Bikes and Brighton beach: Cycling UK at the Liberal Democrat conference 2024

Jet skis, Brighton beach and cheerful faces. I am, of course, describing the Liberal Democrats’ 2024 autumn party conference!

Last weekend, I joined our head of policy and public affairs, Sarah Whitebread, at the conference down in sunny Sussex. The party was in high spirits after securing 72 MPs in the recent election – the best result since the party was founded.

After a tough decade, there seemed to be a sense of revival and cautious optimism in the air. A renewed focus on environmental and health issues set the stage for some productive discussions over the four days.

From bikes to jet skis

Back in 2023, Sir Ed Davey and several target seat candidates famously made their entrance at the party conference by bike. This year, Sir Ed switched things up by arriving at the Brighton Centre on a jet ski, keeping his tradition of attention-grabbing stunts alive.

Unfortunately, I missed this spectacle as I was busy in conversation with exhibitors like the Royal National Institute of the Blind and Transport for the South East about their current priorities.

Engaging with MPs

We had the chance to meet several MPs throughout the conference. With so many new faces in Parliament, it’s important for Cycling UK to start building relationships early on and talk about the role of active travel in improving public health and reducing environmental impacts.

Many of the MPs have local government backgrounds, giving them good insights into the challenges of delivering cycling and walking infrastructure at ground level. Our conversations covered the practical hurdles – such as securing funding and getting communities on board – and how Cycling UK can support MPs in their work.

One especially useful chat was with John Milne MP, the new Member of Parliament for Horsham. He shared his experience navigating the political and logistical barriers to delivering cycling infrastructure.

With his local government background, he made a strong case for the importance of national policies that give local authorities the support they need to make active travel happen.

We also had productive conversations at the various receptions and fringe panels that ran throughout the conference, where we connected with politicians such as Tom Gordon MP, Tom Morrison MP, and the leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP in a more informal setting and offered our support to their work.

Active travel: where environment meets health

The Liberal Democrats spent a lot of time emphasising their focus on protecting the environment and improving public health – two areas that align well with Cycling UK’s mission.

Cycling not only helps tackle climate change and air pollution but also offers a way to improve the nation’s health. Active travel, such as cycling and walking, slashes congestion and emissions while encouraging people to live healthier lives.

Several MPs acknowledged how important it is to integrate active travel into wider environmental and public health strategies. Making cycling and walking safer and more accessible will help achieve goals around both climate and health. Cycling UK will keep pushing for policies that realise these multiple benefits.

Looking ahead: active travel in the new Parliament

Cycling UK is excited to keep working with MPs from all parties to promote active travel. The conversations we had at the Liberal Democrat conference highlighted both opportunities and challenges in making cycling a bigger part of everyday life in the UK.

With ongoing support and collaboration, we can make real progress in ensuring active travel becomes a key part of the UK’s transport and health strategies, shaping safer, greener, and more sustainable communities for everyone.