UK’s Prime Minister Johnson asks EU for Brexit delay, but argues against it
LONDON — Prime Minister Boris Johnson grudgingly asked the European Union late Saturday to delay Brexit after the British Parliament postponed a decision on whether to back his divorce deal. But the defiant Johnson also made clear that he personally opposed delaying the U.K.’s exit, scheduled for Oct. 31.
A law passed by Parliament last month set a late-night deadline for the government to send a letter asking the EU for a three-month postponement if lawmakers had not approved an agreement with the bloc by Saturday. An hour before the deadline, European Council President Donald Tusk tweeted: “The extension request has just arrived. I will now start consulting EU leaders on how to react.”
Johnson made clear he was making the request under duress. The letter requesting an extension was not signed. It was accompanied by a second letter, signed by Johnson, arguing that delay would “damage the interests if the U.K. and our EU partners.”
Earlier in the day, Johnson told lawmakers that “further delay would be bad for this country, bad for the European Union and bad for democracy.”
French President Emmanuel Macron seemed to agree. Macron’s office said he spoke to Johnson by phone and insisted on the need for “quick clarification of the British position on the accord.” The president’s office said Macron indicated to the British prime minister that “a delay would be in no one’s interest.”
At a rare weekend sitting of Parliament, lawmakers voted 322-306 to
noted are better for the environment because they are zero-emission and have a lower impact on the roads, as well as people’s health.
According to betterhealth.vic.gov, cycling can help to protect people from serious diseases such as stroke, heart attack, some cancers, depression, diabetes, obesity and arthritis.
“My main goal is to get people who see cycling as intimidating, on bikes — I want to get your grandma on a bike,” he said. “I think cycling and being able to get around on a bike in the city, it makes for a closer-knit community.”
Gocio said Hot Springs tends to be bike-friendly, but there are some improvements to be made to increase the safety of the cyclists.
“In a bigger group, if you’re in the actual (bike) lane, traffic seems to be really respectful,” he said. “I’ve definitely ridden my bike by myself and it can be a little bit scary, but if you make yourself basically a presence on the road, if they see you, nobody wants to hit a cyclist.”
Gocio said the tours he has led so far have consisted of groups of two to three people, and they have all been moderately safe.
“The downtown (tour) would be more geared toward adults,” he said. “The Greenway (tour) is geared more towards all ages, until downtown gets a bit more safe, which I think it will, especially with having more cyclists on the road.”
Gocio said he thinks safety for cyclists will improve with more awareness among drivers, a dedicated bike lane and more signage.
“I think it’s a really good thing to have a sign that tells cyclists they’re allowed to be in the whole lane, not over to the side, because that’s when a lot of accidents occur; when cars try to pass in the same lane that you’re in and they’ll clip you when they’re coming back in. So if you’re in the lane and they see you, they will have to get in the other lane and get all the way around you.”
He noted his company provides riders with helmets, as safety is one of its main priorities.
“Making sure the bikes are safe and fun to ride (is a priority) because if they’re not safe they’re not going to be fun to ride,” he said.