Hackney North MP Diane Abbott has tabled an Early Day Motion before Parliament calling on London Mayor Boris Johnson to reinstate for the Commercial Vehicle Education Unit following the deaths of ten cyclists on London’s roads this year, eight of them killed in accidents involving heavy goods vehicles.
Ms Abbott’s initiative came just days after the Mayor had announced that he was disbanding the CVEU, which is staffed and run by the Metropolitan Police and is the only such unit on the country, as part of a cost-cutting drive, as reported on road.cc last week.
Early Day Motions are used by MPs as a means of raising awareness of a specific issue on subjects ranging from the trivial to the serious, but they are seldom actually debated in Parliament. Instead, MPs can add their signature to show their support, with the motion remaining open for signature for the remainder of the current parliamentary session.
The motion currently has the backing of 25 other MPs from across the political spectrum, but only seven of those – eight including Abott – represent voters in the capital, which has a total of 74 MPs. Even allowing for the influence of party politics, once the city’s 21 Tory MPs are excluded, that leaves 45 London MPs who are yet to show their support for it.
A list of the MPs who have thus far signed the motion, together with the full text, can be found here. If your MP isn’t on the list, irrespective of whether you live in London or not, you can urge them to do so through following this link and ask them if they could spare five minutes from filling out their expenses forms to sign “EDM 2144 (Cyclist’s safety in London).”
So there's electronics and computers and motors for gear changes and pumping up or deflating tyres. Why not just motorise the whole bike and be...
Quest are showing the Paris Roubaix highlights at 11 both days.
Pretty sure a lot of that "more space for motor vehicles" was because fewer motor vehicles (also marginally "smaller motor vehicles")....
I get the impression he represented himself, came over as a bit of an ass and received a ban, when a lawyer might have got him spared that.
Well if you ever get the chance and you feel yourself flagging give me a shout, happy to put in a shift.
OMG- that's so self centred....what about the brotherhood and sisterhood of enjoying a ride and sharing a happy wave with a fellow rider out...
Cycliq certainly seemed to let a lot of people down in the early days. I held off until the 12 Sport came out, but have been impressed....
My better half seems to like giving me pressies of Rapha clothing. I am wearing their casual hoodie right now, and very nice it is too. First off...
Push on through foot numbness and you then arrive at agonising foot cramp....
Oh dear, to your own lack of understanding. I was not referring to your vague generalisation of "people", I was referring to a particular...