Cycling UK today has launched its Vote Bike tool ahead of May’s mayoral elections. Part of the organisation’s Space for Cycling campaign, it allows residents to ask their respective metro mayoral candidates what they will do for cycling if elected.
Mayoral elections will take place in six areas on May 4: Greater Manchester, the West Midlands, Liverpool City Region, the West of England, the Tees Valley, and Cambridgeshire & Peterborough.
As part of Cycling UK’s Space for Cycling campaign, every candidate has been asked to plan a comprehensive region-wide network of safe space and to actively seek the funding to implement it.
In addition to this, the organisation has met with local campaigners to come up with a series of questions specific to each area. Cycling UK’s President, newscaster Jon Snow, has contacted each candidate with these ‘asks’ and responses will be published on the Cycling UK website.
Snow, said: “For cycling, this is a major opportunity as it is these local political bodies that look after the bulk of Britain’s roads. To ensure this opportunity is properly utilised, we need local voices making noises – it is after all you they rely on to elect them.”
The Vote Bike tool therefore allows residents in each area to contact their candidates directly via a selection of editable letters.
Tom Guha, Cycling UK’s Space for Cycling Campaigns Officer, said: “Creating full networks of Space for Cycling is essential if we are to see the step-change in cycle use needed to combat lethal air pollution and alleviate crippling congestion.
“The inadequacies of the UK Government’s cycling policy have left it to devolved authorities to deliver the national cycling revolution. It is imperative that we – together with local residents – work with all incoming Metro Mayors to create safer, friendlier and healthier communities through cycling.”
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