Speaking to the Evening Standard on figures showing that of 40 deaths of cyclists on London's roads between 2010 and 2012, only 4 resulted in prison sentences for careless driving, Caroline Pidgeon said:
“All the evidence does suggest that far too often lenient sentences are being handed down to motorists and lorry drivers who have been convicted for careless driving which has contributed to the death of a cyclist.”
Commenting on the news that Barclays will not renew its sponsorship of the Cycle Hire scheme when the initial contract expires, Caroline Pidgeon told the BBC:
"Barclays have received immense benefits from the publicity given to the cycle hire scheme in its early years, but now that its performance is looking shaky they appear to be bailing out.
"Fundamental questions have to be asked as to how such a one-sided deal was ever struck between Transport for London and Barclays."
Speaking for the London Assembly in response to figures showing that in the last year cycling casualties on the road have risen by 18%, and pedestrian casualties by 15%, Caroline Pidgeon said:
“There is nothing inevitable about cycling and pedestrian collisions resulting in death or serious injury. Cyclists are three-and-a-half times more likely to be killed in Britain than in the Netherlands.
Caroline Pidgeon AM, Leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, commenting on the 2014 fare package that has finally been published today, said:
“At long last the Mayor has finally done the right thing this year and ensured that fares rise on average by no more than the rate of inflation. After so many painful years of inflation busting fare rises this is the very least the Mayor should be doing to help Londoners.
At November's Mayor's Question Time, Caroline Pidgeon pressed Boris Johnson to ensure that much needed cycle safety work is done urgently, without the long delays that have been seen so far.
Talking to the PoliticsHome website on the Metropolitan Police Commissioner's comments that he would not cycle in London, Caroline Pidgeon commented:
"Ultimately it is Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe's own decision if he wishes to cycle or not in London, however what really concerns me about his comments is that they reveal how out of touch he is with London's growing cycling community or the many police officers who cycle every day."
Writing for the MayorWatch website, Caroline Pidgeon discusses the beginning of the Metropolitan Police's sale of former police stations.
Caroline concludes:
Caroline Pidgeon AM, Leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, commenting on today’s London Assembly Transport Committee report which recommends that the Mayor and TfL examine new fare and ticket options, including a part-time travelcard, said:
"The Mayor needs to recognise that fresh thinking on fares is needed.
Caroline Pidgeon AM, Leader of the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Group, commenting on the Mayor’s decision to rule out further consideration of a Travelcard to cover part-time workers, said:
“The Mayor’s categorical statement that he will not consider further introducing a travelcard to cover part-time workers is deeply disappointing.
“Already 900,000 people in London work part-time and the figure is rapidly increasing.
An ambitious plan to deliver 270,000 new affordable homes in the capital by 2018 has been set out by Liberal Democrat London Assembly Members Stephen Knight and Caroline Pidgeon in a recent report. The plans set out to turn around the total failure over the last 35 years to build a sufficient number of affordable homes in the capital, leading to not only soaring rents but also a soaring Housing Benefit bill.
The bold proposals highlight seven changes in policy that are needed, relating to London boroughs, the Mayor and central Government.
