Commitment to Cycling

Roger Geffen's picture

EU-wide comparison shows GB has poor cycle use and cyclist safety, but we measure this superbly!

By Roger Geffen on 3 September 2012
A new EU-wide comparison of cyclists' safety shows that Britain is among the top countries for measuring cycling . Now we need to make much better use of this information to substantially boost cycle use and improve cyclists' safety.
Cycle counter on the Camel Trail, Cornwall (photo CTC, © Dep't for Transport)

A few days ago I was welcoming new figures now being collected by the Government, through Sport England's Active People Survey, which shows levels of regular and occasional cycle use at a local level.

Roger Geffen's picture

New figures on local cycle use are "a powerful tool for measuring progress"

By Roger Geffen on 30 August 2012
CTC has welcomed new figures showing how much walking and cycling is being done regularly around England by adults. This data, now being collected thanks to CTC's campaigning, will soon prove invaluable for measuring which local authorities are successfully raising cycle use locally.
Commuters in London

Overall, 15% of adults in England cycled at least once a month. Rates were highest in the South East (18%) and lowest in the West Midlands (12%).

Contact Information: 

CTC Press Office
Email: publicity@ctc.org.uk
Telephone: 0844-736-8453

Notes to Editors: 

1. The new figures have been collected through Sport England's Active People Survey. Previously, this survey had specifically excluded cycling that was not sport or recreational cycling. The opportunity was therefore being missed to collect some vitally important data about levels of day-to-day cycle use (e.g. for work, school or shopping trips) via a survey large enough to allow comparisons to be made of cycle use at a local level.

This has now been rectified, thanks to CTC's campaigning. In future years, these data will prove invaluable for showing which authorities are proving successful in their efforts to boost cycle use locally.

2. Local authorities now have a new duty, under the Health and Social Care Act 2012, to take steps to improve the health of their populations. Meanwhile, recent Government guidelines on physical activity recommend that adults should undertake at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity a week. Regular cycling is one of the best ways to enable people to integrate regular physical activity into their day-to-day lives.

3. See also CTC's campaigns briefings on health and on local transport policies to promote cycling.

Anna Cipullo's picture

CTC show off at the Bike Blenheim Palace

By Anna Cipullo on 21 August 2012
Blenheim Palace is home to the 11th Duke and Duchess of Marlborough and his family, and the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. This year, it was home to a festival of cycling, and what a display it was!
CTC Anna at Bike Blenheim Palace 2012

The field in front of the palace was lined with stalls showcasing bicycles of all varieties and accessories of many purposes. Animal Bike tour offered a feast for the eyes performing tricks, stunts and somersaults on their bikes throughout the Saturday and a vintage bike carnival toured through the grounds on the Sunday. A favourite London and Bristol-based cycling café Look Mum No Hands supplied bacon baguettes and sumptuous cakes amongst tables of cycle-related posters, prints, caps and collectables.

Gordon Seabright's picture

A golden legacy for cycling?

By Gordon Seabright on 14 August 2012
There’s a lot of talk at the moment about securing a legacy to follow the inspirational performances of Team GB’s cyclists at the Olympics. CTC is working hard to make sure that Britain seizes the opportunity.
GB Olympic cyclists. (Photo: Julie Anne Images)

Some of us have already noticed a difference when we’re out and about.  Is it my imagination, or are drivers giving me a little more space on the road, and showing a little more patience when they want to pass?  We know all about the “safety in numbers” effect – the most important thing the Games can do for us is to get more people out on their bikes, and we’ll all benefit from being more visible.  And when many people get back on their bikes they will alter the way they drive – hopefully for good.

Anna Cipullo's picture

Olympic Mountain Biking Display in Swindon

By Anna Cipullo on 13 August 2012
Saturday 11 August saw the Olympic Cross Country Mountain Bike race shown on the Big Screen in Swindon town centre. The BBC Live Site had displayed all 16 days of the Olympic Games, and when they asked me if I wanted to make “a thing” of mountain biking, of course I jumped at the chance.
Anna Cipullo takes on the 500m challenge

On the screen, the ladies of all nations battled it out for Olympic podiums, while on the ground local clubs battle for pride (and a modest medal) in the Watt Bike races.

This, together with the Games on screen, inspired many members of the public to get competitive and try their best to beat the times set out by local clubs. I was one of those attempting to get a good time in the 500 metres sprint, but as you can see from the photo, all I achieved was complete exhaustion and some legs made of jelly.

Anna Cipullo's picture

Olympic inspiration in Swindon

By Anna Cipullo on 13 August 2012
Hundreds of Swindon residents took to the centre of town, usually a bike-free area, to be a part of the Olympic Cross Country Mountain Bike race on Saturday 11August.
Swindon Olympic Mountain Bike Cycling

CTC Cycling Development Officer, Anna Cipullo, cornered off an open square in the centre of town under a BBC Live Site screen as they broadcast the ladies’ Olympic Cross Country Mountain Bike Race.

Unfortunately, our British rider, Annie Last, did not receive a place on the podium, However, that didn't stop competitors in Swindon.

Local clubs battled for the title of Overall Team Winner in the Watt Bike race.

Richard Monk's picture

Essex 2012 Games Legacy

By Richard Monk on 2 August 2012
Twenty families and friends enjoyed a fabulous cycle ride on Saturday, organised by CTC Cycle Champions as part of the Essex 2012 Games Legacy programme.
The long line of cyclists on the Writtle cyclepath
 
We took the large group on a gentle traffic-free cycle ride from Chelmsford to the beautiful village of Writtle. We had glorious sunshine and great company and the Rose and Crown on Writtle Green made us, our bikes and the kids very welcome.

There is another ride this Saturday, leaving 11am from Colchester Leisure World and heading to Layer de la Haye, so invite your friends to join the fun and bring the kids.

Roger Geffen's picture

BMA calls for health to drive transport policy

By Roger Geffen on 20 July 2012
The British Medical Association's hard-hitting new report on Transport and Health calls for traffic restraint, challenging walking and cycling targets, improved provision for walking and cycling, 20mph speed limits, and health sector action to promote active travel. Will the Government take note?
BMA calls for health, not the economy, to drive transport policy

The British Medical Association's report Healthy Transport = Healthy Lives in many ways echoes what the BMA was calling for in its 1997 report on Road Transport and Health. This time though, they have put the spotlight firmly on the economic costs of car-dominated transport policies, and the huge economic benefits of a healthy and sustainable society.

Roger Geffen's picture

Health journal highlights ‘inactivity pandemic’

By Roger Geffen on 13 July 2012
Health journal The Lancet has highlighted a global inactivity “pandemic”, highlighting both the scale of the problem and the evidence of what works to tackle it.

The current issue of The Lancet made headlines with a series of articles, highlighting the mounting worldwide crisis of physical inactivity.

Anonymous's picture

Velo-City Vancouver: a report from the international cycling conference

By Anonymous on 6 July 2012
6 July 2012
The Velo-City conference, held 26-29 June in Vancouver, Canada, featured presentations on recent cycling research, examples of successful programmes and policies to promote cycling, and campaigning news from around the world. By former CTC Campaigns Coordinator Debra Rolfe (now living in Vancouver).
Massed hire bikes for Velo-City Vancouver attendees (credit - ECF)

Velo-City is the annual international cycling conference, and therefore attracts a range of people interested in cycling: campaigners, academics, politicians, planners, traffic engineers, and public health practitioners, amongst others. This truly inter-disciplinary event happened 26 – 29 June this year in Vancouver, Canada.

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