OPINION
Undeterred, we continued to lobby MPs and wrote again
to BTP, pressing for a meeting to discuss things more in depth. Remembering that there’s always a place for satire in campaigning, we also produced a video of the Grinch watching the time count down from two hours before taking out the bolt cutters at a train station bike rack, which received thousands of views and shares. The pressure to reverse the policy was starting to grow.
Whether it’s national, local
government, or public bodies like BTP, making a strong argument to change direction on an issue often requires a mix of lobbying, public pressure, and media coverage. Having used all three, BTP agreed to meet with us in late January. It was a much easier meeting than I’d expected. By the
‘MANY OF US ARE CREATURES OF HABIT, INCLUDING OUR TRAVEL CHOICES, AND UNEXPECTED EVENTS CAN BREAK THOSE HABITS. GETTING THIS POLICY CHANGED MATTERED BECAUSE 1 IN 10 OF US WHO HAVE THEIR BIKE STOLEN DON’T RETURN TO CYCLING.’
5 households in the UK don’t have access to a car, and for them, their bike is often their means of independence. Particularly for those on lower incomes, having a bike stolen can rob you of your transport choices. It’s a lot harder to replace a stolen bike if you’re living paycheck to paycheck, and that’s how cycling habits can be easily broken. Making sure people have the choice to cycle is central to Cycling UK’s advocacy. Whether we’re campaigning to change a policy on bike theft investigations, pushing for more and better safe cycle routes, or supporting industry efforts to promote safe e-bike products and use, we believe people should have the freedom of choice to cycle as part of their journey. By normalising
cycling, we can make transport healthier,
time we met with them, they had reviewed the policy, dropped the two-hour and £200 rules, and had already provided additional training to staff on examining CCTV footage. The Assistant Chief Constable did make the point that if someone leaves their bike at the station for over a month, any CCTV footage will have been wiped, but with a few common-sense caveats like that, there was a clear commitment to investigate bike thefts. Having called them out on the policy, it’s only fair to commend their reversal. Many of us are creatures of habit, including our travel choices, and unexpected events can break those habits. Getting this policy changed mattered because 1 in 10 of us who have their bike stolen don’t return to cycling. That might seem odd to those of you reading this who are committed cyclists, possibly with multiple bikes, but 1 in
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cleaner, and more affordable. It has the power to boost our economy through bike sales, and when the bike sector supports these campaigns, the impact we can achieve grows even more. Just showing you support on social media or sharing what we’re doing with your networks helps hugely. Most politicians still mistakenly believe that the public doesn’t support investment in cycling, but all the evidence shows they’re wrong. Unfortunately, they often hear the voices of a noisy minority and mistake that for a majority view. That’s why wider and visible support from the sector really helps us show decision makers that the public will support measures to get more people cycling, which is great for them, society, and everyone in the cycle sector. If you want to get even more involved in our campaigns, visit our website or contact us directly. You might be part of our next campaign win!
March 2026 | 47
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