Bikes on trains and DRL

Alex Potter said the following on 11/12/2006 11:20:

Quoted message said:

Not much comfort there!

Sounds like the sort of typical non-answer I've had from my local MP in
the past. Lots of words with no content.

--
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/

Alex Potter wrote on 11/12/2006 11:20 +0100:

Quoted message said:

Not much comfort there!

Apart from the usual we've noted your comments/passed them on the most
amusing was the UKIP response that said:

"Mr Titford has asked me to let you know that he is well aware of the
safety issues in regard to motor vehicles being compelled to have
running lights on at all times. UKIP has already spoken out against
this nonsense and will continue to vigorously oppose it.

He also promises to look into the question of the provision of cycle
rail facilities on trains. We don't normally support EU legislation as
the UKIP MEPs were elected on a platform of withdrawal from the EU.
However, we will give serious consideration to supporting this measure,
if our research tells us that it is good for cyclists, in the long term."

They sound almost sane!

--
Tony

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Tony Raven said:

Apart from the usual we've noted your comments/passed them on the most
amusing was the UKIP response that said:

<snipped>

I got a bounce from my UKIP chappie. No response so far from any of Bliar's
lot.

--
Regards
Alex
The From address above is a spam-trap.
The Reply-To address is valid

Alex Potter said the following on 11/12/2006 15:09:

Quoted message said:

I got a bounce from my UKIP chappie. No response so far from any of Bliar's
lot.

I guess that was a deliberate spelling mistake :-)

--
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/

On Mon, 11 Dec 2006 11:20:13 GMT, Alex Potter <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

I used the CTC form letter to email my MEPs and got this response:

This from one of my Labour MEPs:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thank you for your recent letter about daytime running lights (DRL).

The idea of daytime running lights requires that all vehicles run with
low intensity headlights turned on during daylight hours. The aim of this
is to increase vehicle visibility and improve road safety.

This is an idea which is soon likely to be given approval not by the
European Union, but by the United Nations. In anticipation of this the
European Union has started its own research as to how the idea could be
taken on board in the EU. The European Commission has done this by
launching a consultation with all groups involved in road transport.

The consultation is still on going. The Department for Transport has
taken part in this and made it clear the UK is opposed to the idea.

For my part I am against DRLs for many reasons. Firstly, making cars run
with headlights on will increase fuel consumption. This makes no sense at
a time when we should be seriously trying to combat climate change. It
will also increase costs for motorists.

Daytime running lights on cars will also distract attention from
vulnerable road users such as cyclists, motorbikes and pedestrians
putting them at greater risk. This would compromise road safety rather
than improve it.

Finally, it makes no sense to have an EU law which would require drivers
in Cyprus to drive with head lights on in the same way as a driver in
Sweden for example.

It is not yet guaranteed that this consultation will result in an EU law.
However, I will continue to raise objections to this idea in European
Parliament discussions on road safety.

I hope you find this information useful.

Mary Honeyball MEP for London
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Great news for DRLs, but what about bikes on trains?

In message <[email hidden]>, Alex Potter
<[email hidden]> quoted Malcolm Harbour MEP:

Quoted message said:

The issue you raise on cycles is indeed part of the Third Rail package.
Whilst we are generally in favour of such a measure being applicable
overall to international journeys, the issue of legislation regarding
domestic rail services should, in our view, be a matter for the national
Governments of individual Member States.

Except most domestic rail services do form part of international journeys.
Even if we exclude domestic services in origin and destination countries,
that still leaves a lot of services, for example:

London-Holyhead (eg Paris-Dublin)
Paris-Cerebe (eg London-Barcelona)
Cologne-Frankfurt (eg London-Belgrade)
Venice-Syracuse (eg London-Malta)
Syracuse-Pozzallo (eg London-Malta)

An many more outside of the British Isles.

Quoted message said:

Yours sincerely
Malcolm Harbour MEP

Alex Potter> Not much comfort there!

And a contradiction.

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