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Marble Arch cycle lane (copyright Simon MacMichael)Billionaire Tory peer calls for removal of temporary cycle lanes in London
A City billionaire controversially elevated to the peerage by Boris Johnson last year has called for the removal of temporary cycle lanes in London.
Lord Peter Cruddas told the House of Lords today: “I am a keen cyclist myself and, during the lockdown, I even bought myself a new bicycle.”
Unlike the Prime Minister, however, who was said to have “gone ballistic” when the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea ripped out a temporary protected cycle lane last December just weeks after it had been installed, Cruddas seems determined to get rid of them.
> PM Boris Johnson ‘ballistic’ over scrapping of Kensington High Street cycle lane
He had asked the government what discussions it is having with Transport for London (TfL) and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan “in relation to the abolition of temporary cycle lanes in London.”
Transport Minister Baroness Vere of Norbiton said it was a matter for TfL and London boroughs, although she added that Department for Transport (DfT) officials regularly met with TfL to discuss cycle lanes and other issues.
She also said that “the delivery of cycle lanes across London is also overseen by a steering group, which comprises senior representatives from government and TfL.”
Clarifying that he was only referring to temporary cycle lanes, Cruddas said: “If they become permanent, they will be even more of a nuisance.
“In that context, it seems to me that, given that the government have provided emergency funding to TfL during the pandemic, there is an opportunity to contribute to any debate about their continued existence in a meaningful way,” he said.
He asked Baroness Vere to confirm whether meetings between DfT and TfL staff “have addressed that issue.”
Confirming such meetings take place every two weeks, she replied: “It is the case that cycle lanes were put in at the start of the pandemic on a temporary basis – indeed, on a trial basis.
“The vast majority of those have now become permanent cycle lanes; I think that maybe only about one mile of cycle lane has been removed, and that was on Euston Road.”
Other peers speaking in this morning’s debate were more supportive of the temporary infrastructure.
The Conservative peer Lord Young, a former chair of the All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group (APPCG, now the All Party Parliamentary Group on Cycling & Walking), said: “Did not the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea jump the lights by removing so precipitately the successful and popular bicycle lane in Kensington High Street, which was a crucial link in the east-west cycle route?”
He asked the minister whether, when the Active Travel Oversight Group next meets, she would “reopen discussions with the Royal Borough to see if the scheme can be reintroduced, with amendments if necessary?”
“Ah, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea – that well-known hub and hive of interest in cycling,” Baroness Vere replied. “Indeed, it has about 100 miles of road in the borough, but not a metre of cycle lane.”
She confirmed that the Active Travel Oversight Group “has discussed the issue of cycle lanes in that particular council,” and added that “TfL has thus far not provided any active travel funding from the latest settlement to that council.”
Another former co-chair of the APPCG, the cross-bencher peer Lord Austin of Dudley, asked: “How do the government propose to persuade reluctant local authorities to provide more safe infrastructure for cycling, so that they hit the government’s own target to double the number of trips made wholly or partly by cycling from 2013 figures by 2025?”
Baroness Vere replied: “The government want to encourage improved cycle lanes and cycling infrastructure and, for those reluctant local authorities, we make it very clear to them that future funding is conditional on historic performance.
“If they do not put in the sort of measures that we would wish to see, frankly, they will not get any money in the future.”
Lord Cruddas, who tabled the debate, is a former co-treasurer of the Conservative Party, resigning from that position in 2012 due to the cash for access scandal.
He was made a life peer last December, despite not passing the Lords Appointment Commission’s vetting process – the first time a prime minister has defied the independent body’s decision – and three days later donated £500,000 to the party.
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
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28 comments
Knocked up a quick t-shirt design, reckon I could make some money.
Actually true of most people I'd guess. I haven't owned a car for years but a few years ago I calculated that I was effectively a "train enthusiast" by most measures (trip time, distance; number of trips the bike edged it) per here:
https://www.aviewfromthecyclepath.com/2017/09/business-as-usual-by-driving-green-car.html
Actual 'journeys' or total distance cycled?
For me I was (at the worst) doing 80+ mile round trip by train most days. So the majority of both distance and time (10 hours per week if in every day plus any weekend trips) was via train unless I've done some big rides at the weekend (which I didn't). Number of trips - bicycle still won because that got me to the station and back, then shopping, general transport and "decadent pleasure" added to the number.
Clearly just comparing "miles travelled" rather than "journeys" has some issues but equally the distance is what uses the energy.
I don't advocate being hair-shirt about it but almost everyone is effectively a motorist / trainist / bus-ist to a first approximation. (Doesn't matter if you're driving the car or not).
I do more miles on my bike than my wife and I combined do in our car (it's probably a bit closer now then when I was commuting 5 days a week by bike, but I think it's still true). Planes and trains might shift the balance a bit, but not in the past two years given the absence of foreign travel.
An unfortunate turn of phrase...
Well, we've been married 12 years now...
Good for you and hope you enjoy it! I am now definitely "cyclist" any way you calculate it after we brought in working from home. Don't miss sitting on the train every day!
Modal shares are calculated in % of total distance travelled:
Spain 1.3%
Uk 2%
France 4%
Italy 5%
Ireland 7%
Germany 12%
Denmark 16%
Netherlands 27%
source: european cyclists' federation
Just to repeat what I've posted in today's live blog
Here's the full transcript of the debate, if you want to see it all.
It's fair to say a range of views were expressed. It's disappointing that the Minister's initial answer didn't reference the Prime Minister's own statements on cycle lanes etc. And the Park Lane cycle lane seemed a particular bone of contention - it's not great to see a former chair of the APPG on cycling criticising it. But good to see RBKC get a bit of a kicking!
I wonder if any peers will take up Lord Austin on his offer to go for a ride. Maybe Rapha could start an Ermine range.
Wonder about the impact protection a wig or cap of Maintenance will give you? Those gowns don't look aero but would be just the thing in winter.
Sound like he is fully aware of COP26 and the need to save the planet!
Lord Cruddas was involved in a cash for questions scandal and didn't pass the vetting procedure to become a life peer, only getting the nod because Boris the liar gave him the ok. Why does anyone listen to any of the drivel that comes out his mouth?
From the article:
I'm sure that donation was completely unconnected to his entry into the HoL.
Well it couldn't be connected could it? I mean the donation came after he got the post. That's settled then, now I better go and send this invoice for my services...
I would listen intently, if I had paid him to ask that one.
When Cruddas was asked about this "new bicycle" he said "Oh yes, got one for the footman. I'm not going to let the fucker use an estate vehicle to drive into the town to pick my Viagra, am I?"
I used to support the Lords as a revising chamber because at least a few of them were genuinely knowledgeable and had actual professional experience.
It's becoming increasingly difficult to defend when fuckwits like this are in there.
I will be quite happy to do without cycle lanes once 20mph is the default urban speed limit and motorists are punished sufficiently to protect me from inconsiderate, careless or dangerous driving. Until then.......
Pleased to see an excellent "back in your box" from Baroness Vere. Also pleasing to see some mild satire on show:
And:
It's not up to Armando Iannucci standard but pretty good for the other place.
Cyclingnews?
I think what we're looking at is "avid cyclist".
https://www.outsideonline.com/culture/opinion/who-are-all-these-avid-cyclists-anyway/
I'd like to call for the removal of Tory peers from London. They're bad for business, they're not really used by most people, and worst of all they block traffic by travelling slowly in jaguars and rolls Royce's. Future funding for these expensive government projects should be given on the basis that these Tory peers show a net worth to the country, otherwise I don't think it's worth supporting them.
There was a sandwich shop near my school called Royce's rolls.
True story
And they don't think the rules (of the road) apply to them! They'll only deserve respect once they start respecting the law...
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3107353/Tory-peer-caught-speeding-way-House-Lords-urgently-needed-toilet.html
https://www.scotsman.com/news/driving-ban-ex-scottish-secretary-lord-forsyth-2506690
"Clarifying that he was only referring to temporary cycle lanes, Cruddas said: “If they become permanent, they will be even more of a nuisance."
Cruddas, a self-confessed keen cyclist with a new bike, wants bike lanes taken out, because they're a nuisance. Not to cyclists they aren't; ergo, Cruddas isn't a cyclist, he's a whinging driver who doesn't care if the planet fries and the UK blubber mountain overwhelms the NHS. He's a tory, and just like all the other tories, as so recently demonstrated, self interest and personal profit is their mantra.
Burt, they've been like that since before you and I were even born.
Egalitarian, philanthropic or empathetic selfless people do not belong in the Conservative party. Never have done.
I'm almost tempted to admire them for sticking to their principles for so long without a micron's deviation.