Advocacy

Slide 1

The BA’s advocacy programme

How the industry, powered by Investors in Cycling, works together to grow the market and get more people cycling

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.

The economic case

Mission and principles

Working areas and policies

Our influence

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?

Read the briefing PDF now

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:

a 25,000 jobs dividend, equating to almost 10% of the Mayor’s 2030 green jobs target, which will benefit the most disadvantaged people in London

an almost £5 billion economic impact; and

a nearly threefold increase in sales of cycling goods and services, breathing life into our high streets and having a positive impact in communities

The full report and evidence case can be downloaded here:

October 2021

The Economic Benefits of local cycling investment: Greater London Case Study

Report for the Bicycle Association by Lisa Hopkinson, Transport for Quality of Life

Download the report PDF

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.

Our advocacy partner

London Cycling Campaign

STEP 3: Put the case to decision-makers

Under the headline:

Growing the local bicycle economy
Hashtag: #bicycleeconomy
Tweet

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:

December 2021

LCC- BA Briefing: 25,000 green cycling jobs for London 2030

Read the briefing PDF now

Growing the local bicycle economy in London

The elevator pitch

Hitting London’s net zero 2030 target will involve a large increase in cycling

This increase will generate a massive 25,000 new green jobs in London’s “bicycle economy”

£4.8 billion each year in extra economic value will also be generated – £500 per Londoner

This is a major jobs and economic dividend on the investment in cycling which London will have to make anyway

This is an unmissable opportunity to create new career opportunities for disadvantaged Londoners, help revitalise London’s high streets and support a “Just Transition”

An early political impact

Will Norman, the Mayor of London’s Walking & Cycling Commissioner, has already Tweeted with a link to our report:

New report on benefits of cycling in London shows that in 2020 cycling:
🚲saved an estimated 270 premature deaths & stopped 1900 serious illnesses
🚲contributed £1.3-£1.4bn to the London economy
🚲sustained 6,000-8,000 jobshttps://t.co/zCftQ2AX7Q pic.twitter.com/RYWiFpbHNm
— Will Norman (@willnorman) November 24, 2021

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.

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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.

July 2020 – download here

Gear Change – a bold vision for cycling and walking

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.

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Working areas and policies

Click any heading to read more about the BA’s advocacy work and policy positions:

E-bike battery fires and illegal “e-bikes” (actually unregistered mopeds)

The BA has noted these issues with concern. Statements and briefings are available here.

FOCUS AREA: E-bike incentives

The BA considers that there is a very strong case for an national e-bike support or grants programme. Research commissioned by the BA showed that:

– E-bike grants can be twice as effective as e-car grants in reducing carbon dioxide emissions
– Numerous international examples prove the effectivess of such schemes in driving e-bike uptake

Download the research: The Case for a UK Incentive for E-bikes by Carey Newson and Lynn Sloman of Transport for Quality of Life and see our press release from July 2019.

The BA has therefore urged Government to urgently stimulate the e-bike market by:

– Addressing the cost barrier with direct financial incentives: evidence shows that a purchase incentive of as little as £250 would double sales of e-bikes over just 12 months.

– Addressing the awareness barrier by implementing a public awareness campaign and promotions to show Government endorsement and encouragement of e-bikes as a mode of transport.

This call follows a high-impact academic report from the Centre for Research into Energy Demand Solutions, based at the University of Oxford, which revealed that e-bikes, if used to replace car travel, have the capability to cut car carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in England by up to 50% (about 30 million tonnes per year). CREDS also recommends “A major e-bike grant purchase subsidy” as part of their proposal for a “green shovel ready” recovery package.

In 2022 we will be focused on:

– Providing industry input to current Government pilot projects ahead of national e-bike support schemes, helping to shape these to work for the whole industry

– Continuing to make the case that e-bikes should benefit from grants similar to other electric vehicles under OZEV.

FOCUS AREA: Cargo and e-cargo bikes

The Bicycle Association supports the swiftest possible uptake of cargo cycles (and electric-assisted cargo cycles) for everyday urban transport of people and goods. Cargo cycles could replace many short distance trips – particularly those currently undertaken by light goods vehicles and the school run. This is starting to be recognised by Government as a potentially important part of its Decarbonising Transport agenda. Significant uptake of cargo cycles would also bring significant additional benefits including road danger reduction, reduced congestion, and air quality improvements.

A report commissioned by the Bicycle Association from Transport for Quality of Life provides evidence that up to 30% of commercial van journeys in urban areas could be substituted by e-cargo bike deliveries.

We welcomed the previous E-cargobike grants programme (and assisted in its implementation by providing technical expertise and industry input) but we consider Government support now needs to be scaled up so that cargo bikes can fulfil their full potential as clean, low-impact transport.

And in late 2022 the BA merged with the UK Cycle Logistics Federation.

We now have a dedicated resource page for our work on cargo bikes and cycle logistics.

FOCUS AREA: Children’s cycling – Bikeability and cycle training

We were delighted to start 2020 with news of advocacy success: the Government announced that every child in England is to be offered cycle training. This made good their manifesto promise to double funding for Bikeability, ensuring that every child in the UK will have access to cycle training.

The BA met one-on-one with the Minister responsible for cycling as the Conservative election manifesto was
being written. We are confident that the BA’s engagement was critical in achieving this commitment.

Universal access to cycle training is one of our strategic industry priorities, to secure the pipeline of future cyclists.

It’s thanks to the support of BA members, our Leadership Group and all of the retailers who contribute to our
advocacy work that we were able to dedicate the sustained lobbying effort that led to this result.

In 2022, we are focusing on:

– Holding the Government to their committment to roll out Bikeability training to all schools

– Developing our advocacy programme with the aim that every child has the right to learn to ride, access to a bicycle, training on-road, places to ride and have fun and a positive experience of cycling when young.

COVID-19 – keeping bike shops open

The Bicycle Association played a key role in ensuring that Government swiftly recognised the vital role of cycling, and bike shops, in delivering transport, exercise and well-being under COVID restrictions – so from the very first lockdown, bike shops were permitted to remain open. This led to a huge boom in cycling under lockdown. As this is written it is uncertain whether future lockdowns will be necesssary, but we will continue to stress the need for cycling to be regarded, correctly, as an essential industry.

Gear Change delivery

Perhaps the BA’s most vital advocacy challenge in 2021 will be in holding Government to its commitments in the July 2020 Gear Change policy document (which launched £2bn spending on cycling over three years). Clearly COVID and Brexit will together have a major impact on public finances, and we expect that future settlements will be hard fought.

But for 2021 around £270 million has been awarded already, to include some significant initiatives including a national programme to support e-bike take-up. We are also in close touch with the Bikeability Trust who are tasked with rolling out child cycle training to all schools, and will press hard for this commitment to be implemented in full, and swiftly.

Also coming up in 2021 are key discussions about “Active Travel England”, the body that may ‘enforce’ infrastructure design standards by acting as a funding gatekeeper. We will need to safeguard industry influence, and effective delivery.

Cycle theft reduction

Cycle theft is a significant barrier to cycling growth: the industry loses many customers who never return after a theft. Also, it’s a huge issue for retailers who may be targeted by professional thieves.

A cycle parking hardware quality, security and installation standard was published in 2021. This is the result of a project initiated by the BA in 2018 as a result of public and member concerns about the number of cyclists lost to the industry as customers after not replacing stolen bikes. Funding was secured in 2020, and an experienced consultant engaged. The BA has made the standard available fro any interested party to use free of charge, while working for its adoption as an official aid to procurement. The standard is available for download here.

A UK national cycle registration scheme is also under consideration, following detailed proposals developed by the BA and subsequently adopted by a wider coalition aiming to tackle cycle crime, including Police leads. We are optimistic that this will be funded and move to full implementation in 2021. Additionally, the BA is investigating whether there is scope to improve the process of reporting of bikes stolen from bike shops or other measures to address this significant issue for retailers.

For more on these initiatives, see our page on cycle security.

VAT reform

VAT reductions or zero-rating on cycling items, in recognition of their environmental and health benefits, will be easier for the Government to implement post-Brexit. The BA has been working for some time to build this case with Government.

International trade, treaties and trade defence (anti-dumping)

A major part of the BA’s technical work is keeping members informed on matters on international trade, be that matters related to Brexit, new trade agreements, or trade defence measures (anti-dumping).

The BA does not lobby directly on these issues, instead remaining strictly neutral and restricting our role to informing members and advising them how they can lobby for their particular interests. This is because the commercial interests of our member companies differ, and this is often reflected in differing positions on trade matters.

Nonetheless we do often press Government for clarifications or sector-specific guidance, to assist our members to trade as effectively as possible.

Sustainability in the cycle industry

It is important that as we advocate for cycling to Government, stressing its environmental benefits, that the cycle industry itself is at the forefront of efforts to operate sustainable businesses. Many of our members are already well advanced with initiatives to reduce emissions or increase recycling, or to join recognised business self-committment or certification schemes.

See the BA sustainability hub to find out more about the industry’s work in this area, and how the BA is working to support our members.

Digital and connected cycling, e-scooters, new technology

New technologies often present opportunities, but careful regulation may also be necessary. The BA monitors new developments and engages with regulators, technical committees and other stakeholders where new technologies may now, or in the future, become relevant for the cycle industry. Current issues in this category includes e-scooters (both rental models and privately-owned) and how they are to be regulated, ‘smart’ and connected cycling, new business models enabled by technology (e.g. dockless hire bikes) and more. You can download our latest position paper on e-scooters and other new forms of micromobility.

Regulatory and technical policy work

As policies and technology changes, regulations often follow suit. The BA ensures that the cycle industry has a seat at the table in all such discussions, at both political and technical levels.

Because even after the UK has left the EU, our cycle industries remain closely interlinked, the BA also monitors developments at EU level which may affect our UK member companies.

For more detail on this work, please see our technical pages.

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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

March 10, 2022

March 2022

RESULT: the Government remains on track with their commitment, made in Jan 2020 after direct BA intervention, to roll out the Bikeability programme, with a new £20m funding announcement.

March 10, 2022

November 6, 2021

November 2021

RESULT: Government invites tenders for an £8m “National e-cycle support programme”, including try-before-you-buy opportunities, long term e-bike loans and provision of e-bikes to access education and employment.

November 6, 2021

October 27, 2021

October 2021

RESULT: Despite intense public finances pressures, Budget & Spending Review announcements confirm “Gear Change” £2 billion spending on cycle infrastructure is still on track – some allocated via regional transport funding packages.

October 27, 2021

August 3, 2021

August 2021

RESULT: New £400k fund for businesses to purchase e-cargo cycles is announced, covering up to 40% of the cost per cycle

August 3, 2021

July 1, 2021

July 2021

RESULT: a further £1.2 million is made available for local authorities for e-cargo bike schemes, including try-before-you-buy and logistics projects.

July 1, 2021

June 22, 2021

June 2021

RESULT: £1.48 million funding announced to fund local authority pilots of e-bike incentive schemes ahead of a national scheme.

June 22, 2021

April 1, 2021

April 2021

RESULT: Government announces doubling of Bikeability funding, every child to be offered cycle training. BA had engaged one-on-one with the Minister ahead of this committment being made in the 2020 Conservative election manifesto.

April 1, 2021

March 12, 2019

March 2021

The final £15m batch of the “Fix your bike” repair vouchers is released, completing delivery of the scheme which was originally announced in May 2020

March 12, 2019

January 6, 2021

January 2021

Bike shops again remain open as ‘essential’ during the third national COVID lockdown, in line with assurances obtained by the Bicycle Association.

January 6, 2021

December 1, 2020

December 2020

BA liaises with DIT and DfT and informs members on Brexit developements, ADD, 25% USA tariffs. RESULT: BA members receive earliest possible info and analysis as Brexit transition end approaches

BA cycle security proposals to be taken forward by police cycle crime lead RESULT: Voluntary and vendor-neutral approach agreed

BA engages further with DfT and the devolved administrations on potential future e-bike and e-cargo bike incentive schemes, and establishes that these will be worth at least £11m in the next 12 months

December 1, 2020

November 1, 2020

November 2020

Minister and senior officials speak at BA Conference. BA engages with DfT ahead of spending review, with proposals for e-bikes and e-cargo, supported by Market Data Service.

Bike shops remain open as the second national COVID lockdown comes into force, in line with assurances previously obtained by the BA.

November 1, 2020

October 1, 2020

October 2020

BA launches industry sustainability initiative and publishes commissioned research.

October 1, 2020

September 1, 2020

September 2020

BA lobbies to secure cycle shops essential status ahead of possible future lockdowns in England and Wales. RESULT: Assurances received and open status maintained.

Plus: Scotland announces £500m over 5 years for cycling & walking, BA mediates Cycle to Work discussions, work starts on cycle parking standard

September 1, 2020

August 1, 2020

August 2020

BA has been working for over a year on cycle parking and security. RESULT: Funding secured via CRWG for UK cycle parking standard development.

BA reacts to correct media mis-reporting of Simon Cowell’s injuries after an e-motorbike incident (not an e-bike) RESULT: highest traffic ever on BA website.

August 1, 2020

July 1, 2020

July 2020

RESULT: Government announces “Gear Change” policy document with £2 billion over four years for infrastructure (with quality standards), e-bike incentive commitments and more

Fix Your Bike voucher scheme releases first batch, BA provides evidence to Commons e-scooter enquiry, BA submits response to DfT’s Future of Transport Regulatory Review

July 1, 2020

June 1, 2020

June 2020

BA Market Data Service goes fully live. DfT straight away requests retailer servicing data to support Fix Your Bike scheme RESULT: BA influence immediately boosted by data availability

June 1, 2020

May 1, 2020

May 2020

RESULT: Government announces £250m emergency active travel fund for pop-up infrastructure

RESULT: Government announces £25m Fix Your Bike repair voucher scheme for England.

May 1, 2020

April 1, 2020

April 2020

Package of proposals: BA developed and proposed to Govt a package of measures to support COVID use of bikes for transport inc. pop-up lanes, e-bike incentives, VAT, repair vouchers

April 1, 2020

March 1, 2020

March 2020

Lockdown: BA immediately lobbied for essential status. RESULT: Government guidance ensures bikes shops can stay open, cycling for exercise encouraged even under strict lockdown. Enabled an extra £0.5 billion boom in cycling this year.

Supporting open shops: BA launched high traffic COVID Hub on website with industry info, plus offered free legal/HR support, developed Open Bike Shops finder with ACT and supported Bikes4KeyWorkers

Pop-up infrastructure: BA lobbied hard with WACA allies to secure Government support.

March 1, 2020

February 1, 2020

February 2020

BA had been in contact with Northern Ireland officials for some years about the status of e- bikes in that territory. RESULT: E-bikes are to made legal in Northen Ireland

E-scooters: BA worked with numerous stakeholders to develop a ‘sensible’ UK specification proposal for e-scooters to ‘play well’ with bikes and e-bike

February 1, 2020

January 1, 2020

January 2020

Bikeability: Direct BA lobbying at Ministerial level had secured an election manifesto commitment to expand the Bikeability scheme
RESULT: DfT announces Bikeability roll-out cycle training to all children worth £80-100m in this Parliament

New Minister: BA secured an early meeting to explain industry priorities after the post-election re-shuffle saw a new Transport Minister come into post

January 1, 2020

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