20 March 2015

JOINT OPEN LETTER TO PARTY LEADERS CALLING FOR CYCLING TO FORM AN INTEGRATED
PART OF BRITAINS TRANSPORT STRATEGY FOR BUSINESS
cc. Leader of the Conservative Party
cc. Leader of the Labour Party
cc. Leader of the Liberal Democrat Party
cc. Leader of the Scottish National Party
cc. Leader of Plaid Cymru
cc. Leader of the Green Party
cc. Leader of the UK Independence Party
In view of the forthcoming general election, we, the undersigned, representing the
#ChooseCycling network, are writing to urge party leaders to make cycling a priority as
part of an integrated, sustainable, transport strategy for Britain.
There are clear benefits for our staff, our customers and our businesses in putting cycling at
the heart of transport policy. People who cycle regularly have fewer days off sicki, are more
motivated and suffer from fewer of the serious conditions caused by a lack of physical
activity.ii More cycling can help retail businesses on our high streets thrive. Studies in New
York City on the streets where cycling lanes have been installed have seen retail sales go
up by 150%.iii
Cycling to work is good for business and productivity. Around 82% of the 2,500 employees
surveyed by tax-free bike provider Cyclescheme said they felt less stressed after cycling to
or from work and over half said it made them feel more productive. Benefits were also seen
by employers with almost two-thirds saying that promoting cycling among staff is improving
their business. 90% of employers also agreed that it is an important way to reduce their
carbon footprint.
Evidence shows that if people are presented with safe and accessible routes to their place of
work, many of them will make that choice, saving them money, improving their fitness and
cutting their journey time.iv
The latent demand is there, but at present, 65% of people surveyed have said they would
only cycle more if segregated cycle lanes and other cycle-friendly infrastructure were put
in place.v

This is not about cycling, it is about logical, sustainable, every-day transport solutions that
are good for us all. The number of trips currently made by bicycle in England is around 1%.vi
This figure has declined massively since the 1950s due to the huge rise in motor traffic and
demonstrates that if we want to change the way we live we need to design cycling back
into our road network.
Currently funding for cycling is short-term and irregular. Over the past year around 300
million has been allocated to cycling projects in selected locations but this is due to end in
2016. We believe this amounts to around 1% of Britains transport spend.
As a network of British employers, representing millions of customers and employees, we
ask party leaders to ensure that the following commitments form part of their manifestos:
1. Fulfil the requirements of the Infrastructure Act to create an adequate Cycling and
Walking investment strategy with clear and ambitious targets by 2016.
2. Setting a meaningful target, to make cycling account for 10% of all trips by 2025.
3. A commitment to invest 5% of Britains combined transport spend every year into
designing cycling back into our roads and junctions.
4. The creation and distribution of uniform design guidance put together in
consultation with world experts - to be followed by all local authorities by 2016.
We believe in data and the evidence tells us that if we make the space for our employees
and customers to cycle easily and safely, they will. We are happy to do our part but this
transformation can only happen if you, the potential future leaders of this country, lead the
change and get Britain moving.
Sincerely,

Hendriksen, I., et al., The association between commuter cycling and sickness absence; Preventive Medicine, August 2010,
Volume 51, Issue 2, pages 132-135
ii

Martin, A., et al., Does active commuting improve psychological wellbeing? Longitudinal evidence from eighteen waves of
the British Household Panel Survey, Prev. Med. (2014), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2014.08.023 related press
release at
https://www.nice.org.uk/news/article/commuting-by-walking-or-cycling-can-boost-mental-wellbeing
National Institute of Clinical Excellence., Walking and cycling: local measures to promote walking and cycling as forms of
travel or recreation NICE Guidelines [PH41] available at:
http://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ph41/chapter/recommendations#benefits-of-walking-and-cycling
iii

st

Increased retail sales by up to 150% in Measuring the street: New Metrics for the 21 century: New York City
Department for Transport available at http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/2012-10-measuring-the-street.pdf
iv

New Walking and Cycling Routes and Increased Physical Activity: One- and 2-Year Findings From the UK iConnect Study.,
September 2014, Vol 104, No. 9 American Journal of Public Health Goodman et al. available at
http://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/pdf/10.2105/AJPH.2014.302059
v

vi

British Cycling GFK survey

National Travel Survey 2013

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/342160/nts2013-01.pdf