BICYCLE ASSOCIATION AGM
Eyes down: the bike trade assembles to discuss the market
SPEAKERS’ CORNER
AA president Edmund King, a headline speaker at the BA AGM, emphasising just how much cycling has climbed up the political agenda. He said: “Things have moved on. I was at the motorists’ forum this morning and cycling was discussed. Five years ago cycling wouldn’t have been mentioned at all – it’s a small indication of the change we’ve seen.” King went on to speak of his concern about the perceived ‘war’ between cyclists and motorists and how he has used his position to try and help tackle it – the AA spoke out against the BBC ‘War on the Roads’ documentary and has been a vocal supporter of The Times ‘Cities Safe for Cycling’ campaign, giving evidence at the Parliamentary Get Britain Cycling inquiry. “This can be a real catalyst for change,” said King. “There’s a real move to make cycling a mainstream form of travel. 18 per cent of AA members are regular cyclists. You could double that. It is of the moment – but it does need leadership.” “We need more training – the AA offers
free courses for drivers and there are calls for cycling to be included in the National Curriculum…we have to start at a very young age. Kids are receptive the younger they are. “We won’t accept it not getting on the curriculum,” King promised.
BIKEBIZ.COM
“There is hope for us in changing attitudes. Bikes have gone from trainspotting to high fashion – it’s the bike industry that has achieved that.” Sustrans communications director Melissa Henry also took the floor, praising industry levy Bike Hub: “It’s an amazing thing, the industry is giving back to the grassroots.” Focusing on the Bike Hub-funded, Sustrans- run Big Pedal competition, Henry explained: “It helps the cycling culture bed in for schools. We want to develop it, get more schools involved…kids really want to cycling and Bike Hub makes it possible.” The packed speaker schedule also saw London Cycling Campaign chief executive Ashok Sinha also paid tribute to Bike Hub – which has helped fund the Agewell on Wheels project, encouraging older generations back onto two wheels. Like King, Sinha focused on how cycling
has grown in recent years, with cycling fashionable for politicians to support and the press increasingly less hostile to cycling. He said the radical change in London has been down to political will – particularly from former and current Mayors Ken Livingstone and Boris Johnson, respectively. The LCC has had to change, he added, getting more involved in advocacy and speaking to everyone, including non-cyclists. “We’ve got to bring the public with us,” he urged.
BIKEBIZ JUNE 31
ANTI-DUMPING EXTENDED
“We have seen growth in
market value, not volume.”
Mark Bickerton, BAGB
In April the European Commission agreed to extend the 48.5 per cent anti-dumping duty that is currently levied on bikes the EU imports from China. BA president Mark Bickerton explained how the BA tackles the controversial topic: “We have had continued and considerable interest from BA members about Anti-Dumping Measures. Perhaps it is inevitable that there have been differing shades of opinion expressed, but this has been a perfect example of the value of the Bicycle Association as a network and a trade group. I would like to note that anti- dumping measures have been re-imposed, which, of course, is welcomed by some members, but by no means all. We continue to monitor, discuss and exchange views on this topic.”
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92