Early Days ...#

Thu, 10 May 2007 14:39:16 +0000

FOR THE ATTENTION OF:

George Galloway MP Bethnal Green and Bow

Thursday 10 May 2007 Daniel Barlow

Dear George Galloway,

I am writing to urge you to sign the Early Day Motion 1433 submitted by Menzies Campbell that "the alterations in the provisions of the Highway Code proposed to be made by the Secretary of State for Transport, dated 28th March 2007, a copy of which was laid before this House on 28th March, be not made."

The revision of the Highway Code currently before Parliament contains provisions which will make cycling much less safe on our road network. The DfT received over 11000 responses to their consultation last year, from cyclists describing these problems, but their revised wording actually makes the problem worse not better. Roger Geffen, campaigns manager for the Cyclists' Touring Club, has claimed that "If the new document goes through unamended it will be the single most anticycling thing that this government has done since it's been in power". John Franklin, author of the Government-approved Cyclecraft manual, adds that "One of the golden rules of cycling is never to go up the inside of lorries. The new code effectively tells you to do this."

Cycling is an important part of the solution to urban congestion, as well as being carbon-neutral and tending to promote healthy activity thus reducing the burden on the NHS. We can ill-afford measures like this that will discourage it and make it more dangerous.

Yours sincerely,

Daniel Barlow