Politics? On yer bike!

Next Monday a group of (mainly) upper-middle class white men in their late 60s will haul their well fed bulks into a room and try shape the future of cycling policy in the UK. Yes, Monday 2nd September Parliament will debate whether it will support the content of the APPCG's 'Get Britain Cycling' report.
The report - as previously blogged about here - sets target of getting 25 per cent of all journeys undertaken in the UK completed on bikes by 2050 - the year rather than ten to nine.
So what happens when the debate receives resounding backing of Parliament? Are we then freewheeling toward a cycling utopia in the next 35 years?
Well, my prediction is that we're not, no.

There debate will happen and people will say things about cycling and how its great. Patrick McLoughlin will then explain how much funding the government is putting into cycling and how that'll deliver a step change in cycling provision in the country for generations to come. If he actually uses these words I win £5.
In reality, there wont be any more money and the battle is still very much on to reach this conservative target.
So, keep fighting comrades, the roads are ours to shape!

Dawning of a new cycling era?

The newspapers are awash with reports relating to the publication of the APPCG's Get Britain Cycling report - you can read it here if you like.
There are five key recommendations in the report:

• A new priority for investing public funds
• Redesigning our roads, street and communities
• Safe driving and safe speed limits
• Training and education
• Political leadership

All sensible stuff really - with the possible exception of 'redesigning communities' which sounds a bit fascistic to me. 

But, like all of these things, wise words must be met with action. Deeds! Let's hope something does actually happen from the report and we don't find ourselves in the exact same position 20 years down the road when the next 'revolutionary report' is issued.

You can help this come about by signing The Times' petition here.

Can Parliament Get Britain Cycling?

It's a year since The Times picked up the cudgels and decided to campaign for safer cycling in the UK. Only the most mealy-mouthed observer would accuse the paper of commercial opportunism in pursuing this campaign which started after a reporter, Mary Bowers, was knocked off and almost killed while riding to work.
As you might expect, the campaigning weight of a, some say the, national newspaper has taken the debate into the the arena where change can be affected: parliament.
Earlier in the year when Times editor James Harding and Jon Snow from Channel 4 news addressed the transport select committee, they provided a very robust argument on both the why and what of future cycling in the UK.
Now, Parliament has taken things a step further with the announcement that the All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group is holding an inquiry to '...examine the barriers which are preventing more people cycling in the UK.'

APPCG lead out team

This inquiry is going to be vital in shaping the future direction of cycling strategy and I'd encourage everyone with the faintest interest in cycling to respond to the Group's call for evidence.
You can do this via The Times' online survey if you like and can ignore the inherent London-centric questioning (take my bike on the Tube?).
The deadline for submissions is December 5 2012 with the final report, which will be written by Prof Phil Goodwin from Bristol Uni, published in mid-April 2013.
Get involved.