Chris Boardman: 'MPs should be embarrassed after hearing on London cycle safety'

 
Furious: Chris Boardman (left) cycles with London Mayor Boris Johnson
Robin de Peyer4 December 2013

Former Olympic cycling champion Chris Boardman has told MPs they should be "embarrassed" after a hearing on London cyclists' safety.

A Transport Select Committee heard evidence in Westminster yesterday after six cyclists were killed on the capital's roads in just two weeks.

Speaking as British Cycling's policy adviser, Mr Boardman said: "The MPs that sit on the transport select committee should be embarrassed by their performance."

The committee heard from figures including London Mayor Boris Johnson's cycling commissioner, Andrew Gilligan, and the London Cycling Campaign chief executive Ashok Sinha.

"In front of them sat experts from campaigning bodies, transport research and the police – all ready to get into a proper discussion - and yet the MPs demonstrated that they didn’t even know the most basic of facts," Mr Boardman said.

"Evidence and statistics were bypassed in favour of opinions and anecdotes on sideline topics."

The cyclist, who won a gold medal at the 1992 Olympics and was awarded an MBE for services to cycling in 1992, described the performance as "negligent".

"This was an opportunity to discuss how we can make our roads fit for people to get around by bicycle, improving our nation’s health, the environment and cutting emissions.

"Such a clear demonstration of lack of research and understanding at this level of seniority would, in any other business, be classed as negligent."

Mr Boardman added that he would be writing to MPs to request they meet British Cycling representatives.

The Committee's chair, Labour MP Louise Ellman, said: "We welcome the opportunity to hear from Chris Boardman so I will be writing to him to invite him to meet the committee and to give oral evidence to us in due course. We look forward to him making an important contribution to this inquiry."

Transport Minister Robert Goodwill is due to give evidence at the Committee this afternoon.

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