London-wide + City of London stories
Stop charging pedestrians just to cross Blackfriars rail bridge
2 March 2012 - 11:50pm — AdministratorCaroline Pidgeon, leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, is urging First Capital Connect and Network Rail to stop charging passengers for just walking over the bridge.
At present if anyone using Oyster Pay As You Go enters the station south of the river and passes through the First Capital Connect barriers to get to the tube platforms they are not charged, however people who simply want to walk through the station without catching a train or Tube are being charged.
Caroline Pidgeon commented:
River Thames is a great opportunity for transport
23 December 2011 - 8:55pm — Administrator
The River Thames is a forgotten highway, a tube line effectively, across the centre of London and yet under-resourced in terms of transport.
In January, the London Assembly Transport Committee is looking into river transport services - so Caroline and other Committee members spent a chilly morning in early December out and about on the river with Thames Clippers from Putney to Erith, looking at the challenges and opportunities to really expand river transport services for Londoners.
Visiting the Blackfriars station upgrade works
5 December 2011 - 10:10pm — Administrator
Caroline Pidgeon AM was joined by Brian Paddick and Cllr Stephen Knight, a Lib Dem London Assembly candidate to visit Blackfriars station and to see the progress that has been made on this upgrade project, which will see the first station cross the Thames, with a new entrance on the South of the River.
Warm welcome to Bankside and South Bank signage at Blackfriars station
14 November 2011 - 9:07pm — AdministratorThe decision by Network Rail to include the words “London Blackfriars - for Bankside and South Bank” on platform signage on the southern side of Blackfriars has been warmly welcomed by Caroline Pidgeon, the leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, along with Simon Hughes MP. The changes follow Caroline and Simon's long campaign for a changed name to Blackfriars station.
Commenting on Network Rail's proposals Caroline said:
Blackfriars Bridge needs to be safe for cyclists and pedestrians
17 October 2011 - 8:27pm — Administrator
Caroline recently joined more than 2000 cyclists in a 'flashride' protest against the Mayor's plans for Blackfriars Bridge which threaten to make the crossing far more dangerous for cyclists and pedestrians. Caroline was also joined by Brian Paddick, the newly selected Liberal Democrat Mayoral candidate.
Put Bankside on the map!
15 August 2011 - 7:54pm — AdministratorA new name for Blackfriars Station would provide exciting new opportunities for the Bankside area, predict Caroline Pidgeon and Simon Hughes.
Commenting at the start of a Network Rail consultation for a potential new name to Blackfriars station, Caroline said:
“It is time to put Bankside on the map! Including Bankside in the station’s name would really help attract far more tourists and visitors to the area and lead to more money being spent locally. It would be good for businesses and good for local residents."
Assembly calls for review of Blackfriars Bridge speed limit
21 July 2011 - 8:39pm — AdministratorSeconding a London Assembly motion calling for consideration to be given to a permanent 20mph speed limit on Blackfriars Bridge, Caroline Pidgeon commented:
“A third of the peak time traffic across Blackfriars Bridge are cyclists and we already know that they are at significantly more risk when travelling across bridges than they are on similar city roads. That’s why we want Transport for London (TfL) to take a robust look at the safety of all users on Blackfriars Bridge and for the Mayor to use the facts to put safety first."
Conservative Assembly Members sabotage key Blackfriars cycle safety debate
14 June 2011 - 8:42pm — Administrator
Over the last few weeks thousands of cyclists have expressed concerns about the Mayor's and Transport for London's plans for Blackfriars Bridge.
The initial plans put forward by Transport for London were severely criticised for ignoring cyclists and after an extensive campaign which Caroline fully supported, the design plans were improved.
However the Mayor and Transport for London are still determined to end the temporary 20 mph speed limit on this dangerous bridge, and instead seem wish to introduce a new speed limit of 30 mph on this vital river crossing for cyclists.
London Assembly Members were set to have a formal debate about the safety of cyclists on the bridge at a recent Plenary meeting of the London Assembly. The outcome of the debate and vote taken by London Assembly Members would have played a key role in influencing both Transport for London and the Mayor of London.
However the Conservative Assembly Members, instead of debating the issue, collectively walked out of the chamber of City Hall before the motion could be debated. Their actions directly prevented any debate taking place.
Making London's roads safer for cyclists
30 May 2011 - 3:39pm — Administrator
Caroline Pidgeon is continuing to support action to tackle the high number of accidents and fatalities that face cyclists on London's roads. London faces an especially serious problem with accidents involving collisions between lorries and cyclists at junctions.
A recent question asked by Caroline to the Mayor revealed that in 2009 six cyclists were killed on London's roads in accidents involving a Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV), and with a further two cyclists killed in accidents involving a refuse lorry and a cement mixer. In 2010 there were two cyclists killed in accidents involving vehicles and two further two fatal collisions including a skip lorry and a cement truck.
Caroline has already given her full support to the campaign by the London Cycling Campaign (LCC) for better training for lorry drivers and recently received the petition that had already gathered more than 10,000 signatures. Read more information about the campaign here.
Transport for London back down over Blackfriars junction plans
19 May 2011 - 9:28pm — AdministratorCaroline has welcomed Transport for London's decision to back down over their design proposals for the new Blackfriars junction.
After a site visit in April, Caroline expressed her strong objections to TfL's plans, which would have led to the removal of an existing cycle lane, with priority given to vehicles rather than pedestrians and cyclists.
Full details of Transport for London's new proposals can be seen at the Cycle London City blog.
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