Sadiq Khan tried to burnish his green credentials today by cycling to work – but was closely followed by a gas-guzzling Range Rover.
The Mayor of London and members of his security team mounted £3,000 electric bikes which were delivered to his house in a VW transit van this morning.
Some of his protection detail tailed them in the 4×4 on their journey from Tooting to City Hall on the south bank of the Thames.
Today is Car Free Day in the capital and Londoners are encouraged to ditch their vehicles and commute by more environmentally friendly means.
Santander bikes are free to hire today, but Mr Khan opted for a state-of-the-art Brompton e-bike that retails at £2,700.
Bag slung over his shoulder, the suited Mr Khan pushed off from outside his south London home with two protection guards wearing bright clothing and riding slightly chunkier Tern Vektron bikes which cost £3,000.
Sadiq Khan tried to burnish his green credentials today by cycling to work – but was closely followed by a gas-guzzling Range Rover
Some of his protection detail tailed Mr Khan (pictured at the front) in the 4×4 on their journey from Tooting to City Hall on the south bank of the Thames
The Mayor of London and members of his security team mounted £3,000 electric bikes which were delivered to his house in a VW transit van this morning
Mr Khan pushed off from outside his south London home with two protection guards wearing bright clothing and riding slightly chunkier Tern Vektron bikes which cost £3,000 (pictured)
The riders were followed by one of the V8-engine Range Rovers Mr Khan regularly uses to travel to work.
It is understood to be a Range Rover Sentinel, Land Rover’s protection vehicle which is kitted with armoured glass, under-floor blast protection, spike-proof tyres and an emergency escape system.
The Metropolitan Police provide round-the-clock protection for Mr Khan, who is unlikely to be able to refuse their heavy security measures.
The nature of the job often makes it difficult for high-profile politicians to avoid needing a car. David Cameron memorably was tailed by a car carrying his briefing documents while he cycled as part of a publicity drive to showboat his green credentials.
Pollution is one of the key issues blighting the capital and Mr Khan used Car Free Day to launch his new School Streets new air quality campaign.
Thirty cutting-edge sensors will monitor levels of nitrogen dioxide at 18 primary schools across Brent, Enfield and Lambeth.
TfL has funded 430 new School Streets, where roads surrounding schools are closed to traffic at drop-off and pick-up times.
But Mr Khan’s measures to curb pollution has come under fire for causing chaos on the roads.
Pollution is one of the key issues blighting the capital and Mr Khan used Car Free Day to launch his new School Streets new air quality campaign
It is understood to be a Range Rover Sentinel, Land Rover’s protection vehicle which is kitted with armoured glass, under-floor blast protection, spike-proof tyres and an emergency escape system
His £33million Low Traffic Neighbourhood has implemented cycle lane segregation and banned turns at several junctions to promote alternative forms of travel.
However it has been dropped by his own local council over concerns it is causing ‘chaos’, blocking emergency vehicles and generating ‘excessive levels of pollution’.
A statement from the Wandsworth Conservatives earlier this month claimed the scheme, which prohibited vehicles from using certain roads, is ‘not wanted’ and the ‘adverse effects’ are now clear.
Congestion has also been compounded by the closure of Hammersmith Bridge. Rivals accuse Mr Khan of creating ‘incompetence and chaos’ by not getting a grip on the repair works after the route was closed in April 2019.
Last week, Conservative London Assembly member Tony Arbour said: ‘You have created incompetence and chaos on both sides of Hammersmith Bridge.
‘You have caused an existential crisis for the residents of Barnes. Will he man-up and actually take action?’
Mr Khan said: ‘If the member was being serious about wishing to have the bridge opened sooner rather than later he would be lobbying his government friends to get moving.’
Launching the School Street monitoring project, Mr Khan said: ‘I’m delighted that we are launching our School Streets air quality monitoring project on Car Free Day.
‘It is vital that we don’t throw away the improvements made to air quality during lockdown and the past few months with a damaging car-based recovery from this pandemic.
‘The 430 new School Streets which have been funded as part of our world-leading Streetspace plan will play an important role in enabling parents and children to walk, cycle or scoot to and from school which has so many benefits, not least in improving air quality.
Mr Khan has warned that London could see tighter coronavirus restrictions imminently and has called for facemasks to be work in all public spaces.