Lizzie Reather has resign from CTC Council with immediate effect today.
Lizzie Reather, CTC Councillor for Yorkshire & the Humber
Lizzie Reather is the CTC Councillor for Yorkshire and the Humber and Chair of Leeds Cycling Campaign
Lizzie Reather is the CTC Councillor for Yorkshire and the Humber, now living in Scotland and also acting as a link between National Council and Scotland.
Having cycled as a child and student, I began cycling to work and for transport in Leeds in 2009. I quickly became disappointed at the conditions for cycling and joined CTC and my local campaign group. Five years later I was Chair of Leeds Cycling Campaign, a role that allowed me to build my skills in campaigning and representing cycling, and to experience the delights of recreational cycling.
Over the last few years I have prepared submissions to a local public inquiry; corresponded and met with local and national politicians and transport officers; and chaired and attended numerous meetings. I have also led workshops and given presentations at national cycling events and put forward the case for cycling on local and national television, getting very positive feedback from other campaigners. I've enjoyed long day rides, ladies-only leisure pootles, audax events, cycle touring in the Netherlands, mountain bike trails in Wales, mass participation closed-road rides, and cycling home, uphill, into a headwind, with my weekly shop!
I now work in strategy and communications at Glasgow Caledonian University, and through my professional life I have experience in managing budgets, communicating information to lay audiences, long term strategy and planning and organisational development. I'm always interested in making improvements and making sure resources are being used in the best possible ways. During 2014-15 I served as a Board member of Cyclenation, the federation of local cycling campaigns and I’m passionate about local groups and campaigns.
In a recent play, Beryl Burton was shown saying to her daughter: “There's nothing like cycling folk. They'll change your life.” Cycling, and cycling folk, have given me a great feeling of freedom, enjoyment and independence. But I’m troubled that choosing to cycle for transport seems to be revolutionary and unfathomable to so many people. It shouldn't be this hard!
CTC is already doing a great job in understanding the barriers and how they can be overcome, and communicating this to local and national decision makers, while at the same time giving excellent support to existing riders and celebrating all the positives about bikes. I want to use my skills to support CTC in its work and continue to represent cyclists of all ages, interests and abilities.
. I've just read the article on the Colleges route - every so often I pass the signposts but have never been able to work out the actual route! 