Cycling UK’s New Strategy – Still working for mountain bikers?

Cycling UK recently launched its new strategy, setting out what the charity will be working towards in the years ahead. Plus, in advance of the genera …

By stwhannah

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Cycling UK’s New Strategy – Still working for mountain bikers?

“Given their recent restructure, which saw the removal of their dedicated off-road team, and their change in strategic direction, it’s a relief to see Cycling UK re-confirm their commitment to campaigning on behalf of everyone who cycles off-road.

With a new Labour Government, we have a once-in-a-generation chance to influence a change to access laws in England. Cycling UK need to put their words into action, by taking a leading role in the Outdoors for All coalition and putting effort and resources into campaigning for change. We need to see a “Trails for England” campaign led by them soon, or the opportunity will be lost.

It’s good to hear they’re considering joining Beicio Cymru and the UK MTB Trail Alliance in backing the DMBinW initiative and possibly providing funding. I know from experience how much difference Cycling UK’s contribution, financial and otherwise, made to DMBinS in Scotland, and it would be great to see them make a similar commitment in Wales”.

Ian Warby, Trustee, UK MTB Trail Alliance and former CTC off-road lead.

I had lost interest by them time I had read the key objectives that seem more about ticking all the right boxes and have nothing to do with improving cycling and access for mountain biking.

i think the assumption the current strategy is actually working is a little presumptuous

key objectives that seem more about ticking all the right boxes

Attending a Cycling UK general meeting is an inspiring event.

They do so much to enable people to ride bikes and engage in society (very often battling a government that does not want that). Mountain biking is a small part of that although the access we enjoy in Scotland is very much due to the work of Cycling UK advocates.

(Off on a bike ride this morning to ensure gates on the local windfarm comply with equality legislation….).

Interesting article. I tend to agree with all Cycling UK’s points, I think they have the right focus and direction.

I had lost interest by them time I had read the key objectives that seem more about ticking all the right boxes and have nothing to do with improving cycling and access for mountain biking.

The article covers what and how they are working towards that. It might depend on how you see MTB, natural trail access or built trail laps, they seem to be doing the right things overall.

No mention of NI here 🙁 just England, Scotland and Wales…

There is a CyclingUK NI section/lead, and we do have specific challenges here, especially not having a dedicated public rights of way network, there are no off road routes that have ROW status, only permissive paths/tracks, and so OS maps in NI have none of the E&W mapped PROW, it’s a blank.

There are plans for some new ‘greenways’ and some MTB provision in our forests such as Rostrevor, otherwise it’s a matter of piecing together off-road sections with quieter metalled roads, so NI has specific needs (as always!) and not only is this ignored in this piece, by NI not being mentioned here also shows a STW blind spot.

Unsure it is STW’s blindspot but perhaps Cycling UK’s if they haven’t mentioned NI in their provision. Which does seem a bit odd.

I hadn’t realised access was still not great in NI, I recall this being discussed many years ago but I was sure something then happened (which I can’t remember). That really does need improved.

A deeper dive into the documents offered a few places that seemed relevant, so I asked a few questions

The interview is STW’s hence my point about the NI ‘blind spot’, to be fair to CyclingUK there is in the mag usually something on NI matters.

The situation re access to the countryside in NI is very similar to ROI, it’s an all-island issue, but under CyclingUK, NI clearly comes within their balliwick!

I had lost interest by them time I had read the key objectives that seem more about ticking all the right boxes and have nothing to do with improving cycling and access for mountain biking.

It is all sounding a bit wishy-washy.

1. I would hope that’s a given, unless you’ve been spending all the money on coke and hookers?

2. ‘Improve perceptions’ Would rather my money was spent on tangible outcomes. Perhaps just mean ‘promote the benefits of cycling’. Whatever the case, it’s sounding a bit preachy.

3. Build it and they will come… (preferably without the diversity crap)

4. Meaningless fluff.

5. Again, I don’t really know what they mean by this. Is it more talk and no action? Is it the same as points 2 and 3? How are they going to increase choices – if you’ve got a bike you can ride it, if you don’t have a bike then you can’t ride it.

 

I had lost interest by them time I had read the key objectives that seem more about ticking all the right boxes and have nothing to do with improving cycling and access for mountain biking.

So this is the second time CTC/Cycling UK have disbaded their of-road dedicated resource.  Once immediatley after the charity conversion, and again now.  They supported trail developemtn at Aston Hill, then stepped back from that.  They are backing away from pushing for wider access for cycles in the countryside.

In 30 years of off-road cycleing, I fail to see what CTC/CUK have achieved, which is most likley due to their inconsistent, pathchy and piecemeal approach to access, rather than the people trying their best to make a difference.

PDMTB have made more of a difference/highlighted more issues, and challenged the status quo more effectively than CUK have, and these changes at CUK wouldn’t appear to make the situaiton any better.  The UK’s cycling bodies need to bang their heads together and have a coherent approach, which I would suggest as:

Leisure cycling:  CTC/CUK

Transport Cycling: Sustrans

Sport Cycling: British Cycling

Off-road would fall under “leisure” unless its between the tapes, so maybe a dedicated CTC-affiliated/funded/cojoined organisaiton to cover that.  Or jut another trading name to operate under (As Cycling UK actually is of the CTC).

Unfortunaltey, sustrans is fundametlally incompetetent  (As evidenced by the standard of the NCN), and doesn’t understand what is actually reuqired of leisure cyclig route (As evidenced by their current requirement that all new routes be tarmac), the CTC seems to have split its focus between urban utility and traditional touring, and BC are only interested in track, with  a bit of road on the side.

As a long term memeber of the CTC, I am severely dissapointed with this change in direction and reallocaiton of resource.

Good on Ian Wharby for going it alone, but withough the might of an established organisation behie it, I feel that UK MTB Trail Alliance (UKMTA?) will go the way of IMBA-UK.  Best of luck.

Note: Edited for types and clarity.

Doesn’t matter what they do, some aren’t happy. Tough job. Something about ‘those in the arena.. ‘.

Hey @keithb

You’re right, mountain biking hasn’t had proper representation, with British Cycling on one side, only caring about some of the competitive aspects of the sport (while ignoring Enduro racing, and the vast majority of riders who ride for recreation not competition) and Cycling UK on the other, who as their new strategy makes clear, are primarily interested in cycling as a means of transport, with a subsidiary concern for all who cycle for leisure. As a result, they may worry about access to bridleways, fire roads, jeep tracks and sheep tracks, but they’re not concerned about purpose-built mountain bike trails, whether official or unofficial.

Which is why the UK MTB Trail Alliance came together, to fill the gap between British Cycling and Cycling UK – we’re here to advocate for UK riders and their trails.

And I’m most definitely not going it alone! I’m one of eight trustees of the UK MTB Trail Alliance, and the alliance itself comprises of well over a 100 different trail associations, informal trail groups and bike parks from all four nations of the UK. Have a read of @stwhannah’s article about our launch which has all of the details.

We are here for the duration, let me assure you!

Ian Warby, Trustee, UK MTB Trail Alliance and former CTC off-road lead.