Hackney Cycling Conference 2015

Last week I attended the Hackney Cycling conference and was impressed by the huge amount of interest there now is in cycling in Hackney. This rising interest bodes well for the reduction of travel by motor vehicle and help in slowing down the pace of climate change.

Well done to Hackney Council and the London Cycling Campaign in Hackney for organising an international bike conference on our doorstep - the London borough with the most cyclists. Once again Hackney has become a destination place for all that is good and hopeful for our future.

I set three challenges at the conference:

1. Hammer the doors of influence about the bike message

2. Tell the new London mayor that ‘cycling matters’

3. Get a new friend to start riding their bike.

The last challenge alone would double the number of cyclists and significantly reduce the number of vehicle journeys in London, and increase exponentially the number of fitter and healthier people in the capital. That will bring savings to the health service and help to create a healthier community as people meet on the street and elsewhere whilst cycling.

I will also continue to campaign for the safety of cyclists in Hackney so that more people will be encouraged to use a bike as they see it’s safer to ride on the roads.