Following on from her New Statesman piece in which she hinted at support for measures to force HGV drivers to take care of cyclists, Labour’s Maria Eagle has laid out Labour’s cycling manifesto in full. At a debate to mark the launch of the All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group’s report “Get Britain Cycling”, she announced seven major points which the party support:
- “Ending the stop-start approach to supporting cycling” by funding the cycling plan on a national, long-term basis.
- Ensuring that cycle safety assessments are included in all new transport schemes.
- The restoration of national targets to cut deaths and serious injuries, as well as new targets to increase levels of cycling.
- Extend to England the Welsh legislation setting out “clear duties on local authorities to support cycling”.
- Supporting cycling amongst children and young people.
- “Ensure that justice is done and seen to be done in cases where collisions lead to the death of cyclists and serious injuries.”
- Looking at the case for taking HGVs out of cities at the busiest times, and requiring safety measures such as sensors, extra mirrors and safety bars on all heavy goods vehicles.
Her full contribution to the debate can be found at Road.cc.
Even a promise to look at the case for restricting HGV traffic will be music to the ears of cyclists in crowded city centres. As Hayley Campbell wrote last month, finding yourself next to a massive lorry as it turns the corner isn’t something which ever feels safe. Eagle ended her speech calling for cross-party support for the proposals, and that’s a call cyclists should be echoing.
Content from our partners
Related
