How travel choice makes us richer: Move Free report launch in Parliament

When I was told my second day in the job would involve afternoon tea at the Palace of Westminster, I knew I had agreed to start my new job in the right week! 

Some described attending a launch event, so soon after starting, as a dropped-in-the-deep-end experience. I don’t think tea and scones usually accompany that saying, so I think I will have to disagree. 

In the depths of the grand and bustling parliament building we set up our banners, lectern and table of name badges ready to welcome MPs, Peers, industry experts, and other guests keen to hear about the new report, Move Free.

A new report supported by Cycling UK

The report is Cycling UK’s first collaboration with Create Streets – one that has borne a report showing that giving people more choice on how they travel through places, including enabling walking and cycling, benefits everyone, including those who need to drive. 

David Milner, director of Create Streets, introduced the report at the reception and explained how the ‘gentle density’ of walkable and cyclable communities makes us richer, makes high streets more successful, and can make more homes - plus the well-known health and wellbeing benefits that active travel provides to both individuals and society. 

Move Free shows that governments and councils that are willing to put active travel at the heart of communities will be rewarded with happier, healthier, and richer places.

This is a message that reaches across the political divide, as illustrated by the status of our main speakers at the reception: Guy Opperman MP, Minister for Roads and Local Transport, and Stephen Morgan MP, Shadow Minister for Rail.

From Guy Opperman we heard the importance of taking local communities along with us when introducing cycling schemes and new infrastructure and how the ideas in Move Free will help to make a positive step in that direction. 

Shadow Transport Minister, Stephen Morgan, went further saying “Labour will support local authorities to make cycling and walking an option for all” and that “it is so important that an incoming Labour government gets this right.”. 

It’s extremely encouraging to hear such positive sentiments from both major parties - I hope a copy of Move Free will sit on the desks and in the minds of decision-makers across the country!

Networking with the decisionmakers

Having enjoyed the speeches, it was then time for the attendees to head over to the cloth-draped tables, grab a cup and saucer of tea, and chat with other guests. 

I was happy to talk to Ed Clancy OBE, the multiple Olympic champion, who is currently plying his trade as the South Yorkshire Active Travel Commissioner. 

In addition to discussing how Move Free will support him in his role, it was an opportunity to remind Ed of an occasion over 10 years ago when I, at 14 years old, rode alongside him at Glasgow’s Velodrome during the Revolution racing series. 

I even got the event’s photographer to take a picture of me and Ed to match a similar one that my mum had taken over a decade ago – she'll be pleased!

But back to the day job, part of which is to recognise and get to know MPs and Lords, I was pleased to see a good number of politicians enjoying conversations with Cycling UK colleagues and guests including, Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb, Baron Dubs, Ben Bradshaw MP, Afzal Khan MP, Robin Miller MP, and Trudy Harrison MP. 

Moving freely and moving ahead

I hope we can gather some positive momentum off the back of this event in what promises to be an extremely important year for Cycling UK’s campaigning.

Move Free boldly underlines the need for active travel campaigners to look beyond the usual arguments and with a General Election looming we, as cycling campaigners, must continue to find innovative ways to speak to all audiences. 

We know cycling and active travel is great, but we also know that not everyone agrees with us.

Antagonism is the easy route to take, but thinking of solutions that can help everyone in a community whilst furthering active travel is more difficult. 

In Move Free, Create Streets have crafted a compelling and powerful message that strikes a balance that should, as the Minister said in his speech, bring communities along with us. 

A big thank you to Create Streets for all their work, to everybody that attended the reception, and I hope you find an opportunity to read it yourself.

Farewell to Roger Geffen

Tuesday’s launch also happened to be the final outing for Cycling UK’s evergreen policy director, Roger Geffen MBE, who is leaving Cycling UK this week after 21 years of campaigning for cycling. 

Since 2002, Roger has spearheaded Cycling UK’s policy work. 

His tenacious and extraordinarily effective work has secured many major wins for cyclists over the last two decades and we will miss him dearly. 

Although my professional overlap with Roger has amounted to only a few days, I have known him since 2022 and he was a great part of my motivation to join Cycling UK. 

I hope everyone reading will join us in wishing good luck to Roger in his next adventure.