So what we should be asking for is the freedom to choose to make a journey by cycle if we want to. RIght now, we don’t have that freedom. Most people will choose not to make a journey by bike, because it isn’t safe enough, or doesn’t feel safe enough.

The freedom to choose to cycle is also the freedom, for many people, to make the most efficient choice of transport. Cycling doesn’t pollute – and a cyclist takes up a something like a fifth of the roadspace of a private car. So, if taking a relatively small amount of roadspace for cycling also allows people who would otherwise drive to choose to cycle, this will actually reduce congestion (and pollution), and allow those who really need to drive to reach their destinations faster.

I think we are in a much stronger position, at least right now, if we are making the argument that drivers, too, can benefit from the construction of good cycle facilites, rather than talking about taking space away from drivers, constraining them, etc..

Don’t be so relaxed about the difference between 4 or 5 year fixed term parliaments. For politicians to put off their rendezvous with the electorate for a full 5 years at a time is nothing less than a democratic outrage. Every single time a Government has remained in office for the full 5 years in the last 35 years – under Callaghan in 1979, Major in 1997 and Brown in 2010 – we have seen that Government and Prime Minister desperately clinging to office and the reputation of politics generally take a huge hit. We cannot allow this Government to do this without a full debate and particularly without a referundum.

John

It is the son, Dean Cohen, who is the new boy. Melvin Cohen is the father who has been on the council for years and is in charge of planning.

I agree that the less affluent parts of the borough have been abandoned. The Brent Cross plans are simply insane. I used to have great respect for Melvin but for him to have allowed this scheme to go through under his watch is simply unforgivable.

I too enjoyed my Humanities courses whilst I was at the College. I found them challenging and I don’t think many people viewed them as a “soft” option.