Addison Lee thinks cyclists taking to London’s streets have a secret, and nefarious, agenda. According to John Griffin, chairman of the minicab company, cyclists pedaling to work or to visit friends are “throwing themselves onto some of the most congested roads” just to make minicab drivers’ lives more difficult.

Yes, he actually believes this. He said so himself in Add Lib, Addison Lee’s corporate magazine.

But Addison Lee couldn’t have expected what happened next — a massive public outcry demanding he retract his words — or they’d never have let him publish those words.

Join that public outcry by sending a message to the Chairman of Addison Lee, John Griffin, telling him to make a public apology for his inflammatory words and remind him that cars alone don’t rule our roads.

This statement comes on the heels of another controversy — where John Griffin has been publicly encouraging contracted employees to break the law by driving in bus lanes illegally. We’re not sure what makes Addison Lee think it’s above the law, and above reproach, but we’ve had enough with corporations thinking they can do whatever they want because it’s in the interest of their profits.

Issues of sharing public space are best handled with rational dialogue, not rants in corporate magazines. To claim that vehicles have more right to the road because they were there first — and then to blame new cyclists for accidents when evidence shows it is more likely to be due to dangerous driving — is simply unacceptable.

Will you send your own message to Mr. Griffin? If enough of us do it, he won’t be able to ignore this issue any more.

 

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More Information:

Add Lib, Chairman’s Column (flip to page 5), Spring 2012
The Guardian, Tory minicab donor Addison Lee fires first shot in battle of London bus lanes, 19 April 2012