Advocacy
There are over 1,000 supporters of the advocacy work of the Bicycle Association, from the largest global brands to the smallest local retailers. They all play a vital role as Investors in Cycling - helping the industry shape a powerful advocacy message for public investment, nationally and locally, to get more people cycling.
Growing the local bicycle economy – starting in London
With £2 billion now committed to support cycling and walking in the Government’s Gear Change policy (see below), the BA’s focus is now on delivering cycling investment at a local level. The BA is now working to bring together data, cycle industry and advocacy partners and policy makers to increase cycling investment on the ground, in what we call “The local economic case for cycling”.
Our first focus region, London, was mobilised in late 2021 and we aim to act locally across the UK in the next three years.
Looking for a concise summary of our key arguments on the local bicycle economy in London?
Or for an audio introduction to the Local Bicycle Economy concept, play our podcast:
STEP 1: Commissioning research
The first step was to use our Market Data Service to inform research on the benefits of cycling investment to Greater London. The Bicycle Association commissioned a report from the independent research group Transport for Quality of Life which used this unique local and regional breakdown capabilities of the Market Data Service dataset to demonstrate that investing in cycling to the extent necessary to achieve London’s net zero carbon target would create:
The full report and evidence case can be downloaded here:
The Economic Benefits of local cycling investment: Greater London Case Study
Report for the Bicycle Association by Lisa Hopkinson, Transport for Quality of Life
STEP 2: Joining with local industry and advocacy partners
These findings are eye-opening, and highly effective in putting the case for cycling investments. The most efficient way to put them to local decision-makers and political representatives is to team up with a local advocacy partner – and to leverage the expertise and passion of the people in the local cycle industry.
For the launch region, London, we are delighted to be working with the very well-established and well-connected London Cycling Campaign, alongside the extensive community of Investors in Cycling who operate cycling businesses in local communities across London.
STEP 3: Put the case to decision-makers
Under the headline:
we, representatives of the London cycle industry and our partners at LCC will be identifying and targeting decision-makers – and also supplying evidenced arguments and collateral for other cycle advocates who are working to build the case for public investment to grow cycling – be that at city, borough or even street level. The “elevator pitch” is shown opposite.
Together with LCC, we have also summarised the full London-specific case in the following briefing document:
LCC- BA Briefing: 25,000 green cycling jobs for London 2030
Growing the local bicycle economy in London
The elevator pitch
An early political impact
Will Norman, the Mayor of London’s Walking & Cycling Commissioner, has already Tweeted with a link to our report:
STEP 4: Using the case to win specific investments
Our cycle industry colleagues and advocacy partners will identify particular projects where they’ll be able to use our data to bolster their case, help overcome local opposition and sway decisions towards bold infrastructure investment to grow cycling. We’ll soon expand this section with case studies.
STEP 5: Roll out to other cities and regions
We aim to bring this powerful logic for change to every region in the UK, by bringing more organisations into the Investors in Cycling community to resource the roll-out, by finding new partner organisations in each region and by leveraging the active engagement of local Investor companies, to deliver cycle market growth nationwide.
Support this work as an Investor in Cycling
If you’re a company in the UK cycle industry, you can join thousands of your peers as Investors in Cycling to support the industry’s advocacy work, both in resources and through your active engagement.
The national economic case for cycling – an argument won?
Policy makers care deeply about economic contribution and jobs, so at the heart of the BA’s advocacy work has for several years been what we call the “economic case for cycling”. As the industry association, the BA is uniquely placed to make this case.
Evidence of the UK cycle industry’s economic contribution is essential for our credibility. That’s one of the main reasons we developed the BA Market Data Service to gather superbly accurate and detailed sales data for the UK.
A second pillar of evidence was commissioned in 2017 by the BA from respected consultancy Transport for the Quality of Life. They delivered a foundational piece of research to quantify the economic contribution of our industry. They showed this to be at least £5.4 billion/year, supporting 64,000 jobs – making cycling bigger than the steel industry – and this was widely picked up by national and specialist media. Download the report here.
The “economic case”, together with our “trusted advisor” approach (see “Principles” below) have been remarkably successful, and we now have access to and close relationships with both politicians and officials at the highest levels of Government, and especially within the Department for Transport.
A key success came with the publication of Gear Change in July 2020 – in which the Government committed not only to spending £2 bn on cycling (largely for infrastructure) but also to implementing many of the items for which the BA has consistently advocated: a national e-bike incentive scheme, support for cargo bikes, action on cycle theft and more.
Advocacy mission and principles
Our advocacy mission
The BA works to a clear, focused strategy based around three key ‘pillars’:
- Securing a strong, united and influential industry
- Giving every child the opportunity to cycle
- Making cycling an everyday choice.
Every BA activity is driven by one or more these pillars, and to ensure our focus is on activities with member benefit, all activity must also be unique (something the industry can deliver collectively which others advocating for cycling cannot) and measurable. It must also either directly drive members’ businesses and profits, or have long-term strategic value.
Partners
The BA was instrumental in the formation of the Walking and Cycling Alliance, where we co-ordinate advocacy work with British Cycling, Cycling UK, Sustrans, Living Streets and The Ramblers. The BA also works with many more cycling, Governmental and other organisations.
Internationally, the BA is a long-standing member of the Confederation of the European Bicycle Industry (CONEBI) and is a founding member of Cycling Industries Europe (CIE). Through CONEBI we are also represented at the World Bicycle Industries Association (WBIA).
Principles
Our aim: to grow cycling
This will get more people on bikes. Everyday cycling trips – for ‘transport’- is the growth segment.
Our representation: the whole UK cycle industry
We speak with one voice. We are a non-profit group, with no commercial interests.
Our target: Westminster and Whitehall
We are not a consumer-facing organisation. We don’t have the large financial resources necessary to promote cycling to the general public.
Our focus: is on issues that only the BA can address.
We have partnerships with other groups – see below – and work closely with them. We don’t try to replicate the work that they do already.
Our issues: the BA can advocate only for issues on which our members all agree.
But we can inform, advise and facilitate discussion on a wide range of topics.
Our stance: the BA makes well-reasoned proposals as advocates
We do not lobby or seek or take funds from government or third parties or any commercial interests.
Our reputation: we aim to be objective, rigorous – that’s why reliable market data is key – and to be a critical and trusted adviser of government.
Support this work as an Investor in Cycling
If you’re a company in the UK cycle industry, you can join thousands of your peers as Investors in Cycling to support the industry’s advocacy work, both in resources and through your active engagement.
Working areas and policies
Click any heading to read more about the BA’s advocacy work and policy positions:
Support this work as an Investor in Cycling
If you’re a company in the UK cycle industry, you can join thousands of your peers as Investors in Cycling to support the industry’s advocacy work, both in resources and through your active engagement.
Our influence
Video from the Minister of State for Transport
The BA’s reach goes right to the top of Government. We were delighted that the Minister of State for Transport, Chris Heaton-Harris MP, sent this video message to our BA Members’ Conference in 2020, shortly after announcing a £2 billion committment to active travel:
Advocacy timeline
Support this work as an Investor in Cycling
If you’re a company in the UK cycle industry, you can join thousands of your peers as Investors in Cycling to support the industry’s advocacy work, both in resources and through your active engagement.