Commitment to Cycling

Inclusive Cycle Forum

By Beccy Marston on 4 April 2012

The Inclusive Cycle Forum is a CTC members' group with a difference because it actively works to support and encourage disabled people to use cycles.

It's not all hard work though - the Inclusive Cycle Forum also meets around the UK for inclusive rides on cycles of all kinds.

Thousands Pedal on Parliament in Scotland

By Cherry Allan on 20 May 2013

Around 4,000 cyclists gathered in Edinburgh on Sunday 19 May and rode to Holyrood to deliver an 8-point manifesto calling for more investment in cycling, slower speeds, and better facilities for cyclists on Scotland’s roads. Peter Hayman, CTC councillor for Scotland, pedalled with them...

"Some dampness and lack of sun", Peter says, "didn't stop an impressive turn out for the Pedal on Parliament (PoP) in Scotland yesterday.

"Last year, PoP was a new and exciting challenge to the Government, and I was up near the front of the action. This year, nearer the back, I saw a striking number of families with young children and what looked like novice cyclists who wanted to join in.

Supporters stretched back further than could be seen at the gathering point, the Meadows in Edinburgh."

Cycling and the economy

By Cherry Allan on 15 May 2013

Cycling contributes significantly to local and national economies.

Headline Messages:

Our excessive dependence on motorised road transport imposes significant economic costs on society. These include congestion, road casualties, physical inactivity and air pollution (and the associated damage to buildings, ecosystems, agriculture and health), as well as the geopolitical costs of maintaining fossil fuel supplies in an increasingly unstable global environment.
Cycling could substantially reduce these risks, while strengthening local economies in both urban and rural areas, supporting local businesses and property values, boosting the economic productivity of a healthy and satisfied workforce, and enabling disadvantaged groups to gain skills and access employment opportunities.
Local and national government, businesses and economic regeneration partnerships should therefore invest more heavily in promoting cycling; and the tax system should offer greater support.

CTC View (formal statement of CTC's policy):

The economic benefits of investing in small scale projects that typically benefit cycling are often underestimated. On the other hand, car-dependence is a significant cost for society and large scale transport projects (e.g. roads) are not the value-for-money they are often thought to be.
Cycling makes a positive contribution to the national economy and it is a cost-effective investment. It can help:
- Reduce congestion;
- Improve public health and save NHS money;
- Create jobs;
- Save employers money and improve productivity;
- Inject money directly into the economy via the cycle trade;
- Boost the vitality of town centres;
- Deliver goods efficiently;
- Lift house prices.
The Treasury should incentivise cycling through:
- Adhering to the principle that 'the polluter pays' as the basis of taxation of transport users;
- Maintaining a tax-free mileage rate that makes cycling on business financially worthwhile;
- Supporting cycle commuting schemes that save businesses and employees tax (e.g. the ‘salary sacrifice’ Cycle to Work scheme);
- Reducing VAT on cycle repairs;
- Working with the European Union on changes to the VAT Directive that would encourage cycling (e.g. zero-rating cycles);
- Maintaining its policy of not taxing cycles for the use of the roads.
Both national and local authorities should dedicate sufficient resources to smarter choices, recognising that they rely on revenue rather than capital funding.
Economics-focused bodies such as Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs), regeneration agencies, developers and retailers should recognise the value of cycling and take action to promote and encourage it.

Download full campaigns briefing:

Cycling and the economy

Publication Date:

May 2013

2001 to 2011 - cyclist numbers change significantly

By Chris Peck on 26 April 2013

The number of people cycling to work has gone up in Britain by 17% from 2001 to 2011. In some areas, cycling is booming, but in others it is declining.

Hull's cycling culture is gradually declining, despite some improvements

I've already mapped the changes in cycle use by share of commuting trips in highway authorities.

Other maps showing the changes by district authority, and other modes, such as the changes in car commuting, are also available.

Get Britain Cycling report recommends £10 per head, per year funding for cycling

By Chris Peck on 23 April 2013

Six weeks of oral evidence, hundreds of written pages, and the report is out. CTC welcomes its publication and urges the Government to implement its 18 recommendations

Chris Boardman, MP Julian Huppert, Dr Sarah Wollaston and Ian Austin

CTC, the national cycling charity, is calling on David Cameron to act on the report, which calls for 10 per cent of journeys in Britain to be made by cycle by 2025 – the current figure is less than 2 per cent.

It has also called for central government spending of at least £10 per head of population per year to boost cycle use, increasing as cycle use rises. London has recently announced plans to spend £12.50 per person per year over the next 10 years, whilst the Dutch are spending around £24 per person per year.

Local cycle use figures show no huge changes in 2012

By Chris Peck on 16 April 2013

New data for cycle use in England show that the Olympic bounce in 2012 perhaps wasn't quite as powerful as commentators at the time thought it might be. But the very fact that the Department is publishing these figures shows that some things are improving.

Half of the population cycle once a month or more in Cambridge

The Department for Transport (DfT) has published its figures for cycling and walking for the period October 2011 to October 2012.

They show that levels of cycling remain more or less unchanged, with some local authorities seeing increases, and others decreases.

Overall, the proportion of people who cycle at least once a month in England remains at 15%, whereas 10% cycle once a week, also unchanged. The proportion cycling 3 times or more per week has risen from 4% to 5% of the population, but the change is not statistically significant.

Put cycling on the National Curriculum

By Chris Peck on 21 March 2013

Although cycling is the third most popular activity amongst children and a crucial life skill, only half of all children have access to good quality Bikeability cycle training. CTC members have urging that all schools provide cycle training as part of the National Curriculum.

Providing Bikeability cycle training is crucial to create a cycling culture

CTC has urged the Department for Education to change the National Curriculum to include provision for child cycle training as part of Key Stages 2-4.

Currently the physical education section mandates that swimming is taught, with the requirement that children learn to swim 25 metres.

Spanish cycling organisations protest against anti-cycling proposals

By Chris Peck on 19 March 2013

An alliance of cycling organisations in Spain has demanded that the Government withdraw proposed anti-cycling measures which threaten to undermine the increase in cycling and deter green tourism. You too can write to the Minister with your comments.

Cycle tourism would be undermined by the proposals

CTC first reported on these concerns at the beginning of March.

Since then the Spanish government has backpedalled on the earlier proposal to prevent children cycling on their own.

However, many negative aspects of the proposals remain:

- Cyclists must wear approved helmets at all times on all roads. The only exception being that professional cyclists, and cyclists in competition or training, will be governed by their own association regulations.

Mayor launches 'Cycling Vision' to "de-Lycrafy" London

By Chris Peck on 7 March 2013

Cycle routes named after tube lines, better cycling infrastructure and increases to cycle parking at mainline stations are some of the proposals in the Mayor of London's Cycling Vision.

Victoria Embankment is one of the routes for which new infrastructure is planned

The Mayor's Vision has been developed in consultation with cycling groups with an accompanying budget of £913m.

He is also keen to make cycling appear more normal, broadening its appeal to a wider cross-section of society.

By the end of the 2016, the Mayor's Cycling Commissioner, Andrew Gilligan, claimed that spending on cycling would be £18 per head per year, roughly the same as is spent in Copenhagen. The aim will be to double cycle use within 10 years.

Ministers conclude 'Get Britain Cycling' inquiry

By Roger Geffen on 4 March 2013

The parliamentary 'Get Britain Cycling' inquiry ended today with evidence from Ministers, first from Wales and then from the UK Government. We now await the All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group's report, which is expected to call for clear leadership from the top of Government.

Norman Baker MP opening a cycle track in his constituency

As the final witnesses at the inquiry, cycling minister Norman Baker and road safety minister Stephen Hammond emphasised the funding they have made available for cycling over the past year, for sustainable transport, cycle-friendly junction improvements, cycle-rail integration and improved cycle route connections.

Commitment to Cycling

Inclusive Cycle Forum

Thousands Pedal on Parliament in Scotland

Cycling and the economy

2001 to 2011 - cyclist numbers change significantly

Get Britain Cycling report recommends £10 per head, per year funding for cycling

Local cycle use figures show no huge changes in 2012

Put cycling on the National Curriculum

Spanish cycling organisations protest against anti-cycling proposals

Mayor launches 'Cycling Vision' to "de-Lycrafy" London

Ministers conclude 'Get Britain Cycling' inquiry

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