Vote Bike.
This month’s CTC mag includes an article about the politics of cycling, and what (at the time of going to print) the main parties’ positions are on cycling issues.
| Con. | Green | Labour | Lib Dems | |
| Better quality cycling conditions & higher quality facilities |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Tackling bad driving & lowering speed limits to 20mph on most urban streets |
No | Yes | Yes, where appropriate |
Yes |
| Cycle storage & cycle training at all schools |
Yes | Yes | Yes - we support Bikeability |
Yes |
| Create better access for cyclists to stations (secure bike parking) & onboard trains |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Opening up green spaces to cyclists (including access to coastal paths) |
No | Yes - on a case-by-case proposal with local residents’ consultation |
No Comment |
Maybe - wherever possible |
They’ve even got a page about this, with their version of the cyclists’ manifesto, at www.ctc.org.uk/votebike/
Strange - the more I find out about this stuff, the more inclined to vote in one particular direction I find myself. Don’t tell me which way you’re thinking of voting (for most of us that’s a decision kept between those short little pencils in the booths and the ballot box) . . . but are there any particular resources that help you make up your mind?
Hmmm, politicians actually following up on their promises would probably make a big difference in which direction I vote. I think it is very good the CTC put this table together but I would like to see an article that compares some previous promises with what was actually achieved. Recently a comparison was done on Dave Hill’s blog about Boris Johnson, the mayor of London, showing how even on basic promises such as adding more drinking fountains to London he had largely failed.
Thanks for sharing this post Karl.
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I emailed my MP. He wrote back to me - on paper, and on the taxpayer’s shilling - regurgitating some boilerplate stuff from the budget. Although he’s supposedly good on green issues, I see him in the local paper spouting off about wind farms and pushing for a new bypass for the town. not impressed.
Actually, the one tool you need is probably your local paper - your MP and all the candidates will be plastered all over it, shooting their mouths of and revealing far more about themselves than they think.
Both our Labour and Lib Dem candidates ride bikes and are members of Darlington Cycling Campaign
The Tory drives his Audi TT (with personalised plates) the 50 miles from his home to Darlington…