Darren Johnson outlined today how as Mayor, he will improve children’s health and safety, reduce pollution and ensure children can travel safely to school. He launched his "Safe Routes to School" action plan today, outlining how local authorities can implement "Safe routes to school" schemes.
"Safe routes to school outlines measures that local authorities can take – such as installing 20 mph zones and working closely with schools – to ensure that children can walk or cycle to school each day, using safe roads and streets.
Darren Johnson said "As Mayor I would have genuinely "Safe routes to school" in local neighbourhoods. Greens on the London Assembly have been instrumental in putting road safety at the top of the political agenda. The benefits are well documented.
"Children become more alert, more healthy and can burn more calories than in two hours of PE per week, when they get out of the car and onto the street."
"Other measures – such as 20 mph zones – can reduce child casualties by 70%."
He adds: "And "Safe routes to school" combined with my plans for increasing the congestion charge zone can cut school run traffic – 18% of rush hour traffic – by half. Everyone will benefit from that. "
Darren concluded " A comprehensive package of "Safe routes to school" measures, implemented by each London borough would make London’s streets safe for school children."
NOTES TO EDITORS
· Darren Johnson is 38 and was selected as the Green Party’s candidate for Mayor of London in May 2003. He was elected to the London Assembly in May 2000 where he is Leader of the Green Party Group. He was also elected to Lewisham Council in May 2002.
· The Mayoral election will be held on June 10th at the same time as the elections for the London Assembly and the European Parliament. At the last Assembly elections the Greens scored one of their best ever results in the Party’s history, securing 11.1% of the vote across London and winning three seats on the 25-member Assembly.
· Darren Johnson’s vision for a sustainable Green London can be found on his website www.johnsonformayor.org.uk
· Jean Lambert is London’s Green Member of the European Parliament and she is No 1 on the list for the London Green Party. Her website is www.jeanlambertmep.org.uk
· Green Party Assembly Members are Cllr. Darren Johnson AM, Deputy Mayor Jenny Jones AM and Noel Lynch AM