Ken Livingstone – priorities - not bikes

cupofteacp

Today in our local paper Ken put an advert in telling everyone about his anouncement last week for a new spend of 14.3 million for local transport projects in barking and dagenham, waltham forest, havering and redbridge.

So I'm think brilliant we might get somthing done to help cyclists, so I read on

"The investment will be targeted at improving the quality of life for local residents. Nearly £3 million will be spent on improving security, making the roads safer for pedestrians, drivers, bus passengers and cyclists safer. And major work will go into redesigning and improving areas around stations and bus stops, with more lighting and improvements to security"

So from this I read, cyclist are last on Kens list, and actually he doesn't want you to commute on a bike but drive to the local station.

Thanks Ken, but could you try putting the safety of commuting cyclist infront of motorists

God can anyone with more of an idea take over, PLEASE

homercles

Surely well lit, safer stations are in the interests of cyclists as part of integrated transport, no? Cars are mentioned in passing along with a variety of other forms of transport and you extrapolate that as meaning they're a main priority? I can't help but think you're just trying to look for an opportunity to go Ken-bashing here.

Commuter_2000

Do any of these politicians or friends/relatives thereof have an interest in these public transport companies? If they really want us to be "greener", let's follow Hollands example!! Cycle everywhere. Problem is though - that doesn't make money, unlike paying a bus or train fare every day. :roll:

They should introduce car AND bus free zones - notice how public transport always gets dispensations on our road networks, even though we're tax payers, too, and they're making a PROFIT out of what they do?????

Best regards,
Commuter_2000.

BentMikey

That just goes to show how it's all in the perception. I think Ken is awesome and I love what he's done for cycling in London. Sure, he could do more and do it better, but I'd rather vote for him than for Boris.

chrisjsmith

Yeah we do have to consider the insanity factor with Boris as well.

Gambatte

chrisjsmith wrote:

Yeah we do have to consider the insanity factor with Boris as well.

Insanity factor??

Bet you’re really a Liverpudlian…..

spen666

cupofteacp wrote:

Today in our local paper Ken put an advert in telling everyone about his anouncement last week for a new spend of 14.3 million for local transport projects in barking and dagenham, waltham forest, havering and redbridge.

So I'm think brilliant we might get somthing done to help cyclists, so I read on

"The investment will be targeted at improving the quality of life for local residents. Nearly £3 million will be spent on improving security, making the roads safer for pedestrians, drivers, bus passengers and cyclists safer. And major work will go into redesigning and improving areas around stations and bus stops, with more lighting and improvements to security"

So from this I read, cyclist are last on Kens list, and actually he doesn't want you to commute on a bike but drive to the local station.

Thanks Ken, but could you try putting the safety of commuting cyclist infront of motorists

God can anyone with more of an idea take over, PLEASE

how do you extract from what you have quoted that Ken:
1) doesn't want us to commute by bike
2) wants us to drive to the station?

BTW are the order of groups in his quote (ie pedestrians, drivers, bus passengers and cyclists) not relecting number- ie there are more peds than drivers, more drivers than bus passengers etc

t4tomo

I'm more worried about his grammar - why has he put "safer" in twice in the same sentance?

I agree with spen above, your quote doesn't support your headline - ever considered a career as a journalist?

cupofteacp

From reading his press release, I felt that he was putting cyclist last, it could be that there are fewer of us, but it still feels like we’re an afterthought.

I took the “And major work will go into redesigning and improving areas around stations and bus stops, with more lighting and improvements to security” to mean that the focus of the initiative will be on the trains and bus stops, not the road’s generally.

I suppose it is Ken bashing but I feel like bashing all politicians, bonkers Boris or whoever, and this press release just sounds like waffle, without any real plans or substance, and the way the some people run to his defence seem “odd”.

14 million sounds like a lot, but when you’re a council laying paving bricks and changing the layout, one small street can cost 2 million.

I commute through Redbridge and Waltham Forest and so if it’s useless it’ll effect me. There are so many areas on my commute that could do from some simple work that would make the roads safer.

I look forward to his wonderful work improving my commute.