Cambridge MP honoured by Brake
Cambridge MP Julian Huppert has won Brake and Direct Line’s Parliamentarian of the Month Award for his passionate work to promote cyclist safety.
A keen cyclist himself and a long standing member of the Cambridge Cycling Campaign, Julian wrote a letter in October 2010 to Norman Baker, the under-secretary of state for transport asking for reassurance that funding for the Bikeability, scheme will continue to be funded in the wake of budget cuts to transport funding. Julian also asked a total of 13 questions in parliament on the topic of cyclist safety.
In January 2011, Julian led a debate on cycling in the House of Commons, in which he called for greater action to protect cyclists including: Greater use of 20mph speed limits in residential and shopping streets; The introduction of proportionate liability which puts the default onus on the more dangerous vehicle in a collision, as used in some other countries; The adjustment and enforcement of the law on mandatory cycle lanes so that vehicles in mandatory cycle lanes can be prosecuted; A cycling and pedestrian awareness element to the driving test which goes beyond the hazard perception element in the theory test.
Julian plans to follow up the debate by writing to Theresa Villiers, Minister of State for Transport, to ask for further clarification and commitments and will continue to strive for amendments to the law through a short bill or statutory instrument.
Julian Huppert said: I will continue to push the government to make the necessary changes to our legislation which will give cyclists the recognition and protection that they deserve and show that we are truly committed to cycling as a serious form of transport.”
Julie Townsend, campaigns director, said: “Julian has shown dedication to cyclist safety and thoroughly deserves this recognition. Cyclists are among our most vulnerable road users and, as cycling becomes more popular, making our roads safer for them becomes ever more pressing. Yet we still don’t have widespread basic facilities that cyclists need to stay safe such as dedicated and continuous cycle lanes. It is imperative that the Government takes a leadership role on this and works to improve cyclist safety as a priority.”
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