... ars/012519

Thanks for that, AndrewRH.

I might start to believe that the government wasn't rabidly pro-motorist, anti-pedestrian and anti-cyclist if they introduced two simple measures:

1. Ban pavement parking.

2. Direct that all urban road junctions be designed for pedestrians, then cyclists, then motorists.

It is, afaik, Sir George Young Bt rather than Sir George Young Kt, which is why he was dubbed the cycling baronet.

I can only say in response to the OP that, judging for myself, actions speak louder than words.

PS Has anybody here seen Kelly? (As in £147M to be spent on cycling. )

thirdcrank wrote:It is, afaik, Sir George Young Bt rather than Sir George Young Kt, which is why he was dubbed the cycling baronet.

I can only say in response to the OP that, judging for myself, actions speak louder than words.

PS Has anybody here seen Kelly? (As in £147M to be spent on cycling. )

Sir George Young Bt rides a Brompton I saw him the other day coming out of HOP and he wears a helmet

I did not mean to suggest that he does not ride a bike, just a tiny doubt about the credentials of this government or any other as promoters of cycling.

Since I posted above, I've had time to reflect and to be fair to the present government, they have greatly increased the pool of potential cyclists by several measures eg

A rapid increase in the rate of unemployment
A sharp hike in train fares
Various proposals to reduce benefits
Providing cycling role models such as Dave, Bojo and let's not forget the cycling bt., himself.
We've yet to hear Baron Tebbit urging people to get on their bikes, but that could come.

I can't think what made me so sceptical before.

thirdcrank wrote:I did not mean to suggest that he does not ride a bike, just a tiny doubt about the credentials of this government or any other as promoters of cycling.

Since I posted above, I've had time to reflect and to be fair to the present government, they have greatly increased the pool of potential cyclists by several measures eg

A rapid increase in the rate of unemployment
A sharp hike in train fares
Various proposals to reduce benefits
Providing cycling role models such as Dave, Bojo and let's not forget the cycling bt., himself.
We've yet to hear Baron Tebbit urging people to get on their bikes, but that could come.

I can't think what made me so sceptical before.

Just to be picky......

The unemployment is (at least in part0 due to the incompetencies of the previous incumbents and the massive debts run up

The Government actually capped the train fare rises which is something the previous incumbents completely failed to do

Reducing benefits is hardly likely to have an effect as a large proportion of these tend to be the vulnerable groups who did not have a car or acess to a car in the first place!

At least w have a couple of role models, can't think of a high profile Nu-Labour one off hand.

Perhaps Cunobelin should mention that the current financial crisis is largely if not entirely, due to the chaos caused by financial markets and their focus on short-term benefits? It's not only the UK that's affected: the fallout of the general "light touch" approach to markets is beyond the control of Brown and Co. But the continued indulgence to financiers self-serving "remuneration committees", tax evasion and general delinquency, doesn't reflect well on the current Govt. in the light of the recent catastrophe. The RBS bonuses for example: an individual receiving £1,000,000 being presented with a bonus of 7 figures.

Sorry. If by hinting at the shortcomings of this lot I've given anybody the idea that I thought the last lot was any better, I can only say that that was never my intention. (And before anybody asks I would not claim to be able to do better myself but neither would I pretend to others that I could.)