A general election is an appropriate time to assess the performance of local MP. What follows is a personal view, though based on having been involved in trying to improve cycling facilities in Camden.

First, let me say that Frank Dobson is a very good and conscientious constituency MP. I was particularly impressed by his intervention after a Home Office minister resigned after a campaign by right-wing newspapers on immigration. And when I wrote to him for help in trying to gain access to withheld files for a book I've been writing, Mr Dobson immediately wrote to the Foreign Secretary supporting my application, for which I am very grateful (unfortunately access to the files was denied, despite Mr Dobson's support).

However, Mr Dobson's record on supporting cycling is, by contrast, lamentable. When he stood against Ken Livingstone for the position of Mayor of London, Mr Dobson made a great deal in his campaigning of opposing congestion charging. This, by any measure, was a monumental mistake - both in terms of its failure to garner supporters, and in terms of the undoubted success of congestion charging in reducing traffic levels in the zone and outside it.

The main complaint against Mr Dobson, however, comes from his role using his influence as an MP to intervene with Camden Council over the Seven Stations Link physically-dedicated cycle route through Bloomsbury.

Our original proposal was for the cycle track to run along Sidmouth Street along with the introduction of one-way motor traffic working. After extensive discussions with Camden we agreed to their alternative proposal to route the track along Guildford St. This is a wider road and the space constraints (and opposition by taxi drivers to one-way working) were thus avoided.

Unfortunately Mr Dobson gave his substantial political weight to a small, vocal group that opposed the cycle track on the grounds that it would be unsafe to have the cycle track pass in front of Coram's Field children's playground. It seems that these people, and Mr Dobson, were of the opinion that it would be safer to have motor vehicles next to the pavement, rather than a cycle track.

Paul Gasson and myself went to see Mr Dobson, and we explained the purpose and thinking behind the SSL and how it would improve not endanger safety. We also pointed out that the track would allow some children to cycle to Coram's Field, something which is presently not practicable. Mr Dobson told us that he generally supported better cycle facilities, but not this particular one.

It was disturbing to discover that Mr Dobson had made up his mind before speaking to us, on irrational grounds, and that he was determined to push his opposition despite anything that we or Camden said.

This lobbying was sufficient to overrule the Council's plan and we have as a result ended up with a sub-standard width on the track that will now be built along Sidmouth Street, but without one-way working of motor traffic.

Given Mr Dobson's determined opposition to the track on Guildford St, we contacted Mr Dobson to ask for his support for ensuring that the alternative was passed by Camden council. Mr Dobson's reply was that he would support it is it did not lead to any traffic displacement. This reply was effectively a kick into the long grass as it allowed Mr Dobson to avoid giving us support.

No doubt Mr Dobson's seat is safe, especially given, after his short career period of loyalty to the Labour leadership as Minister or Health and official opponent to Ken L, that he has become a leading critic of the government. However, cyclists should consider whether they want to vote for someone who has proved himself to have no feeling for cyclists and the problems we face on the streets in London.

I certainly will not be giving Mr Dobson my vote. His role in stopping the provision of the cycle track on Guildford St is as big an error as his decision to oppose congestion charging in his mayoral campaign. He has been a major obstacle to making even small changes on the conditions we as cyclists have to experience on the streets of Holborn and St Pancras constituency.