The document outlines the experience of a local campaigning group, Newcycling, highlighting their six years of efforts towards promoting cycling as a sustainable transport option. It describes the group's structure, core activities, and strategies for community engagement, emphasizing the importance of clarity and planning in campaigning for a safer cycling environment. Additionally, it provides resources and references for further information on effective cycling advocacy.

1. Newcycling: sharing our experience
in local campaigning
Claire Prospert
21 January 2017
Durham
www.newcycling.org@newcycling

2. 6 years of campaigning for a transport
transition

4. Practical stuff
Forming a formal campaign group
Constituted unincorporated group:
- Most simple model
- Requires a constitution
- Sets out membership arrangements
- Annual report, accounts, and an Annual General Meeting
- Governed by a management committee (Chair, Secretary and
Treasurer) which meets regularly
Allows to:
- Open a bank account
- Apply for grants
- Set up online donations via localgiving (giftaid)
- Reply to consultations (e.g. Traffic orders)

6. Core activities & tools
• Communication: up to date website, email
account, facebook group, twitter account, e-
newsletter, press releases
• Policies and campaign statements, replies to
consultation (strategic, engagement and
technical)
• Engagement activities with decision-makers:
meetings, surveys, rides, infra safaris, events
& conferences, and public talks

7. Minimum stuff
• Up to date website: history of the campaign,
accountable for activities, build a track-record
• Core group of volunteers with roles and functions
• Focus: agree key message, spread it, articulate a
campaign plan around it (i.e. annual priorities)
and define/target the change agents/decision
makers
• Clarity: how much you can do, what you don’t do,
(what you’d like to do if you had more volunteers)

8. Media
• Requires resources and dedicated
volunteers
• Social media: twitter, facebook,
slideshare, youtube….
• Press/Radio/TV: high staff
turnaround, contacts list to be
regularly updated
Photos, visuals
and short
messages such as
Space for Cycling!!

10. Who/what do we campaign for?
Current cyclists VS future of cycling
• A campaign is for community support of a
discriminated-against minority (cyclists, cycle lobby,
cycle community)
• However we do not only campaign FOR that minority,
but the wider population – creating the environment to
enable people of all ages and abilities to cycle
• Cycling versus cyclists
• Not just about cycling – sustainable & liveable cities

11. It’s a journey! Have fun!!
Thanks for listening

13. Useful references
• http://newcycling.org/our-campaign-5-years-
in-15-minutes
• https://cyclingindustry.news/five-key-tips-for-
the-first-time-or-veteran-cycling-
infrastructure-campaigner/
• Have a look at our annual reports on
www.newcycling.org.uk