Following Ken Livingstone, Brian Paddick, Jenny Jones and Siobhan Benita, Boris Johnson has signed up to the London Cycling Campaign’s ‘Go Dutch’ pledges, designed to boost cycling in London.
Perhaps as an indicator of the growing lobbying power of cycling organisations and cyclists, Johnson bowed to increasing pressure to agree to the ‘key tests’ of Go Dutch.
Johnson promised: “I am fully committed to meeting the three key tests of LCC’s ‘Love London, Go Dutch’ campaign,” which are to be completed during his next mayoralty.
LCC chief executive Ashok Sinha said, “We’re delighted to give Boris Johnson an ‘A-grade’ for his promise to learn from the successful Dutch model to make London’s streets as safe and inviting for cycling as they are in Holland.
“We now have a commitment to a Dutch-style cycling revolution from all the main candidates, with the promise of immediate action in the next mayoralty.
“Johnson must still do a lot more to catch up with the other candidates in other areas of cycling policy, but it’s fantastic news that he has responded to Londoners by improving his cycling commitments.”
At the weekend thousands of cyclists decended on London for the ‘Love London, Go Dutch’ Big Ride, an event supporting safer streets for cycling. The ride ran alongside similarly impressive protest rides in Edinburgh and Rome.
London’s Mayoral elections take place this week on Thursday May 3rd.