Moving cycling into the mainstream

Cycle campaigning is hard work, yet can be very rewarding.

It is important that we look at our achievements and measure how close they come to the true potential for cycling in these days of increasing fuel prices and concern about the environment.

If we do this then we must come to the conclusion that despite government guidelines to implement Local Transport Plans that encourage cycling, almost all national and local targets are being under-achieved and have not persuaded the British public to actually use their bikes or allow their children to cycle to school in any substantial numbers! 

In spite of this, our involvement with the public tells us that there is a huge desire to cycle, especially if this can be done off the carriageway. Parents, children and adults all want to cycle, but so many are too frightened to take the step of cycling on our roads today. It is this “fear of the roads” that we as cycle campaigners often refuse to accept. We try to persuade the fearful with arguments that cycling is relatively safe. 

This unfortunately is not convincing. People do not run off to get their bikes out of the garage. We fail. We must admit that we are failing and try to work out why this is so, before we can start to use the arguments that will win people over to cycling.  

Compared to other countries we have some of the most pro-vehicle  and anti pedestrian/cyclist legislation in Europe. To think that we can increase cycling without addressing the cause of people’s fears in our society is self-delusion. 

Rather than working to gradually expand the small number of cyclists on the road, we must move towards radical ideas that can adjust our society to the values that can provide the harmonious use of roads for all users. This has already been achieved in many of our continental towns. Only through this can we “break through” from being seen as a marginalised pressure group and put cycling into the mainstream. 

We must be clearer in our own objectives and the mechanisms by which they can be reached. We must very objectively ditch any activities which only produce marginal results and concentrate on the bigger picture. Too often we have fought battles with Highway Engineers who, regardless of professional views, do not have the political backing to deliver what we may aspire to. Instead of spending so much time on such “lost causes” we must concentrate our efforts in politics and society on changing the attitude towards sharing our roads. Independent mobility must become a Basic Right for All People in our society regardless of whether they own cars. 

This is not as difficult as it may sound, but does need a complete move away from acting as a pressure group for current cyclists and instead working to create a better environment for society as a whole. We must understand how childhood independence, congestion, social inclusion, health, driving stress and pollution can all be directly effected by changing our approach to sharing our roads more equitably . The winners must not be exclusively the cyclists, but society as a whole.  

Only then will we have the necessary legitimacy and representation to increase cycling to the levels to which we aspire. Only then will society reap the benefits in terms of improvements to the Environment, Personal Health, Social Inclusivity and even reduced traffic congestion.

	Warrington Cycle Campaign has over 200 members and is committed to making better use of the roads for all sectors of the community. Our main objectives are:- A safer environment by the adoption of a 20mph speed limit in all urban areas On-road cycle training for all children Better account taken for the needs of cyclists at road junctions and roundabouts Responsible cycling - using lights at night and respecting pedestrians Take a look at their website to view topical issues, etc
	20's Plenty For Us provides a wide range of resources, information and material for local 20's Plenty campaigners. These include many mixed groups where cyclists and pedestrians are working together for lower speed limits where people live.
	Cyclenation (formerly Cycle Campaign Network) works to create a nation of cycle friendly communities and is the federation of local cycle campaigns with nearly 90 such campaigns throughout the UK.
	CTC - the UK's national cyclists' organisation, are the country’s largest group of people on bikes. Their mission is to make cycling enjoyable, safe and welcoming for all. Their work includes high-profile campaigning on behalf of all cyclists.

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