FOCUS | ON ADVOCACY
Advocates debate how to get more cyclists on the roads (l-to-r): Tom Bogdanowicz, LCC; Colin Black, Contemporary Transport; Alexander Goodship, TfL; David Dansky, CycleTraining UK
Championing cycling
Advocacy is an emotive subject inside and outside the bike trade. Jonathon Harker reports from a London debate on the topic, and gathers opinions from the trade…
BICYCLE ADVOCACY is, ultimately, all about getting more bums on saddles. From campaigns for more secure bicycle
parking facilities, educating drivers to be less aggressive to cyclists, or just initiatives to try and normalise and encourage cycling, it’s an enduring topic for the world of bikes and the industry – or at least the customers and potential customers of the trade. The topic cropped up again the European
Cyclists’ Federation’s Cycle Industry Club launch in Friedrichshafen and in BikeBiz’s Spokesman column last month, which questioned whether the trade had lived up to the hopes of Trek president John Burke, who urged the bike trade to spend a greater percentage on advocacy efforts (more of that on page 13). At the end of October, City University in London hosted a debate on how to get more people on bicycles as part of its annual Green City Week. Pundits from the London Cycling Campaign, Cycle Training UK and Transport for London were among the voices discussing how policy, urban design and safety challenges
12 BIKEBIZ DECEMBER
St. Pancras, one of london’s most active transport hubs has just 100 bike parking spaces – all of which are usually full.
were affecting and influencing the growing numbers of cyclists on the road. The debate focused on London, but it highlighted some of the challenges inherent in getting more bums on saddles. The debate acknowledged that cycling is
increasing as a mainstream form of transport on the roads of London. But despite the rise, there is plenty of potential for much more. “We know there is massive scope for
increasing the numbers of cyclists in London,” said Alexander Goodship, Transport for London’s cycling delivery planning manager. “We know 40 per cent of Londoners have access to a bicycle and a lot of them aren’t using them on a regular basis. There’s also a challenge there to get the other 60 per cent access to a bicycle.” “23 per cent of all the trips made in London could be made by bicycle.” Transport for London is looking at where those potential trips are and targeting those making them and now to convert them. Not only that, but TfL has also investigated
who are the most likely converts – urban living, young couples with families, those living a
suburban lifestyle and high earning professionals – according to Transport for London. “Getting children cycling is a big factor,” Goodship said. “To solve that we have to do a lot of work with the parents. The other big challenge is improving the cycling experience.” Tom Bogdanowicz, campaigns and development manager for the London Cycling Campaign (LCC) added his thought at the debate. He said: “Other countries show they can raise cyclist numbers and we’re way behind in many ways. People want Dutch style facilities – designing poor facilities is not good practice and cyclists need to be seen as equal in terms of traffic and road layout – we shouldn’t be considered at the far end. Bikes should be considered as a real transport choice.” He pointed out: “The number of bike parking spaces at St Pancras is around 100. It’s the same for many major stations in London, and they’re all full. In Amsterdam, in one station, it’s 7,000.” Bogdanowicz added: “There are a number of things we can do to encourage new cyclists, but the political will is at the top of everything.” So how does the trade fit in…?
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