https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/zuvvi/media/bc_files/campaigning/20160901_Theresa_May_letter.pdf
This 'debate' started on a different thread -
http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=15760&page=93#post-229277
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!
Great Britain Cycling Team athletes' letter to Theresa May
(34 posts)-
Posted 7 years ago #
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Get the arguments on the other page, but believe the athletes intervention is welcome, but could be more potent when working in tandem with existing campaigning groups.
They will have access to Politicos that the man in the street can only dream of and if they use it to pass a message that cycling should be for everyone, then great. This will also get more media coverage. Chris Boardman will be key in this.
Posted 7 years ago # -
(Reposted)
"I don't think it should be dismissed as the usual legacy guff"
I think the London Olympics and the Glasgow CG, have demonstrated that any "legacy" that involves more people doing sport or even general exercise is mostly (at best) wishful thinking.
Olympic medals will inspire some young people to aim for the same.
Whether they have the (local) facilities, competent/dedicated coaching, parental and peer group support, personal 'drive' (obsession?), financial support at key periods, and some degree of talent are whole other issues.
High level/elite sport is about (a mix of) talent, (support) team, dedication, money (state/Lottery/family/commercial/other), luck, spectacle, entertainment and national prestige.
It's a long time since the Olympics were "amateur". The inclusion of golf, football and well paid pro cyclists demonstrates that clearly.
Whether individuals do it for themselves, family/community/country, fame or fortune varies between people - and probably over time too.
It doesn't matter if the original or final aim is a medal or a pro sports contract or money from endorsements or advertising or a commentating career.
That's all sport - for its own sake (and the above) and also entertainment.
So that's for the (mostly) passive enjoyment of others, some of whom may aspire to be sports stars, pop stars or 'reality' TV participants. A few will 'follow their dreams', and a tiny number will succeed.
Politicians will focus on the latter and try to track back to the point where some sort of government intervention/policy got the 'winner' started.
This is naive or completely disingenuous (or perhaps just misguided wishful thinking).
The great thing about this letter is that it is by people who have succeeded and who know that 'copy me' messages are pointless.
Messages of 'do a bit of sport/activity and you/society will be better' are mostly stupid.
ActiveTravel isn't about sport - except in the most marginal sense, but these successful sports people know how important it is for it to be made simple for people to get 'casual' exercise in a car dominated world.
That child walking or cycling to school has more chance of becoming an 'athlete' than their less fit carbound friends, but it doesn't matter if they ever do.
Sport is for participitants and spectators.
Being able to get around easily and safely is for everyone.
Posted 7 years ago # -
50 sec vid
"
British Cycling (@BritishCycling)
01/09/2016, 10:00
. @Chris_Boardman explains why Olympians want investment from the government in every-day cyclinghttp://pic.twitter.com/QCFvBznsYk
"
Posted 7 years ago # -
I'm going to post the whole letter here, as I did on the original thread:
- the letter hardly mentions sports cycling, it is all the usual good stuff about transport and health and safely that we (or some of us) on here could spout in our sleep..."Dear Prime Minister,
The Great Britain cycling team athletes topped the cycling medal table for the third Olympic Games in a row at Rio 2016. It was a truly outstanding performance and enhances Britain’s status as the world’s leading elite cycling nation.
You were widely reported in the media as saying that there will be “no limits” on the honours that could be bestowed on our medal winners. But the best way to honour the achievements of our athletes would be a legacy of every-day cycling in this country – a place where cycling is the choice form of transport for people to get around in their daily lives.
Your predecessor called for a “cycling revolution” and your government’s manifesto sets out a target to “double” the number of journeys cycled. While some steps have been made, cycling is still a transport mode which does not enjoy the government investment or political leadership given to roads, rail or aviation.
The government is now considering feedback on the draft Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy (CWIS). We urge the government to publish this and set out a timeline to address the chronic underfunding and lack of leadership which is keeping cycling for transport in the slow lane. Only networks of segregated cycle lanes in towns and cities across the country can achieve and influence growth.
The success of the CWIS will be felt not only across government but in all areas of the nation’s life.
The government’s sports strategy seeks to extend the number of people living physically active lives and could be truly transformative. Active travel – walking and cycling – is the easiest way for people of all ages to fit physical activity into their lives. Currently, only one in five people achieve the recommended levels of physical activity.
Around one in three children is overweight or obese. The government’s childhood obesity strategy recognises the value of physical activity and the importance of walking and cycling to school. I am sure you know that this will seem a fanciful idea for most parents without the convenient walking and cycling routes which would give them the confidence that their children will be safe getting to school. Yet we know it can be achieved – in the Netherlands, 50% of education-age children cycle to school.
As cities like Copenhagen and New York have shown, cycling also creates better places to live and work. More cycling cuts congestion, reduces noise pollution and fuels local economies. Small businesses in New York have seen a 49% increase in business where cycle lanes have been installed.
There is huge latent demand for cycling. Two thirds of people would cycle more if they felt safer on the roads. The government’s road safety statement reiterates the manifesto commitment to reduce the number of cyclists killed or injured. The CWIS needs to set targets to improve road maintenance, enhance enforcement of the laws, and update the rules of the road to better consider the needs of cyclists.
To make this happen, we need 5% of the government’s transport spend allocated to cycling. This is the only way that cycling will be integrated into transport strategy and given the priority it deserves.
Investment in cycling as a form of transport isn’t purely an investment in cycle lanes. It is an investment that will pay off for the nation’s health, wealth, transport infrastructure and the vibrancy of our towns and cities. It has the added benefit of just making it easier for ordinary families to get to work and get to school.
Our athletes have inspired the country and now we urge the government to take cycling seriously as a transport option for everyone.
British Cycling’s policy adviser Chris Boardman would welcome a meeting to discuss this further. We look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
Chris Boardman, policy adviser, British Cycling and Olympic gold medalist
Sir Chris Hoy, six-time Olympic gold medallist, joint most successful British Olympian
Laura Trott, four-time Olympic gold medallist and Britain’s most successful female Olympian
Jason Kenny, six-time Olympic gold medallist, joint most successful British Olympian
Mark Cavendish, Olympic silver medallist
Joanna Rowsell Shand, double Olympic gold medallist
Elinor Barker, Olympic gold medallist
Owain Doull, Olympic gold medallist
Becky James, double Olympic silver medallist
Katy Marchant, bronze medallist"Posted 7 years ago # -
Is Callum Skinner writing separately to Nicola Sturgeon?
Posted 7 years ago # -
?
Callum Skinner appears in the British Cycling PDF:"Yours sincerely,
Chris Boardman, policy adviser, British Cycling and Olympic gold medalist
Sir Chris Hoy, six-time Olympic gold medallist, joint most successful British Olympian
Laura Trott, four-time Olympic gold medallist and Britain’s most successful female Olympian
Jason Kenny, six-time Olympic gold medallist, joint most successful British Olympian
Mark Cavendish, Olympic silver medallist
Joanna Rowsell Shand, double Olympic gold medallist
Callum Skinner, Olympic gold and silver medallist
Elinor Barker, Olympic gold medallist
Owain Doull, Olympic gold medallist
Katie Archibald, Olympic gold medallist
Becky James, double Olympic silver medallist
Katy Marchant, bronze medallist"Posted 7 years ago # -
"
The letter was organised by British Cycling, which as well as being a sporting body also campaigns for better everyday bike provision. It pointed out the disparity between Britain’s vast success in sports cycling and the relatively tiny numbers who use bikes for transport, arguing cycling should be treated as consistently and seriously by government as the roads, rail or aviation.
"
Posted 7 years ago # -
Oh. I wonder if I inadvertently deleted Callum Skinner while copying the letter from The Guardian...
<checks>
No. The Guardian had deleted him.Posted 7 years ago # -
"
Martin Key (@martinkeyBC)
01/09/2016, 09:57
"cycle lanes not honours" say Olympians in @thetimeshttp://pic.twitter.com/4c61pn39NC
"
Posted 7 years ago # -
Chris Boardman is a fantastic advocate; it was clever to link the athletes success with decent funding and I hope he long continues. Sadly though I don't think Theresa May will even feel the draught as this letter flies past her. Same with Nicola.
Posted 7 years ago # -
@ih - I feel pretty pessimistic at the moment too. The whole Roseburn fiasco has highlighted just how much like the characters from the Yellow Brick Road some politicians are. I think crowriver pretty much nailed it on the other thread with what he said about cycling, the electorate and Nicola Sturgeon. Adam McVey is too terrified to alienate any potential electorate to do anything courageous, and unfortunately I think we all sensed that from him when he came on Monday.
Somehow though segregated infrastructure did get built in London - is that somewhat due to having a Mayoral system? I think Chris Boardman is a hero, and he definitely speaks "for us" - I'm not sure though how much one can link the medals to the reality of segregated infrastructure for all. There are some olympians who have said some things which have actively hindered the image of cycling being an everyday normal activity after all.
Posted 7 years ago # -
There are some olympians who have said some things which have actively hindered the image of cycling being an everyday normal activity after all.
*cough* Bradley Wiggins *cough*
Posted 7 years ago # -
" - is that somewhat due to having a Mayoral system?"
If you look at places where there has been a real step change, they do seem to be associated with one passionate person who is in a position of executive power and takes the risk to do something. So we had the mayor of Gröningen back whenever, then in England London and Leicester have made big strides, in New York there was Janet Sadik-Khan, in Bogota there was someone (whose name I always forget) who revolutionised public transport. It does seem that the standard committee type approach to city government doesn't achieve change. I'd love to hear of counter examples and how they did it.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Enrique Peñalosa - current Mayor - previously Mayor and now re-elected. PoP use one of his quotes in their manifesto. I have attempted to contact him for a message to support PoP several times, but it is hard to get past whoever controls his e-mail/social media...
Posted 7 years ago # -
It's a good effort. I don't think it will make much difference politically, but I do wonder if it could cause a small positive shift in the perception of cyclists and cycling in general.
There's a perennial problem that any popular discussion on cycling infrastructure can be shut down be pulling out the old cliches of cyclists as a deluded minority of law breaking vandals and eco-nutters. (c.f. recent events in Roseburn Vasey*).
*(c) EdinburghCyclingTraining
Posted 7 years ago # -
@urchaidh - although if you noticed the comments (yes, yes I know) from the EEN, we are simultaneously eco-nutters, law-breaking vandals and now also trendy bible-class teachers.
Posted 7 years ago # -
" ... could cause a small positive shift in the perception of cyclists and cycling in general."
What might cause a positive shift is if we could get some 'celebs' from any background (perhaps not from the cycling world already) to be seen just doing some ordinary stuff in ordinary clothes on a bike. It would increase the coolness of cycling. Not set up as a photo opp, just casually out and about on a bike. Someone would take a photo.
Posted 7 years ago # -
I'm sceptical that this letter will achieve much simply because the person to whom it is addressed is currently dealing with the worst political crisis in our countr(y/ies) since the Suez debacle. I don't think she or anyone with any access to her at all has so much as a second to deal with bicyclism.
That said, I'm usually wrong about most things. What objective tests might we set for the letter having been a success? How about 5% of all the transport budgets – revenue and capital – allocated to cycling within an overall 10% of the budgets to active travel by 2018?
Posted 7 years ago # -
I wonder if the Olympians are aware of the price of communicating with the Prime Minister?
Posted 7 years ago # -
"
This week, a group of ten UK Olympic cycling medallists, led by the great Chris Boardman, wrote to the Prime Minister with the sensible suggestion that instead of talking vaguely about the inspirational legacy of Britain’s Olympic success, the UK government should actually commit itself to spending 5 per cent of its transport budget on cycling. Yet in a way, this seemed almost like a phenomenon from an earlier age – people actually achieving something, and then using their well-earned fame to campaign for a good cause; while most of our celebrities achieve very little in the first place, and then use their empty glitter-ball of fame only as a self-perpetuating source of income.
"
Posted 7 years ago # -
Maybe Joyce could become SNP spokesperson for cycling?
Prof on the radio just there asking for a new clean air act as diesel cars on the roads now as polluting as coal fires in the 1950s
Posted 7 years ago # -
empty glitter-ball of fame
Good point. I wonder what Paris Hilton is up to these days?
Posted 7 years ago # -
I don't like the over focus on segregated infrastructure. Sounds too like the Scotsman comments bampots arguing that cyclists should not be on 'their' roads. Also makes cycling sound like something for the idealised future, not the here and now. Step one should be to tame the routine daily flouting of the law by drivers. That would help everyone, while making cycling much safer and more pleasant.
Posted 7 years ago # -
"It's a good effort. I don't think it will make much difference politically"
I suppose it depends whether any or all of the Olympians refuse an honour until TM makes some sort of positive response.
Imagine an Honours List with medals for all sports except cycling...
Posted 7 years ago # -
"I don't like the over focus on segregated infrastructure. Sounds too like the Scotsman comments bampots arguing that cyclists should not be on 'their' roads. Also makes cycling sound like something for the idealised future, not the here and now. Step one should be to tame the routine daily flouting of the law by drivers. That would help everyone, while making cycling much safer and more pleasant."
I strongly agree. Very disheartening thinking about what would be required to achieve this.
Posted 7 years ago # -
"I don't like the over focus on segregated infrastructure. Sounds too like the Scotsman comments bampots arguing that cyclists should not be on 'their' roads
...
Step one should be to tame the routine daily flouting of the law by drivers."
In a rational world it would be better - and cheaper - to get the police to do a bit more enforcement (followed by a lot more enforcement.)
A few years ago 'segregated cycle routes' was not much more than something for 'cycling factions' to fall out about.
Now due to London Cycle Campaign and PoP (and others) things are changing/happening.
Until Governments scale back on big roadbuilding schemes and actually take 'active travel' seriously, a few slightly expensive schemes are what we have.
The result WILL be more people cycling and (I presume) therefore more people expecting better. That won't be segregated infrastructure on every street, but if they are on more main roads along with lots of local schemes that will be progress.
Posted 7 years ago # -
I suspect this letter will be quickly forgotten.
Proper cycling infrastructure means taking away space from cars. There are more drivers than cyclists, so isn't cycling infrastructure a vote loser?
About 25 years ago, I heard someone say politicians are followers, not leaders. Their job is to do what it takes to get re-elected. And that means, in Scotland at least, pandering to drivers.
chdot's idea/wish/dream that all the cyclists who signed this letter turn down honours as a protest could help change the culture on this. (And those that have honours, hand them back.)
It would be beautiful, but it's not going to happen.
Posted 7 years ago # -
"chdot's idea/wish/dream that all the cyclists who signed this letter turn down honours as a protest could help change the culture on this."
I'm not overly optimistic either, but I presume CB did a bit more than say to a euphoric bunch of young people 'sign here and it'll change the world'.
TM "no"
Olympic medal winners "ok, just give us our Honours".
Posted 7 years ago #
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