Caroline's news

Caroline Pidgeon, Leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group and Deputy Chair of the London Assembly's Transport Committee, commenting on the publication today of July’s inflation rate which is used as the basis for setting fares on London's transport network for the next year, said:

“Although the slight easing in the UK inflation rate for July is welcome I am seriously concerned that the Mayor of London could use this figure to hike up fares on London transport next year.

In an article for the Liberal Democrat Voice website, Caroline Pidgeon warmly welcomes the new London bike hire scheme as a "tremendous idea", while pointing out that Boris Johnson and Ken Livingstone are eager to take more credit for it then they deserve:

Despite its launch being associated with quite a number of problems – including a highly complex registration process, and a number of cyclists being overcharged – no one can deny that the scheme is proving incredibly popular. And let’s be realistic, no major scheme ever starts without at least some minor teething problems. Of course I will be chasing hard until these glitches are resolved, and they certainly must be, but the bottom line is that the bike hire scheme is a tremendous idea. Especially if the scheme is expanded it has the potential to help reduce congestion and pollution as well as making it easier for Londoners, visitors and tourists to get around the capital at very little cost. Most significantly it could play a vital role in transforming the status of cycling...

In this video, Caroline reports from Mile End, Islington and Peckham on her findings as part of the London Assembly Transport Committee's investigation into making walking in London safer and more attractive.

In a guest column in the East London Advertiser this week, Caroline Pidgeon gives her views on transport issues across London:

We need to ensure that more people have access to good transport, if London is to become a fairer place...

Of course better transport is not the only step that needs to be taken. We also need to address the issue of fares... We shouldn't accept that fares have to be structured the way they are.

Other cities around the world such as New York and Paris have an honest debate about how fares are set. But we face just a yearly declaration from our Mayor.

If the voice of people on low incomes is to be heard, London fares need to be fair.

You can read the full article here (click on the front page of the Advertiser, and it will take you to Caroline's article).

The Harrow Observer reports on Transport for London's refusal to extend the H98 bus route through Hillingdon and Ruislip, despite a petition which Caroline Pidgeon presented to the Mayor in July on behalf of local residents.

You can read the full story here.