Make cycling safer (East of England Liberal Democrats)

East of England Liberal Democrats <info@eastlibdems.org.uk>

Make cycling safer

February 7, 2012 2:19 PM
Originally published by Norwich Liberal Democrats Online

In a letter to the local press Cllr Judith Lubbock, Deputy Lib Dem Group Leader at City Hall, outlines her support for the national campaign to make cycling safer.

Dear Editor,

The Times has launched a campaign to make cycling safer. It has come about as a consequence of one of their staff being seriously injured in an accident on their way to work.

The manifesto underpinning their campaign calls for an overhaul of the approach taken to cycling in British cities with such measures as sensors on larger vehicles, cycle awareness as part of the driving test, and 20 mph speed limits. The Times also suggests that two per cent of the Highway's Agency budget should be earmarked for cycling providing about £100 million a year. This campaign is winning widespread support, including the AA backing 20mph speed limits in residential areas and near schools.

I hope that Norwich, a city which already sees higher than average residents cycling, will get into gear and see this as an opportunity to join the Times' campaign and improve cycling safety in Norwich. As a City Councillor I will do all I can and renew my call for the implementation of 20mph speed limits.

In the last decade cyclists killed on UK roads outnumber servicemen killed in Iraq and Afghanistan by a factor of two.

Local authorities have a duty to ensure all road users are safe. The NHS has an obligation to ensure that the population is healthy. With more joined up thinking and the public will for change, it seems to me that the time is right to make cycling safer.

Yours sincerely

Cllr Judith Lubbock