Responses to the LCC asks in GLA May 2021 election

Together with Barnet Cyclists, we have composed a Barnet and Camden version of LCC’s three Climate Safe Streets ‘Asks’ and have sent it to the five candidates who are standing in the Barnet and Camden constituency for the May 2021 GLA Elections. 

1. Accelerate the roll out of a high-quality cycling network across Barnet and Camden for example by pushing TfL: 
   • to build routes on the Transport for London Road Network such as “Camden to Tottenham Hale” and the proposed Hornsey to North Finchley route. 
   • To support Barnet and Camden Councils in building network links on the borough roads e.g. by extending the A1000 cycle route northwards and by doubling the extent of Camden’s existing protected cycling network by 2024.
2. Help people to reduce their private car use by ensuring everyone has access to shared mobility options (such as dockless e-bikes and electric car club bays) within 300m of their home or workplace.
3. Implement a fair, simple Smart Road User Charge to reduce congestion, air pollution and climate emissions.

The full text of the letter is given Letter to B and C GLA candidates May 2021 election. We will post on this page the responses of each of the candidates (in alphabetical order). 

Email responses from the candidates

Anne Clarke – Labour and Co-operative Party

Kirsten de Keyser, Green London Assembly Candidate,

Hi all

Many thanks for this. Needless to say, I fully support all the points you are campaigning on and have just posted the following on my twitter feed:

I fully support @BarnetLCC  and @camdencyclists in their campaign to accelerate the construction of the cycle path network, reduce private car use and implement a Smart Road User Charge to reduce congestion, air pollution and climate emissions. #cycling #Barnet #Camden

Wishing you every success with the campaign and do let me know if I can be of further help.

Mark Simpson. Reform UK – London Deserves Better.

1. The principle of a high quality and cycle network for Barnet and Camden (+all of London) is a good idea, if people want to cycle they should be able to do so. What I cannot support is increasing cycle networks at the expense of efficient traffic flows. Since lockdown there are numerous examples of empty bike lanes and long queues of traffic, this causes extra pollution and is not a sustainable long term solution. Sensible high quality cycle networks should be incorporated as areas redevelop and where there is no detrimental impact on drivers.
2. London is already the best city in the UK for not using a car if that is what people want to do, the public transport cannot be compared with any other city. I would be skeptical that these shared mobility options would actually reduce people using cars. I do however see the benefit of rolling out infrastructure for e-bikes and electric cars as a priority as we are likely to see increasing numbers of people shifting to these and it seems sensible to have such infrastructure in place.
3. I cannot support any Smart Road User Charge as I feel it can never be fair, it will hit the poorest in society the most and the better off who can absorb extra expenses will pay it. We should not have a system whereby hard up and struggling families are priced off the roads. We all want less congestion and pollution, but what would become effectively another tax is unacceptable.

I am someone who cares about the planet and the environment. I am a former member of Greenpeace (until they supported Extinction Rebellion) and donate annually to WWF. I want to see a London with less pollution and ensures sustainable development is at the core of how London grows and develops. What I cannot support is stealth taxes on drivers as this will disproportionately affect the less well off in London and green policies that have an absence of common sense applied.

Mark Simpson

Via Twitter

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