Public meeting: Out of Breath? - Air quality in Wandsworth & other local campaigns
Out of Breath? - Air quality in Wandsworth, the facts and what's being done about it?Free Public meeting 21st March at Wandsworth Town HallRSVP - http://outofbreathwandsworth.eventbrite.co.uk/There is a public health crisis happening before our eyes, yet still too many people aren't aware of the situation."Boris Johnson says there were 4,267 early deaths in London in 2008 attributable to long-term exposure to ‘invisible’ air pollution. This compares to 4,075 due to short-term exposure during the ‘visible’ Great Smog of 1952 when we knew nothing of the health impact of long-term exposure to air pollution. Only smoking causes more early deaths now. "www.cleanairinlondon.org------------------------------------------20's Plenty for WandsworthCampaign continues, over 1200 people signed up so far. The petition reads as follows:"We, the undersigned, call on Wandsworth Council to consult residents about introducing 20mph as the speed limit on all our residential and local shopping streets."If you would like to read more, there are lots of fact sheets on the national website. The more that we write to our councillors, the more chance that they will do something.Local site: http://www.20splentyforwandsworth.moonfruit.com/National site: http://www.20splentyforus.org.uk------------------------------------------Love London, Go DutchLondon campaign asking people to support the following:"I want the mayoral candidates to pledge to make London more liveable for everyone by making our streets as safe and inviting for cycling as they are in Holland"To find out more visit: http://lcc.org.uk/go-dutch/The Big Ride is happening on the 28th April - a fun mass ride for all the family in a carnival type atmosphere.------------------------------------------Cities fit for CyclingA national campaign launched by The Times last month has generated huge interest with over 32,000 people signing up. One of their leader articles states:"If this newspaper's cycle safety campaign should result only in safer cycling, it must be considered a failure. Success would be a fundamental change in the popular expectation of how British cities ought to look.We live today in cities built for horses, dominated by cars. Only in very few parts of the country is driving a pleasure, yet even the reluctant motorist rarely has a viable alternative. The division, more-over, of the travelling public into distinct categories of motorists, cyclists, pedestrians and travellers by train or bus is false. All are people seeking a painless journey from A to B.Our cities must be reimagined so that the cyclist is no hindrance to the motorist, and the motorist no danger in return. The weary driver, the sweaty train commuter, the pedestrian running late: all will benefit when more Britons get on their bikes."Find out more here (not behind the paywall): http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public/cyclesafety/
Jon Irwin ● 5115d1 Comments