Views & Briefings

CTC's campaigning focuses on six core themes: commitment to cycling; designed for cycling; off-road access; promotion and encouragement; safe drivers and vehicles; and public transport.

Our campaigns briefings cover a range of topics relating to these six core themes. You can access the whole list below, or filter according to a core theme. Each briefing starts with a set of headline messages, designed to help anyone who needs a quick summary of the topic in question. This is followed by CTC’s formal policy (CTC View), as approved by the elected members of CTC Council; detailed key facts and arguments; and other background information.

The campaigns briefings series is gradually replacing the policies published in CTC’s original Policy Handbook (2004).

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15 May 2013 - 3:13pm

Cycling and the economy

Cycling contributes significantly to local and national economies.

3 April 2013 - 1:08pm

Traffic police and other enforcement agencies

More effective traffic policing is crucial for cyclists, and also helps tackle one of the biggest fears that many others have about taking up cycling in the first place - namely, bad driving...

12 March 2013 - 12:20pm

Cycle-friendly employers (CTC views)

Doing everything possible to encourage employees to commute by cycle and to cycle for work purposes helps improve the health and productivity of a workforce, lowers the cost of business transport and eases congestion at peak time.

25 January 2013 - 11:11am

Bridleways, byways and cycle tracks (England & Wales)

Closing the gaps for cycling in public rights of way and improving maintenance and signing, would encourage more people to cycle off-road...

24 January 2013 - 4:28pm

Local Access Forums (England & Wales)

Local Access Forums (set up by local authorities to bring together people and groups interested in public rights of way) should work towards developing the network for cycling...

5 December 2012 - 9:38am

Cyclists' behaviour and the law

Cyclists should behave responsibly and legally, but the law should recognise that they do little harm and should not have to choose between keeping safe and obeying rules...

26 November 2012 - 4:53pm

Taxis and private hire vehicles

If your cycle breaks down, or it's late at night - or you're just too tired to complete your journey - knowing that you can take your bike the rest of the way by taxi can be a very reassuring thought...

12 October 2012 - 1:20pm

Cycle-friendly design and planning: Overview

CTC's vision is to see people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities feeling able to cycle safely and confidently for all types of journey. Designing - or re-designing - neighbourhoods, town centres and road networks to cater properly for them is essential...

3 October 2012 - 10:57am

Public Footpaths (England & Wales)

Cycling on footpaths is illegal, but many are entirely suitable and form good links. Opening them up to cyclists would enhance the network of motor-traffic free routes...

27 September 2012 - 11:20am

Health and cycling

Cycling is good exercise and it's easy to fit into the daily routiine. If more people took it up, it could help ward off the health crises facing the NHS...

5 September 2012 - 12:45pm

Climate change

Cycling is part of the solution for a low-carbon future...

31 July 2012 - 4:04pm

Cycle-friendly schools and colleges (CTC views)

Schools and colleges should encourage cycling because it's good both for children and for the local and wider environment.

7 June 2012 - 2:23pm

Seaside cycling: the coast, promenades and sea fronts (England & Wales)

A good proportion of the English and Welsh coast could be safely and beneficially opened up for cycling...

6 June 2012 - 2:51pm

Advanced Stop Lines (ASLs)

Advanced stop lines are an excellent way of giving cyclists visible priority at junctions, where around 70% of cyclists' collisions occur. Good design is crucial, of course.

6 June 2012 - 2:39pm

Pedestrians

Even in crowded conditions, cyclists are perfectly able to mix harmoniously with pedestrians and, contrary to popular belief, they are not a major danger to them.

20 April 2012 - 3:58pm

Cycle helmets

CTC is not anti-helmet and does not take sides on whether or not it is a good idea for individual cyclists to wear them. However, there is no justification for making helmet-wearing compulsory - it could undermine levels of cycle use and, in any case, the effectiveness of helmets is far from clear.

13 April 2012 - 11:05am

Road maintenance and lighting

Cyclist reporting defect to CTC's www.fillthathole.org.uk

All road users benefit from good road maintenance and effective lighting. Cyclists, however, suffer more than most from defects in the surface, and councils don't always light cycle paths.

12 April 2012 - 1:58pm

Cycle parking (Campaigning view)

It goes without saying that when people cycle somewhere, most of them will need a secure, convenient place to lock their bike for a while when they get there. Lampposts, railings or gutter pipes are simply not good enough.

11 April 2012 - 11:39am

Cycle lanes, tracks and shared use footways

Cycle lanes, cycle tracks or shared use footways separate cyclist from traffic to varying degrees. Are they always a good thing?

10 April 2012 - 3:02pm

Vehicle restricted areas (VRAs)

A town or city centre that restricts motor vehicles helps create an attractive environment for walking and cycling. Visitors, shoppers and residents usually feel the benefits too. Exempting cyclists is unlikely to cause problems because they tend to ride slowly or dismount when it gets crowded.

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