Continuing his campaigning for the London mayoral election, Boris Johnson has popped up in a mumsnet webchat. Seeing a couple of questions about cycling, I thought I'd check out his replies. Unfortunately these are as poor as they possibly could be! Boris Johnson should understand cycling by now but if I didn't know better I'd assume that he's never been involved in cycling at all!
painterlyswoosh asked:Boris - cycling. What are you going to do to make sure that fewer cyclists die in London on bikes this year? And to make cycling safer and easier?Any particular plans for the Kings cross junction that is incredibly dangerous and has already claimed lives?Boris replied:I am a cyclist first and foremost. I do it every day, so I am acutely aware of what needs to be done. We’re reviewing those difficult junctions (I will ask my transport officials to consider King’s Cross) and we’ve got the budget to make the improvements. We’re working with companies who use large lorries to fit bigger mirrors so they can see cyclists in time. All of our bus drivers are thoroughly trained to watch out for cyclists.I think we all have a responsibility to improve cycle safety. The most effective thing cyclists can do to be safe is wear a helmet, be visible, be patient and respectful. Let’s be honest – we’ve all lapsed on these things from time to time. But the recent tragedies remind us that it’s the most important thing we can do to stay safe.The fact that he cycles every day is immaterial but interesting to point this out in the first place. It's almost like saying "One of my best friends is a cyclist…". The reason TfL are reviewing the dangerous junctions is because of a consistent and determined campaign by a group of dedicated cyclists who do get cycling. Simply; TfL would not be undertaking these reviews if campaigners hadn't done everything but drag them down there and force them to do it!I was flabbergasted to read that he'll ask his 'transport officials to consider King’s Cross'. It's not as if he's unaware of this road-system! At least since 2009 TfL have been warned about the dangers of this area but chosen to do nothing about it. In fact less than nothing; they've chosen to deliberately exclude cyclists from plans, despite 20% of casualties and deaths in this area are cyclists. There have also been memorial services here and at places like Bow, an installation of a Ghost Bike marking the death of a cyclist and countless protest rides in this area. To suggest that he'll ask these officials to consider this area is, in my opinion, a lie. He will do no such thing. He already knows about this and is doing nothing.Disappointingly Boris also blames HGV drivers. This is his popular schtick used to divert attention away from his woeful planning for cyclists and pass the buck to HGV drivers.Ultimately his only to a question asking what he'd do to make cycling safer was to suggest that cyclists should wear a helmet and high-vis. In fact somebody even picked him up on this:Poulay asked:Dear Boris, have you actually reviewed the studies on cycling with a helmet?There is no consensus on whether they improve safety at all and they certainly have behavioural disadvantages in terms of both cyclists AND motorists compensating for their perceived protection by cycling and driving more dangerously.A helmet is NOT a substitute for safe cycling and safe roads, and it's very irresponsible to tell people to just put a helmet on and it will magically protect them from the tipper trucks and killer HGVs.Boris: no response…later SuzyDoo asked:Hi Boris!I want my kids to be safe cycling to school - when are you going to commit to 20mph on TFL controlled roads? In Holland half of all kids cycle to school - we could have the same and reduce the shocking rate of 1 in 5 obese kids in London.Boris: no responseBy this point Boris had presumably got bored with answering questions and left the building.