Firstly, thank you for taking the time to look into CyclingWorks Bristol. You’ll understand that business opinion can influence the decisions and priorities of local government.
It would be great if you can help us to make the voice of your organisation heard in support of safer commuting by bike. As someone who commutes by bike, you will be well aware of the risk of collisions on the road and the threat of theft or damage to your bike, whilst it is parked.
Improvements can be made to reduce these risks – that’s good for you, as well as encouraging others to use their bikes making Bristol a cleaner, healthier city for us all.
We are inviting employers in Bristol to support the delivery of direct and continuous protected bike lanes across the city and more cycle friendly infrastructure (our goals). If your employer can be encouraged to support these objectives, (along with other businesses), then there is a higher likelihood of it becoming a reality, faster.
TAKE ACTION: The best way to approach this is to talk to others at your workplace, who also cycle. Together ask someone empowered to speak for your organisation to show your company’s support for these plans. (A Managing Director, Partner, CEO, Director will usually be able to do this.)
This is an employee safety issue and your directors care about employee safety.
The following template should help you to outline to your employer why they should support this scheme.
Subject: Safe cycling to work in Bristol
Dear [Sir / Madam],
The regional government body responsible for transport The West of England Combined Authority (WECA) endorsed its Local Walking & Cycling Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) in June 2020, in which it describes the delivery of more cycleways across the City and region that would make getting to work by bike much safer & easier.
The plan is a comprehensive programme which runs through to 2036, and within it there are certain routes running North to South & East to West through the City, which would benefit bike commuters more and we think should be prioritised. In addition, it is critical that these commuter routes are built to the latest design safety standards.
If built, these cycleways will dramatically improve travelling across Bristol and would be a huge leap forward for the safety of all our staff who commute by bike, including me.
Unfortunately, with limited resources and many projects there is a real danger that these specific routes will not be delivered quickly. That’s why I’m canvassing for support from local organisations, whose staff could benefit, starting with us.
I would very much like to have you send a letter of support for the plan and especially these two commuter friendly routes on behalf of our organisation. I would deeply appreciate us supporting this as soon as possible, potentially even in the coming week.
If you are OK to lend our support, we just need to send an email to the regional and local government decision makers. It needs to specifically say “For Consideration” and mention Commuting by Bike as a priority within their adopted plan. In it, it would be important to explain how commuting by bike is important to our organisation and our employees.
If you need to find out more about the plan and bike commuter routes, please follow this link:
See: CyclingWorks Bristol “our goals”
If you need some help in framing our letter of support, there is advice and a template letter here:
See: CyclingWorks Bristol “how can my organisation help?”
I would be happy to write a first draft of the statement and send it to you.
Thank you for your time,
[Your Name]