Transport for London (TfL) and British Cycling have entered into a formal partnership in order to “inspire more people to cycle and to promote enjoyable, safe and responsible cycling”.
TfL says that cycling in London continues to grow rapidly, with the highest ever levels of cycling activity recorded during a four-week period in July/August, 20% higher than the same period last year. Since 2001, there has been a 173% increase in cycling on the TfL road network.
A key element of TfL and British Cycling’s work will be to help new cyclists gain confidence by offering guided cycle rides for people at all levels, from beginner to the more advanced cyclists. The partnership will also aim to encourage people from all backgrounds into cycling, including women, disabled cyclists and black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) groups.
TfL and British Cycling aim to offer almost 10,000 places on guided rides across London in 2014, building on the 3,500 participants in 2013.
Leon Daniels, TfL’s managing director for surface transport, said: “We are looking forward to working even more closely with British Cycling over the coming years. We’ve already worked together on some fantastic events and are pleased to be pooling our expertise to inspire more people to start cycling.
“This cementing of our relationship comes at a time when we are seeing more and more people using pedal power in London.”
Stewart Kellett, British Cycling’s director of recreation and partnerships, said: “British Cycling and Transport for London share the same goal of getting more people riding bikes and this partnership will help us to build on the progress of the last few years.
"Britain is now one of the most successful elite cycling nations in the world and almost seven million people in England are now regularly riding bikes for fun, for sport or as a form of transport. We want to use this inspiration to go even further.”
According to British Cycling website they are “the national governing body for cycling as recognised by the UCI – the international federation for the sport. As such, British Cycling works across all levels and six disciplines of the sport (BMX, mountain bike, cyclo-cross, road, track and cycle speedway), from providing the support and encouragement people need to get riding their bikes for the first time, to being home to the hugely successful Great Britain Cycling Team. There have never been more opportunities to ride a bike, be it for fun or sport and British Cycling is at the heart of this growth.”
Nice to have them on board but let us not forget they are primarily a sports organisation not a road safety one. To get more bums on saddles perhaps they could send all the inquiries they get about club memberships to the local authority to offer training and initial road led rides before they get into pelotons at weekends out and about. Commuters and club riders needs are not the same. Using the concept of getting a sports body involved, maybe we need to get the Motor Sports Association aboard along with Formula 1’s annual road safety message.
Peter Westminster
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