Further to BEBA's attendance yesterday at the All Party Parliamentary Cycle Group, I felt Pedelec readers may be interested in a brief report.
By Victoria Sowter
BEBA
Back in September, Norman Baker, the Under Secretary of State for Transport, whose remit includes cycling, announced the Local Sustainability Transport Fund (LSTF). This will be a massive £560m that local authorities can bid for over the next four financial years. Details are currently being written in a White Paper on local transport and will include packages of measures (i.e. not just pouring concrete) “that support economic growth and reduce carbon…as well as delivering cleaner environments, improved safety and increased levels of physical activity.”
Electrically Assisted Bicycles will fit the bill perfectly we reckon at BEBA, and we want local authority officials to be made more aware of their potential. To this end Sabine and I attended the All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group as representatives of BEBA on 1st December and posed the following question to Norman Baker himself:
Given that research shows hilliness to be the most significant physical determinant of commuter cycling levels and that 25% of all car commuter journeys lie between 5 and 10 miles, do you agree that electrically assisted bicycles have an important role to play in sustainable transport policy?
If so, will they be receiving a mention in the forthcoming White Paper on local transport and in the guidance to local authorities on the Local Sustainable Transport Fund?
The Minister quipped “Put like that we will now”. He went on to say he could see their advantages and would support them but expressed concerns about the health impacts of people who transfer from pedal cycles. I’ll be following through his concerns with the help of research compiled by Richard Peace (www.excellentbooks.co.uk). It’s a doubly important issue given recent proposed changes to the public health arena; another policy area we want to influence. Meanwhile the Minister wanted to try out an electric bike, particularly as Lewes, his home constituency is very hilly. Guess that puts him top of the list of invitees to our Spring electric cycling event at the House of Lords then!
At the same meeting Norman Baker announced there’s to be a national cycling indicator which will monitor cycling levels by local authority area. I need to confirm this, but it seems likely that as most local authorities use automatic counters, electrically assisted bicycles will be included in the tally. This means that local authorities will be highly motivated to consider cycling of all kinds from both a monitoring and financial perspective. My hunch is that partnerships between the public sector and businesses will be flavour of the moment for these LSTF bids so get your thinking caps on as to how you can work creatively with local authorities to promote your products.
As part of this mix ACT TravelWise can also help get the concept of EABs across to a wider audience. Not to be confused with the Association of Cycle Traders, this body offers networking and training opportunities to those involved in encouraging behavioural change to more sustainable modes through travel plans for schools, businesses and individuals. Their policy team are considering a submission I made to them recently as part of their national policy document.
Raising awareness is fine, but what about some help in making purchases? The Cycle to Work Alliance have asked Norman Baker about the tax changes to the Cycle to Work Scheme and received the heartening response that he has written to the Treasury to ask them to reconsider the situation.
Talking of getting financial help, the Government through the Office of Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) are currently encouraging demand for low emission electric cars to the tune of £450m in order to create new jobs and make the transport system more sustainable. Seizing an opportunity at November’s Eco2Transport show, Mark Loveridge, Ultramotor’s MD and secretary to BEBA, met with Norman Baker, along with Michael Hurwitz and Tom Elliot of OLEV. He asked that the electric bicycle industry also receive a financial boost given its potential contribution to the economy and environment. They agreed to consider a business case. Mark and I will be pulling this together over the coming weeks following a set framework. Any offers of help or suggestions will be gratefully received.
And finally…I’ve had confirmation from Claire Rees, the lead officer at the Department for Transport that there’s no change yet regarding 2002/24/EC and the 1983 GB regulations. They’re hoping to get last March’s consultation responses on to their website soon along with proposed next steps. They’re also involved with European level discussions on changes to 2002/24/EC. I’m aware that the European Twowheel Retailers’ Association have come up with various options and will have more on this in our next issue.
Regards
David
By Victoria Sowter
BEBA
Back in September, Norman Baker, the Under Secretary of State for Transport, whose remit includes cycling, announced the Local Sustainability Transport Fund (LSTF). This will be a massive £560m that local authorities can bid for over the next four financial years. Details are currently being written in a White Paper on local transport and will include packages of measures (i.e. not just pouring concrete) “that support economic growth and reduce carbon…as well as delivering cleaner environments, improved safety and increased levels of physical activity.”
Electrically Assisted Bicycles will fit the bill perfectly we reckon at BEBA, and we want local authority officials to be made more aware of their potential. To this end Sabine and I attended the All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group as representatives of BEBA on 1st December and posed the following question to Norman Baker himself:
Given that research shows hilliness to be the most significant physical determinant of commuter cycling levels and that 25% of all car commuter journeys lie between 5 and 10 miles, do you agree that electrically assisted bicycles have an important role to play in sustainable transport policy?
If so, will they be receiving a mention in the forthcoming White Paper on local transport and in the guidance to local authorities on the Local Sustainable Transport Fund?
The Minister quipped “Put like that we will now”. He went on to say he could see their advantages and would support them but expressed concerns about the health impacts of people who transfer from pedal cycles. I’ll be following through his concerns with the help of research compiled by Richard Peace (www.excellentbooks.co.uk). It’s a doubly important issue given recent proposed changes to the public health arena; another policy area we want to influence. Meanwhile the Minister wanted to try out an electric bike, particularly as Lewes, his home constituency is very hilly. Guess that puts him top of the list of invitees to our Spring electric cycling event at the House of Lords then!
At the same meeting Norman Baker announced there’s to be a national cycling indicator which will monitor cycling levels by local authority area. I need to confirm this, but it seems likely that as most local authorities use automatic counters, electrically assisted bicycles will be included in the tally. This means that local authorities will be highly motivated to consider cycling of all kinds from both a monitoring and financial perspective. My hunch is that partnerships between the public sector and businesses will be flavour of the moment for these LSTF bids so get your thinking caps on as to how you can work creatively with local authorities to promote your products.
As part of this mix ACT TravelWise can also help get the concept of EABs across to a wider audience. Not to be confused with the Association of Cycle Traders, this body offers networking and training opportunities to those involved in encouraging behavioural change to more sustainable modes through travel plans for schools, businesses and individuals. Their policy team are considering a submission I made to them recently as part of their national policy document.
Raising awareness is fine, but what about some help in making purchases? The Cycle to Work Alliance have asked Norman Baker about the tax changes to the Cycle to Work Scheme and received the heartening response that he has written to the Treasury to ask them to reconsider the situation.
Talking of getting financial help, the Government through the Office of Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) are currently encouraging demand for low emission electric cars to the tune of £450m in order to create new jobs and make the transport system more sustainable. Seizing an opportunity at November’s Eco2Transport show, Mark Loveridge, Ultramotor’s MD and secretary to BEBA, met with Norman Baker, along with Michael Hurwitz and Tom Elliot of OLEV. He asked that the electric bicycle industry also receive a financial boost given its potential contribution to the economy and environment. They agreed to consider a business case. Mark and I will be pulling this together over the coming weeks following a set framework. Any offers of help or suggestions will be gratefully received.
And finally…I’ve had confirmation from Claire Rees, the lead officer at the Department for Transport that there’s no change yet regarding 2002/24/EC and the 1983 GB regulations. They’re hoping to get last March’s consultation responses on to their website soon along with proposed next steps. They’re also involved with European level discussions on changes to 2002/24/EC. I’m aware that the European Twowheel Retailers’ Association have come up with various options and will have more on this in our next issue.
Regards
David