Islington MPs Back Campaign by Local Cycling Group

Monday 17th October 2005

Emily Thornberry and Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour MPs for Islington, have backed a campaign by a local cycling group to fight cuts by the Liberal Democrat Council. The Council is being criticised by Islington Cyclists Action Group (ICAG) for its failure to provide proper cycling training, bicycle parking and anti-theft work. 

Emily Thornberry MP is Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group and has recently been standing up for the rights of cyclists in Parliament (see press release on NERC Bill). She also recently attended cycle training near Barnard Park in Islington. Emily Thornberry MP said:

‘The Council seem to be completely oblivious to the fact that more and more Islington residents are cyclists.  Not only does Islington under the Lib Dems have the highest level of bike theft in the country, but the Council is  making no serious effort to address the problem. On top of that they are cutting funding for cycle training. I went on a cycle training course last week and it is a really important part of being safe on the roads. School children should be taught how to cycle safely and it’s simply unbelievable that Islington Council is putting the lives of our kids at risk. The Lib Dems’ “five  point plan for cycling claims that they would “Improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians” but in Islington they are doing the opposite.’

Jeremy Corbyn MP said:

‘I am astounded by what the Council is doing. This exposes the truth about the Liberal Democrats’ policy towards cycling. At the national level, the Liberal Democrats pledge to improve safety for cyclists but at the local level they are making massive cuts.   Ken Livingstone has made money available to support cycling but the Council simply don’t seem to care. ’

Islington Council have bid for only £50,000 out of a possible £85,000 available from the Mayor of London for cycling training.  Meanwhile, the Labour Council in Hackney has secured £150,000 for cycling.  Also, plans to provide secure bicycle parking in the borough have been scraped by the council, even though Islington has the highest level of bike theft of any local authority in the UK. The future only seems to promise further cuts from the council.  The local cycling budget will be cut 59% for 2007/8 and by a further 37 % between 2008/9.

Editors Notes:

1. Please find attached a photo of Emily Thornberry in cycle training with David Dansky from Cycle Training UK. Emily Thornberry attended cycle training with David Dansky on Thursday 13th October. More information about what cycle training involves can be found here: http://www.cycletraining.co.uk/.

2. Please find attached a press release on the issue from ICAG.

3. Please find attached a press release from Emily Thornberry on cyclists’ rights of way.

4. Liberal Democrat five point plan for cycling is available here:   http://www.libdems.org.uk/news/story.html?id=8486