This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-25298354
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Boris Johnson says protesters are 'scaring cyclists' | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Cyclists who staged protests over the deaths of six people in London risk scaring people off switching from cars to bikes, Boris Johnson says. | |
The Mayor of London is speaking at an event for cycling and haulage experts which was arranged before the deaths, which happened over a two-week period. | |
He says he understands the "anger and concern" over the fatalities. | |
Mr Johnson is also reaffirming his £913m commitment to improving cycle safety in the City Hall speech. | |
'Redouble' efforts | 'Redouble' efforts |
He says: "Of course I accept that people want to create pressure for action to get more Londoners cycling. | |
"But the risk is that the association of cycling with death may be doing the opposite. It may be scaring people away." | "But the risk is that the association of cycling with death may be doing the opposite. It may be scaring people away." |
Mr Johnson is using the event to examine the case for a ban on HGVs on some London roads and set out deadlines for improvements to dangerous junctions. | |
But he also points out that the number of deaths is the same as at this point last year, and lower than the year before. | |
Mr Johnson says: "The lesson I take from these tragedies is not that we should draw back from our hugely ambitious cycling programme - but that we should redouble our efforts to achieve it." | |
Plans to improve safety in the mayor's Vision for Cycling include a new network of cycle superhighways and back-street "quietways" for cyclists not wanting to ride on main roads. | Plans to improve safety in the mayor's Vision for Cycling include a new network of cycle superhighways and back-street "quietways" for cyclists not wanting to ride on main roads. |