News release: 'Don’t ignore cycling, campaigners tell PCC candidates.
release
With cycle safety and bike security having a high profile in Parliament, national and local media in recent weeks, Love Your Bike [1] is disappointed that only two of the five Police and Crime Commissioner candidates for Greater Manchester provided details of what policies they have to encourage more people to cycle and how they would work to make the roads safer for all.
According to the Greater Manchester Police annual reports approximately 4600 bicycles have been reported stolen each year between 2006 and 2009 (the latest figures available). [2] But the British Crime Survey indicates that there are 4 to 5 times more bicycles stolen than are reported to the police. [3] This could mean that over 20,000 bicycles are stolen each year in Greater Manchester.
Love Your Bike wrote to all five Greater Manchester Police and Crime Commissioner candidates [4] seeking their views on a range of cycling related issues including:
- Will you support the introduction of a default 20mph speed limit in residential areas?
- Will you support stricter enforcement of high driving standards?
- What policies do you have to ensure that cycle theft and vandalism is taken seriously, to reduce the rate of theft and increase the number of cycles returned to their owners?
- What will you do to increase police presence on our streets in order to enforce traffic and anti-social behaviour laws?
- Will you support the five principles outlined in our manifesto for cycling in Greater Manchester, ‘Getting Moving’? [5]
Responses were received from two candidates, Matt Gallagher (Liberal Democrat) and Roy Warren (Independent). The full text of their responses (and the questions) is available on the Love Your Bike website. [6]
Dr Graeme Sherriff from Manchester Friends of the Earth said:
“When choosing whether to cycle, people tell us that they need to be confident in their safety on the road and their bike’s security when parked. Leadership on these issues from Police & Crime Commissioner candidates is an essential part of helping Greater Manchester to enjoy the environmental, health and economic benefits of cycling.”
ENDS
CONTACTS FOR COMMENTS
Pete Abel, Love Your Bike campaign. Mobile: 07951 642858
Dr Graeme Sherriff, Manchester Friends of the Earth Transport campaign. Mobile: 07948 405071
Notes to Editors:
[1] Love Your Bike is an award-winning campaign co-ordinated by Manchester Friends of the Earth. Based in Manchester, we aim to promote cycling and to help make it an attractive, accessible and fun way to get around. www.loveyourbike.org
[2] See http://www.gmp.police.uk/mainsite/pages/annualreport.htm
[4] All five candidates were emailed on 6th November, with reminders sent on 9th and 12th November.
[5] These are:
Cycling infrastructure should be high quality, consistent and appropriate.
Cycling should be fully integrated into the public transport system.
On-road cycling training courses should be provided free of charge for adults.
Residential areas should have a default speed limit of 20mph.
Campaigns to promote cycling from A to B should be bold, sustained and targeted.
See http://manchesterfoe.org.uk/campaigns/transport/bike/cyclingmanifesto/
