CTC political campaigning

[Graham]

To my mind cycling in the UK has been "saved" from complete marginalisation by two big issues :-

Climate Change - although I prefer the more descriptive term Climate Disruption

Health Issues related to inactivity - at a population level

I choose these two as a necessary simplification because there are inter-twinnings and further ramifications.

Government Spending of our Tax money on measures to increase Cycling appears to be have occurred largely because of of these two hugely significant reasons.
Yep, it is political - at every level.

PS. The anti-cycling vested interests can easily wrestle us back into the margins as an out-group. Stay active and stop this from happening !! Bougez-vous CTC.

[Si]

Often I see it quoted amongst cyclists that what they desire is something akin to the Netherlands - where cycling is seen as a day to day activity for normal people rather than a strange thing done by a minority of hobbyists.

The thing about the Dutch cycling utopia* is that it wasn't achieved by campaigning for cycling, rather the cycling bit was achieved by piggy-backing on other causes a number of which were to do with social welfare. Thus, if we want to 'go Dutch' then it would seem reasonable to campaign for cycling as part of a larger movement that is concerned with getting people more active and healthier, reducing pollution, removing the barriers that isolate communities, allowing kids to play safely in the streets again, etc.

Of course, you might question whether this particular march represents such changes, but if we do want to improve the cyclists' lot then we need to work with others....and if we look back at the protests in the Netherlands in the 1970s it would be easy to identify them as left wing loonies intent on bringing society to its knees...who cares: they achieved what we haven't and have a much better country to cycle in...and strangely enough didn't all turn into revolutionary socialists .



*OK, the Netherlands isn't a cycling utopia, but it's a darn site better than here!

[fishfright]

I've just had a thought, dangerous things thoughts, but has anyone on these forums and been publicised or pressure grouped et al into cycling ?

There is a lot of talk talked and cash spent on ways to encourage more cycle use and in my many years pedaling i can't remember anyone that didnt get into cycling for fun or transport that did so after pressure/encouragement from any cycling group. Its always been for fun, fitness or poverty.

YEMV

[irc]

There is a lot of talk talked and cash spent on ways to encourage more cycle use

I was in Cambridge last week. A small city - 3 miles from outskirts to centre? Flat. Low rainfall. Traffic congestion. Plenty cycle lanes. So cycling is a viable alternative. Much higher use than here in Glasgow. Even there though a small minority of traffic.

More bikes and less cars would be a good thing but facilities alone won't do it. Once people have cars they use them. For most people their work/home/shops etc are far enough apart that cars are just easier. If I lived in central Glasgow I'd consider going car free. Where I am 7 miles north of the city centre it's a 90min cycle to work with one or two unpleasant sections of road. I'd need two full rear panniers to carry gear back and forth. The car gets me there in 25 mins. No contest. When I often do 12 hour shifts I'm not going to add an extra 2 hours to my commute.

When my neighbour used to drive to work 500 metres away from her house ..... when cars are an alt to a 5 minute walk we have problems.

[gaz]

".... I would prefer to remain in an apolitical CTC which simply focuses on cycle touring."

The CTC is not apolitical and it does not simply focus on cycle touring. Long may this continue to be the case.

I've had a look around the CTC website to see what it has to say about the March: http://www.ctc.org.uk/publication/cycle ... ember-2015

CTC is one of over 60 organisations supporting the People’s March for Climate Justice and Jobs on Sunday 29 November in London, just before ministers head to Paris for the 21st International Climate Summit.

Among the various ‘blocs’ within the demo - each with different climate-related messages - will be a Cut transport emissions bloc. It’s possible that a ‘bike bloc’ may also be formed for those wishing to cycle rather than walk. With DfT ministers due to decide soon afterwards how much they’ll invest in their Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, we’ll be there to say that this is a far better solution than a massive new roads programme.

It seems to me that CTC is in the "Cut transport emissions bloc". To me that is appropriate to CTC's Charitable Objects as outlined in our current Mem. & Arts.

1.7 The objects for which the Club is established (the Objects) are to:
........ 1.7.1 promote community participation in healthy recreation by promoting the amateur sport of cycling, cycle touring and associated amateur sports;
........ 1.7.2 preserve and protect the health and safety of the public by encouraging and facilitating cycling and the safety of cyclists;
........ 1.7.3 advance education by whatever means the trustees think fit, including the provision of cycling, training and educational activities related to cycling;
........ 1.7.4 promote the conservation and protection of the environment

[Tacascarow]

In George Osbourne's Autumn statement today.
Source/

5. The Department for Transport gets a 37% cut

The Department for Transport is taking the biggest hit of any department, with its budget due to be cut by 37% by 2020. The Guardian reports that London will be particularly hard hit:

Transport for London’s operational budget of almost £700m a year will be wiped out by the end of the decade, leaving TfL to fund its services through commercial investment, cuts or potentially higher fares.

Say goodby to any better cycling infrastructure.

I personally think if the CTC lobbied government or its members marched it wouldn't make a jot of difference, I doubt it would even get noticed by most.
Joining with others who have similar interests is savvy politics & politics are a part of all of our lives whether we like it or not.
At least the 'left wing' is inclusive, the right appear to want to make decisions that go against mainstream thinking & consensus.
Although I feel some here feel anything other than the CTC, the BBKA & the NT are left of centre.

[bluemootwo]

Sorry, but joining in a protest march politically aligned with opposition political themes is hardly savvy politics. It's a great way to become bound into the "awkward squad". Lip service is the best you can hope for from government.

More savvy would be to disassociate from the unfocused protest lobby, and open a smart conversation about how to be part of the solution.

For example - public spending in non-protected areas must be cut. Transport is a non protected area. So how can cycling reduce the costs to the public purse of transport? Well - each bike journey is a journey not carried out in a car or bus or train or metro. The rider buys their own bike, and does no appreciable damage to the road. Contrast public transport where the public purse pays most of the cost of the vehicles, and the infrastructure must be built and maintained mostly from the public purse.

So it is absolutely in the Chancellor's best interests, and the tax payer's, to have as many journeys carried out by bike as possible.

And what is the return on investment in cycling we can report when we get into the Minister's room? Has CTC commissioned an organisation like Charles Beagrie (respected by government) to calculate the investment multiplier of urban cycling? Has such a review been positively and directly presented to government in the context of a supportive and positive contribution to managing the deficit? I hope so.

Or is it better to blow whistles and wave flags and call out names aligned with protest movements? Which path leads to better outcomes for cycling?

[Graham]

I'm fairly sure that Roger Geffen MBE and his team do what they can with regards to targetted lobbying. They have a lot of campaigning experience and know how the SYSTEM works.

In my experience, staying quiet and placid get you will get pretty much nowhere as one of the silent majority . . . ( except for the brief and somewhat distorted times around elections ).

I expect Roger will be attending that rally.

[landsurfer]

I joined the Cyclists Touring Club ... not a political party.

NOT IN MY NAME !!!

When did you ask my permission as a paid up member of the CTC to get involved in politics !!!

NOT IN MY NAME !!!

[Psamathe]

... Contrast public transport where the public purse pays most of the cost of the vehicles, and the infrastructure must be built and maintained mostly from the public purse. ...

But, from a right wing Chancellors perspective, every journey made by bike instead of by car means less fuel duty. A cyclist might ride to local shops but in a car they might drive to the out of town mega market and pick up all sorts of stuff they don't need (and didn't even want when they set-out), etc.

Ian

[landsurfer]

Good point Psamathe; number of times I have been ordered to stop at B&M or the Range for the Lady to purchase "stuff"...which on 2 occasions never made it into the house for 2-3 days !!
Samantha...

[beardy]

When did you ask my permission as a paid up member of the CTC to get involved in politics !!!

NOT IN MY NAME !!!

They asked in May 2010. I said no but I was outvoted.

[landsurfer]

I said no as well ... but didn't realise that being in a "charity" was the same as being in a political party.....

[bluemootwo]

Beardy - for those of us not around in May 2010, (or not listening or with memory issues!) could you post here or link us to that motion? I wasn't aware.

Many thanks.

[gaz]

... Has CTC commissioned an organisation like Charles Beagrie (respected by government) to calculate the investment multiplier of urban cycling? Has such a review been positively and directly presented to government in the context of a supportive and positive contribution to managing the deficit? I hope so.
...

Not since January 2015: The Economic Cycle – Quantifying the benefits of getting England Cycling.