#BikeIsBest Advocacy Digest - Edition No.07
#BikeIsBest Digest Edition No. 7 | Wednesday, March 30th 2022 | View in browser
Hello and welcome to your health-giving, free-roaming, get-on-your-biking newsletter. As the cost of living crisis bites, cycling remains the most cost-effective and healthy way to get around. It just needs safe routes to help people do it.
CAN CYCLING SAVE THE WORLD?
We at #BikeIsBest obviously think so, and this week there’s more news that suggests we could be right - from Sir Chris Whitty declaring cycling as vital in the fight for good health, to a public health declaration in Scotland, to inspiration from the Netherlands, where children are all but born on their bicycles. There’s also a reminder we’ve a way to go for women to feel safe cycling.
BIG STORIES FOR CYCLING ADVOCACY
WHITTY RIPOSTE
The Government’s Chief Medical Officer, Sir Chris Whitty, told the Local Government Association “the idea that the UK is a country you can't actually do cycling is clearly incorrect,” praising councils’ imaginative cycling and walking infrastructure during the early stages of the pandemic, and urging more of the same for our pandemic-hampered health.
CYCLING MINISTER SETS SIGHTS ON LEAST SEEN
Many people, not least women, avoid cycling on Britain’s roads for fear of traffic - and the cycling minister admits she’s among them, at least where her children are concerned. Her solution: focus on helping women, disabled people and kids cycle more with better infrastructure, including in rural areas.
BICYCLES, BICYCLES EVERYWHERE
Big brands hire visual merchandisers to help make their products desirable in windows. It’s interesting how many use bicycles to sell an aspirational lifestyle. Bike Pretty’s Melissa Davies offered her thoughts on this a while back, saying “advertisers know bikes mean freedom for their target customers”. And unlike lots of marketing, it’s actually an attainable aspiration for many. We just have to re-shape our streets.
MOBILE PHONE DANGER OVER?
Many of us will be relieved that a mobile phone loophole permitting phone use for ‘non-interactive’ purposes, like games and, er, calculator functions, is now closed. Drivers are much less likely to see cyclists and pedestrians if distracted by their phones.
LIFE AFTER FREE HOSPITAL CAR PARKING
With the government announcing an end to free hospital car parking, introduced during the pandemic, it’s a good time to look beyond the hysteria and remember the true cost of car-centric planning. Research associate (and tricycle mayor) Harriet Larrington-Spencer, and consultant Matthew Jackson from Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, set out in 2020 why facilitating healthier, more equitable forms of transport, and considering differently the sacrifices of NHS staff, is a healthier approach for everyone.
OTHER HEADLINES
CURBING TRAFFIC LIKE THE DUTCH
The Dutch Cycling Embassy’s Chris Bruntlett talks to a US audience about how the Netherlands got its bike lanes - and it isn’t just ‘culture’ or ‘no hills’. It’s from January but it’s still a good explainer of how a cycling revolution happens, we think - and how lessons from Holland apply today.
NEVER STOP LEARNING
Each year, #BikeIsBest conducts research studies aimed at learning more about one of cycling's biggest potential audiences; The interested but concerned. Our latest study shows the level of importance potential female cyclists put on safety. Our research is reserved for partners only and is one of many benefits of getting involved. Get in touch to learn about how you might support #BikeIsBest and help get more bums on bikes.
Get in touch
INTERESTING GRAPHIC OF THE WEEK
Having experienced a close pass operation with the police myself recently, I know how reassuring it is that officers are out on the roads educating drivers - it means any cyclist could be a police officer.
ACTIVE TRAVEL PHRASE OF THE WEEK; ROAD SPACE REALLOCATION
According to an evidence review by Public Health Scotland road space reallocation - transferring space from motor traffic to cycling and walking - can benefit the health of local communities. It does this by reducing overall traffic volume, improving air quality, and cutting emissions, as well as more trips potentially walked, cycled and wheeled. As we said: saving the world.
Until next time,
Founder, #BikeIsBest
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