Epping Forest lags behind on making cycling safer

Epping Forest Lib Dems today welcomed the renewed commitment to cycling offered by the government in Monday's Get Britain Cycling debate in the House of Commons. Liberal Democrat MP for Cambridge Julian Huppert led the discussions. And outside Parliament, local party members were represented at the London Cycling Campaign's 5000-strong protest ride calling for more Space for Cycling.

The government is giving more money than ever before - nearly £150 million - for projects that will make cycling easier and safer.

But Epping Forest, like much of Essex, is lagging behind this growing movement towards cheap, family-friendly personal transport.

Despite being home to one of the region's finest leisure-cycling destinations, there is still hardly any provision for commuter cyclists, nor safe routes to schools. Cycle paths separated from the traffic, which are vital to encouraging new cyclists, especially families, are rarely found and don't join up with each other.

An increase in cycling for journeys to work, shopping trips, and on the school run, would reduce traffic jams, keeping the roads clear for those journeys that can only be made in the car.

Reducing delays would save local businesses money and time, and make all our lives more predictable.

Epping Forest Libs Dems want the County Council to review its very out-of-date Cycling Strategy, and start planning some improvements now: let us know if you'd like to be involved in our campaign.