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).

Want to be kept up-to-date with the latest cycling campaigning news? Subscribe to our FREE CycleDigest!

31 May 2013 - 4:44pm

Traffic law and enforcement: Overview

Laws against bad driving and their enforcement should aim to protect all road users, including cyclists, from intimidation and injury.

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...

20 December 2011 - 4:25pm

Road safety and cycling: Overview

'More' as well as 'safer' cycling can and should go hand in hand...

12 June 2013 - 1:50pm

National planning policies

Planning policies and decisions can make all the difference to how people choose to make their journeys - i.e. whether to drive or to travel more sustainably by cycle or on foot.

7 June 2013 - 4:41pm

Cycle helmets

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.

3 June 2013 - 12:01pm

Compensation for injured cyclists

The rules about liability for road crashes need to be changed to make it easier and quicker for cyclists and pedestrians to be compensated if they are injured in collisions with motor vehicles.

31 May 2013 - 4:41pm

Prosecutors and courts

To reinforce the message that driving that endangers other road users is socially unacceptable, prosecutors and courts should not dismiss 'dangerous' driving as merely 'careless'.

31 May 2013 - 4:25pm

The legal framework and sentencing policy

The legal framework and sentencing for driving offences need to reinforce the message that endangering other road users is unacceptable.

15 May 2013 - 3:13pm

Cycling and the economy

Cycling contributes more than many people think 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...

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