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Transport minister Norman Baker experiences Blackfriars Bridge first-hand and backs 20mph limit (+ video)

Minister promises to raise issue over controversial speed limit with Transport for London

Minister for Transport Norman Baker has experienced first-hand cycling over London’s Blackfriars Bridge, which has become something of a cause célèbre for cycle campaigners in the capital protesting against plans by Transport for London (TfL) and the city’s mayor, Boris Johnson, who plan to increase the speed limit there from 20mph to 30mph once ongoing roadworks have been completed.

Mr Baker was filmed riding across the bridge during last week’s All Parliamentary Cycling Group ride by Carlton Reid of BikeBiz and Quickrelease.tv, who together with Jim Davis, chair of the Cycling Embassy of Great Britain, outlined to the minister the reasons why the cycling community feels so strongly about the issue.

The minister explained that speed limits are set by local highway authorities – in London’s case, TfL – but agreed that the 20mph limit would reduce the risk to cyclists on the birdge, and to raise the issue with the body.

The video, which you can watch below, also includes comments from Ashok Sinha, chief executive of the London Cycling Campaign, which this week launched an ‘photo petition’ to help keep pressure on the mayor and TfL to reconsider their decision.

 

 

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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