CILT Champions A Century Of Cycling In The UK

A “century of cycling” could well be on its way to Britain as the president of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) called for “a step change in cycling” in the country over the next 25 years.

Peter Hendy gave a speech at the headquarters for Transport for London (TfL), for whom he is also the commissioner, at the first CILT Cycling Lecture in the city about the recent rise to prominence of cycling in Britain. He highlighted his desire to bring cycling to the streets of the UK as a front-running mode of transport in itself.

The rise in popularity in cycling has been evident not just in the capital but across the country, so the future of the activity in the UK looks positive. Part of this rise in popularity has been attributed to the tremendous success that British Olympic athletes enjoyed at the Beijing Olympics and are expected to have at next summer’s Games in the English capital.

“Cycling is a subject that is close to my heart in my dual roles not only as President of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, which enhances the careers of thousands of professionals in the transport sector, but also as this city’s Transport Commissioner with Transport for London and with a boss who is famously a cycling enthusiast.

“Wearing these two hats – two complementary roles – gives me, I believe, a fascinating and privileged perspective on the growing role of cycling as a 21st century solution within a broad range of public and private transport choices.”

The last few years have seen cycling initiatives set up in the capital that have been extremely popular amongst residents and visitors alike. The cycling push for the next 25 years is bound to attract more travelers and backpackers to choose bikes to get between their Kensington hotels, Kings Cross hotels and the destinations on their must-see list.

“I’d say that cycling has almost become ‘cool’ in the capital, and for some, like in Paris, Amsterdam, or Copenhagen, bicycles are an urban fashion statement of youth and freedom, fitness and vitality – whether on a mountain bike, a flash road-bike, a folding bicycle or a Barclays hire bike.”

Later in his speech, Mr Hendy outlined the ways in which the UK could become a much more cycling-centric country as far as transport is concerned. Safety, rather understandably, is one of the biggest concerns. He called for improved safety to the roads and cycle lanes as well as cycle awareness training for drivers of large vehicles.

Cycling has long term health benefits for the rider as well as the environment, which was one of the focal points of the recently released CILT report Vision 2035. Future visitors to the capital will be able to take advantage of increased availability of cycling in their travels through the city. In terms of London hotels West End accommodation is amongst the most central, so cycling is the perfect way to travel between the best sights in the city.