In the run up to the General Election the national cycling charity CTC encouraged voters to contact their candidates to ask them their views on cycling and five specific policy measures as recommended in the "Get Britain Cycling" parliamentary report.
Ambition
Increase levels of cycling to 10% of trips by 2025 and 25% by 2050.
Funding
An average government spend of at least £10 per person per year on cycling.
Design standards
Create consistently high design standards for cycling in all highway and traffic schemes, new developments and planned road maintenance work.
Safety
Measures to improve cycle safety by strengthening road traffic law and its enforcement and revising the Highway Code.
Positive promotion
Support positive promotion of cycling, including cycle skills training, for people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities.
These are the responses received to the "VoteBike" campaign from candidates standing in the two Merton constituencies of Wimbledon and Mitcham and Morden.
Wimbledon
Stephen Hammond, Conservative Party
No response received.
Andrew Judge, Labour Party
Supports all five policy recommendations.
I am a cyclist and have done my utmost over the last five years to promote cycling in Merton as the Cabinet Member with responsibility for street management decisions. Amongst the schemes for which I have been responsible have been: the proliferation of cycle stands in high streets and town centres: the cycle friendly entry points to Merton High Street from side streets; the physically separate cycle path in Merton High Street itself, the improvements to the Wandle Way between Earlsfield and Plough Lane; the planned improvements between Merton High Street and Merantun Way, the improved crossing of Christchurch Road, the improvements to the railside path between Raynes Park and Wimbledon and the planned cycle paths through Mitcham town centre. Leadership is vital especially in local authorities, city authorities and transport bodies, but also in schools and by employers. Our ambition should be to replicate the ease and convenience of cycling in Dutch towns and cities and also Copenhagen.
Shas Sheehan, Liberal Democrats
Supports all five policy recommendations.
Thank you for all that you do to keep this important issue at the forefront of politicians minds when it comes to urban planning. Cycling's many benefits demand that action is taken and that the funding is forthcoming. These five requests, if met, will be transformative.
Peter Bucklitsch, UK Independence Party
No response received
Charles Barraball, Green Party
Supports all five policy recommendations.
The answer to many problems is to balance the inequities; teaching and practising "consideration" for each other, from womb to tomb, is key. It is vital to prioritise walking and pedalling as a practical everyday solution to most transport needs. At signal controlled junctions the timings should prioritise active travellers. The use of "safety" in conjunction with people on bicycles is a nonsense. Identify the source of danger, make that safe ( presumed liability of the larger travelling mass?). Running a motor costs all dearly; that needs addressing so that the causer of the cost pays the price. Or walks. Or pedals.
Mitcham and Morden
Siobhain McDonagh, Labour Party
No response received
Paul Holmes, Conservative Party
No response received
Diana Coman, Liberal Democrats
No response received
Richard Hilton, UK Independence Party
No response received
Mason Redding, Green Party
Supports all five policy recommendations.