TELL US YOUR THOUGHTS FEATURE
“I AM NOT HAPPY TO LEAD RIDES AS A VOLUNTEER FOR SHELL TO PROMOTE THEIR SO CALLED GREEN AGENDA AND THEREFORE ASSIST IN ADVERTISING THEM”
advertising them,” said Jowett. “I would sooner pay for the clothing and training myself. Not sure what BC are thinking of.”
Forward-looking strategy Some people have however noted the potential the partnership could lead to increased participation in cycling, which would then benefit the industry. Nick O’Brien, Grupetto Italia, London said: “As a long standing British Cycling member my thoughts on hearing of BC partnering with Shell was initially, (as with so many other recent announcements) it’s just another nail in the coffin of an organisation fast losing touch with their memberships’ needs... “However on reflection the relationship could, if
one of the main reasons this planet is potentially becoming uninhabitable for future generations. “No matter how many green initiatives they launch,
they are still heavily involved in extracting fossil fuels for many years to come, and for BC to get into bed with them is beyond belief. I have been a member for nearly 10 years, that membership is now cancelled.” Ian Cation, manager of Escape Bike Shop in Ingleton,
North Yorkshire, said it’s a ‘strange’ partnership. “I would have thought anyone with cycling at heart would never think an allegiance with an oil company would look good,” said Cation.
“I think if it is purely short term cash injecting then
great but Shell will have eyes on manipulating cycling for their own good and not the benefit of cycling as a sport or general form of transport and lifestyle choice. British Cycling needs to come forward and clarify how they came to decide the partnership has long term benefits and will promote its work with out contradicting the ethos of the organisation. “I think the general social media public reaction I have
read is a clear indication no one is really thinking real world good will come out of the deal.” Business owner Louise Jowett, who is a Breeze champion and leads rides for women on a voluntary basis, is ‘very surprised and not happy’ by the parternership. To date, Jowett said the rides have been sponsored by HSBC and clothing etc have shown this. “I am not happy to lead rides as a volunteer for Shell to promote their so called green agenda and therefore assist in
8 | August 2022 November 2022
developed carefully, be the best thing that happened to cycling in the UK since the 2012 Olympics in terms of increasing participation and growing opportunities over the coming years – all of which is obviously going to benefit our cycling industry and more importantly many of the environmental targets BC have mentioned. “By carefully nurturing new and existing programmes both parties stand to benefit if its handled properly. Neither organisation will have jumped into this agreement without considering the backlash and obvious negativity associated with mixing zero emission transport, sport and a global oil giant. “Shell aren’t blinkered, they know the value of getting it right and the risk of getting it wrong for BC is too high, so they’ll have to deliver on their Limitless programme and performance targets and we’ll all be a little better off.” Royce Murphy, cycling coach and bike fitter, Berkshire, said the major energy companies are the largest investors in green technology, and that needs to be recognised and supported. “To look at their history and condemn their forward-looking strategy is short sighted,” said Murphy. “The world is moving toward becoming carbon neutral, so any energy giant today that wants to be an energy giant in the future needs to shift toward green sources of energy. Shell is doing that, and it should be supported.” A spokesperson for charity Cycling UK gave BikeBiz:
“It’s not Cycling UK’s place to comment on British Cycling’s choice of partners. Our job is to make the UK a better place for cycling, to demonstrate how cycles are a machine to fight climate change, to help make cycling more accessible for more people – and we’re able to continue this work thanks to the support of our members.” British Cycling declined to offer further comment when approached by BikeBiz. ●
www.bikebiz.com
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
