Merton Cycling Campaign: Space for Cycling

We want better cycling conditions to be at the heart of the local elections in May in the London Borough of Merton

On 22 May 2014, the whole of Greater London re-elects its borough councils. These are the authorities that decide how our local streets are designed, and councillors (more than anyone else) have the power to make our neighbourhoods more cycle-friendly.

The LCC are going to make sure Space for Cycling is the major issue during this year's local elections, and is at the top of the agenda of every council candidate.

The elected London Cycling Campaign Policy Forum has developed six policy themes, measures that they have identified as the most important things that can be done to make our neighbourhoods safe and inviting for everyone to cycle:

Protected space on main roads
No through-motor-traffic zones
20mph speed limits
Safer cycle routes to schools
Liveable high streets
More parkland routes

85 Merton residents responded to a LCC survey and informed the LCC what their preferred 'ask' is for each of the 20 wards in Merton.

We selected 3 'asks' for each ward on Thursday 30th January at a public meeting at @ 8pm, All Saints Centre, All Saints Road, Wimbledon,SW19 1BX. This meeting was widely publicised by handing out hundreds of leaflets on bicycles in Wimbledon inthe days leading up to the meeting.

'Asks' per ward (in progress - asks subject to change at this stage)

It was agreed at the meeting that a default 20 mph speed limit across the whole borough would be highly beneficial to reduce danger posed from motor traffic and to increase the liveability in the borough. This is in line with other London boroughs who have set up a borough-wide 20 mph speed limit (Islington, Camden).

Trunk roads suited to higher speeds than 20mph such as Bushey Rd would be subject to their current speed limits.