Back Bristol's campaign for safer commuting by bike

As part of its commitment to active travel and tackling climate change, the Bristol & West of England Initiative has partnered with CyclingWorks Bristol to highlight the need for protected bike corridors and improved cycling infrastructure to make commuting by bike safer and easier across the city region.

The campaign is based on a model used successfully in London to mobilise the business community in support of the city’s first cycling superhighway. And since its launch, the campaign has attracted support from a number of high-profile businesses from a range of sectors, including a number of Bristol & West of England Initiative members, who together employ nearly 20,000 staff. 

The strength of business support has been expressed through letters to our regional and local authority decision makers focussing on three priority goals:

• The provision of two direct, continuous protected bike corridors in Bristol. Phase 1: East to West & North to South (see details below)

• The provision of secure overnight cycle storage, e-charging and rental at each of Bristol’s current Park & Ride locations, together with Lyde Green Park & Ride and at Parkway Station.

• The provision of significant extra secure cycle parking spaces across the city centre.

Each of these goals have been adopted within the region’s cycling and walking infrastructure plan (LCWIP) and future transport plan (JLTP4). Moreover, the letters of support have led directly to meetings taking place with transport & infrastructure directors and officers at West of England Combined Authority (WECA), Bristol City Council & South Gloucestershire County Council at which the priority goals were discussed, together with the decision-making processes to achieve these. 

The feedback received from the government bodies has welcomed the engagement of our region’s employers and their support for active travel. Given the success of CyclingWorks Bristol so far, we are keen to help build momentum and invite Business West members to find out more about the campaign and join us in expressing support for the initial priority goals.

Urging Business West members to join the campaign, James Durie, Chief Executive of Bristol Chamber & Initiative at Business West, said: 

“Businesses now realise that there is no “going back to business-as-normal” and that our journey to economic recovery will be green and people centric. If we are to fully address the climate change and air quality challenge, we must give people the infrastructure to allow them to safely and confidently access their workplaces by bike. Existing cycle paths are disjointed and doesn’t connect where people live and where people work, which is why I encourage our members to back the campaign and push for accelerated investment into the cycle infrastructure across the city.”

Welcoming the news of growing support from the Business West network, Ian Pond, Campaign Lead at CyclingWorks Bristol, comments: 

“We are delighted to be working with the Initiative and Business West on this campaign. They have a track record of bringing city projects forward and widespread connections with the local business.”