#BikeIsBest Advocacy Digest - Edition No.04
#BikeIsBest Digest Edition No. 4 | Wednesday, March 9th 2022 | View in browser
Good morning and welcome to this week’s #BikeIsBest newsletter. Enjoying the newsletter? Let us know! Not enjoying the newsletter? Tell us how we can make it better.
On the week of International Women’s Day, we’ve got a few interesting reads for you below. So much of the cycling and transport industries have traditionally been dominated by men; at #BikeIsBest we’re determined to redress the balance and help the cycling industry better serve the needs of women. Later this week, we’ll be launching our Women’s Cycling Survey to our partners - based on the responses of more than 7,400 women.
BIG STORIES FOR CYCLING ADVOCACY
This week saw #IWD22 and it’s an important reminder that in cycle-friendly countries like the Netherlands, women make more cycling trips than men, and there’s no reason we can’t achieve that, too. This week there’s IWD rides, from London to Edinburgh. There’s even a virtual event for women in the US, Together We Ride, that anyone can join, riding a mile or 100 miles where they are.
CYCLING TO GENDER EQUALITY
While the pandemic saw more women take to pedal power, we’re a way from gender equality in cycling. Intelligent Transport talks with Lime’s Shari Shapiro on some research and initiatives around women’s access to micromobility.
CYCLING TO THE RESCUE?
As oil prices continue to rise due to war in Ukraine, campaigners are highlighting active travel as a cost-effective alternative to private car trips. In the Guardian this week, we’re also reminded that getting rid of our private cars, and walking and cycling more, is one way to cut personal carbon emissions.
BRUSSELS SPROUTS SAFE STREETS
In Brussels cycling grew 20% on top of the city’s 2020 64% bike boom growth, and road fatalities have plummeted by 50%. Now the city plans to massively expand its low traffic zone in August, akin to Ghent’s ‘circulation plan’. Brussels is an anomaly in Belgium, as the rest of the country is heavily reliant on cars for everyday trips - but across the country commutes are just 20km, falling to 14.5km in the capital region, according to the European Cyclists’ Federation.
DESTINATION: LJUBLJANA
The annual Velo-city programme has launched. This year’s event will take place in the Slovenian capital 14-17 june and topics range from gender equality to regional cycling connectivity to cargo bikes and data. Early bird tickets available until 14 March.
NEW #BIKEISBEST RESEARCH COMING SOON
Each year we conduct several research projects of benefit to cycling and the wider industry. We'll be launching our latest Women's Cycling Survey later this week to partners. Next week, we'll release a Rapid Evidence Assessment on E-Bikes, spelling out the case for e-bike subsidies to reach our climate change and health goals. Our work is supported by industry partners and we'd love to welcome more. If this sounds like you, please:
Get in touch
EUROPEAN CITIES “NOT EVEN CLOSE” TO GREEN TRANSITION
While some cities are making substantial progress on cycling, a new study from the Clean Cities Campaign says there’s still a long way to go in Europe to meet climate-friendly mobility targets, with no major European city on track to sufficiently cut transport emissions by 2030.
STARLEY WOULD BE PLEASED
The Starley family were titans of the early cycling industry. And today, work continues on the Binley Cycleway in Coventry, which is on my patch as West Midlands Cycling and Walking Commissioner. Part of the region's Starley network, this is a small but exciting piece of the puzzle of the kind of safe cycling and walking network every region needs to shift car journeys to active travel.
INTERESTING GRAPH OF THE WEEK
Not so much a graph, in fact nowhere near a graph, but a handy map explaining Brussels’ circulation plan. The city will be split into segments, into which drivers can enter but cannot drive through as a short-cut. This reduces circulating traffic and makes streets safer, cleaner and quieter for everybody else.
These cyclists - and wheelchair users, runners and scooter riders - certainly seem to be enjoying Brussels’ streets.
Source: https://www.bruzz.be/mobiliteit/dit-het-plan-voor-een-autoluwe-vijfhoek-2022-02-17
ACTIVE TRAVEL WORD(S) OF THE WEEK; ENERGY SECURITY
Traditionally about securing energy at an affordable price, reducing reliance on fossil fuels is another great way of saving oil for when we need it. Of course, the bicycle delivers on that front. Thanks to Matthew Baldwin, EU coordinator for road safety and sustainable urban mobility, and Deputy General at the European Commission for sharing.
Until next time,
Founder, #BikeIsBest
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