Caroline Pidgeon

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.

Caroline Pidgeon, Lib Dem leader on the London Assembly, has backed an Assembly motion warning that closing the children’s heart surgery unit at the Royal Brompton Hospital will have serious consequences for people with heart and lung conditions.

Earl's Court has been revealed as having one of London's most inaccessible and unsafe pedestrian crossings.

Research by Caroline Pidgeon, Leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, shows that a pedestrian crossing on Earl's Court Road (junction with Bramham Gardens and Earl's Court Square) is one of a handful in London that are not only breaking national safety standards over the minimum time for pedestrians to cross the road but is also failing to provide any assistance for blind people to cross the road.

Caroline, who obtained the information following a series of written questions to the Mayor of London, said:

"At present the Mayor of London seems to put the interests of pedestrians at the very bottom of his priorities. It is simply shameful that there remain pedestrian crossings in London that are so inaccessible and unsafe.

"The Mayor should ensure as a matter of urgency that every pedestrian crossing in London is safe and accessible for everyone."

In the Evening Standard, Ross Lydall reports on calls for the current works on Albert Bridge to continue 24 hours a day, in order to shorten its 18-month closure.

Caroline Pidgeon is quoted in the article, saying:

If London’s gridlock is to be seriously tackled we need to think of imaginative ways to ensure roadworks and repairs to bridges are carried out far more quickly. Work carried out around the clock could play a key role in ensuring far less grief and disruption for Londoners.