#BikeIsBest Advocacy Digest - Edition No.08

#BikeIsBest Digest Edition No. 8 | Wednesday, April 6th 2022 | View in browser

Hello and welcome to April in active travel. Spring has sprung, despite what this week’s weather is telling us, and little e-bikes are bouncing about like newborn lambs in the fields. Sort of.

CARS DOWN, EBIKES UP?

Not quite - but we are reminded this week of the pent-up demand to drive less, and walk and cycle more - we only need the right conditions to help people do it. 

BIG STORIES FOR CYCLING ADVOCACY

BABY, YOU CAN RID ME OF MY CAR

A new IPSOS poll found 71% of people support measures encouraging more walking or cycling, instead of driving, and 44% want to cycle more than they currently do. It’s a familiar story. However, with 71% agreeing they need a car to support their lifestyle, and many people saying it’s too dangerous, or they aren’t the type of person to cycle, there’s a way to go to deliver on giving people the choice to leave the car for some journeys. 

DON’T LET ME DOWN

Speaking of which. Our attempts to tackle energy consumption aren’t working, the Centre for Research into Energy Demand Solutions report concludes. While some energy use, such as leisure travel, is personal choice, things like the school run are determined by infrastructure, and the allocation of road space, and yet “the government still treats these systemic determinants as if they are simply matters of consumer choice”, researchers say.

BE IN OUR NEXT AD?

The next #BikeIsBest advert “We All Cycle” aims to show the brilliant diversity and variety of people cycling. If you can get to Leicester, London or Birmingham this month and would be up for being featured in our video and billboard ads, please click below (it's paid):

Register your interest

REDUCING CARBON ACROSS THE EU-NIVERSE

Can active travel mitigate climate change? Car travel generates huge CO2 emissions. Researchers asked 4,000 people to log travel diaries across seven European cities, including London. Those who cycled at least daily had, on average, 84% lower carbon footprints than non-cyclists. If one in five people did this we could reduce cars’ carbon emissions across Europe by 8%. 

ALL YOU NEED IS E-BIKES

A new flagship e-bike shop has opened in south-west London, courtesy of our friends at Sigma Sports, reminding us the rise and rise of ebikes continues. It’s perhaps a further sign of growing confidence in the future of a burgeoning cycle market. Has a trickle become a flood yet? Not quite, but it's surely acquired another tributary.

GOOD DAYS FOR SANTANDER CYCLES

The London cycle hire scheme seems to continually break its own records in recent years, and the last six months are no exception, with each month breaking previous months’ hire numbers. London’s Walking and Cycling Commissioner, Will Norman, says he’s determined to keep building on the bike boom.

WHY DON’T WE DO IT IN THE ROAD?

From a few months back, but nonetheless a great reminder of what a bold vision for active transport looks like. Paris will gain 180km (112 miles) of new, permanent protected cycle lanes by 2026, thanks to a 250m Euro budget, Bloomberg’s Feargus O’Sullivan reports, with a tripling of bike parking, and a focus on connecting neighbouring suburbs and the city by cycle. 

OTHER HEADLINES

A DAY IN THE LIFE…OF A CARGO BIKE

Another week, another great story about one person’s love of travelling by cargo bike - this time in Manchester. I carry my kids about as much as possible by pedal power, and they love it - so do I. Not worrying about parking or congestion, are just two of the upsides.

INTERESTING GRAPHIC OF THE WEEK

Another great one from Waltham Forest which, like the city’s cycle hire scheme, also seems to break its own records on a regular basis 

ACTIVE TRAVEL PHRASE OF THE WEEK; CRSTS

CRSTS (City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement) is a 5-year settlement for devolved Mayoral combined authorities. It had an overwhelming focus on active travel and bus and has led to regions like the West Midlands being granted £1.02bn for transport, of which £254m is allocated to schemes to enable active travel.

Until next time,

Founder, #BikeIsBest

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