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London could once again be set to see an influx of cyclists this summer as the capital is in line to be on the receiving end of Tube Line strike action.
The strikes are set to be made by RMT members employed by Tube Lines over two 48-hours periods; from 7pm on June 23rd and again from 7pm on July 14th. The strikes are set to affect three key tube lines; Jubilee, Northern and Piccadilly.
Last summer tube strikes led to more cyclists on the streets of London, with the London Cycling Campaign creating a website at the new bike commuters taking to the roads. There was also a ‘Bike the Strike’ edition of the Bike to Work Book.
London Mayor Boris Johnson urged commuters to take to their bikes too.
Transport for London has urged the RMT leadership to call off the threatened strike action and engage in ‘proper dialogue’ with TfL.
Should the strikes go ahead, however, the bike shops and workshops in and around the capital could be in for another busy summer.
A TfL spokesperson said: “As the RMT leadership knows, we do not currently control Tube Lines.
“We are working to conclude the acquisition of the company by the end of June, which will benefit all Londoners by effectively ending the PPP, which has wasted hundreds of millions of pounds and led to delays to upgrade work.
“The RMT have time and again called for Tube Lines’ work to come back under public control, and that is what we are working to achieve.
“Furthermore this is an existing dispute about pay and conditions and not about the proposed transfer of Tube Lines to TfL.
“We strongly urge RMT leadership to call off the threatened strike action and to enter proper dialogue with us after our acquisition of Tube Lines. TfL taking control of Tube Lines is a good deal for London as there is no longer a looming £600m PPP funding gap, it will generate substantial savings for TfL and enable us to upgrade the Tube to a timetable that suits Londoners and in a way which is much less disruptive for our customers and businesses in future.”
