Caroline's news

Road safety issues for bus passengers on Station Road were top of the agenda when Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport Spokesperson, met Chingford residents outside Chingford bus and rail station earlier this week. Caroline Pidgeon visited the site after an invitation from Geoff Seeff, the prospective parliamentary candidate for Chingford and Woodford Green.

After the meeting, which was also attended by officers from Transport for London (TfL) Caroline commented:

"It is deeply worrying that passengers are required to get off the 97 and 179 buses on Station Road itself and then have to cross a busy road from between parked cars to get to the rail station. A serious accident is waiting to happen here. We need to find a way for buses to put down passengers safely in the bus station itself with proper provision for wheelchair users.

The extreme variation in fares for the same journey facing commuters and visitors was brought to the attention of Boris Johnson by Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport Spokesperson at today’s Mayor’s Question Time.

Caroline Pidgeon said:
“It is clear that Boris Johnson has no idea what travel in London actually costs, especially for visitors and tourists. The Mayor couldn’t even answer my basic question of what a One Day Travelcard costs.

Islington councillors Laura Willoughby, Terry Stacy and John Gilbert presented a petition to GLA member Caroline Pidgeon this week in protest urging action to improve safety on the junction of Holloway Road, Fieldway Crescent and Madras Place. Caroline, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport Spokesperson, formally presented the petition to Mayor of London Boris Johnson, asking him to take action.

The petition has been signed by around 300 Islington residents and was organised by the Liberal Democrat Councillors from Highbury East ward.

After presenting the petition on Wednesday morning Caroline said:
"I am delighted to be able to support this campaign. It is absolutely necessary to make the junction safer for both cyclists and pedestrians. I have already asked two questions to the Mayor over this issue and I hope this petition really forces Boris Johnson to ensure Transport for London sort out this problem."

The testing centre for black cabs, based in Deptford, was visited this week by Caroline Pidgeon AM .

The centre on Blackhorse Road, just off Evelyn Street, undertakes emissions and other tests on London hackney cabs. It is one of just three centres in London that undertakes the intensive tests that all black cabs must pass to remain in operation. There are other centres which provide the tests for private hire vehicles (mini cabs).

In an interview with the Guardian's London politics blogger Dave Hill, Caroline talks about the London Assembly, the Elephant and Castle regeneration, and the Mayor's policies on transport and policing.

Listen to the interview here