What is a Bicycle Mayor?
The Bicycle Mayor position helps coordinate between existing cyclists, the community, government, and nonprofits and was pioneered in Amsterdam. Bicycle Mayors aren’t part of local government, but volunteers who are recommended by local cycling groups and city stakeholders. There are over 100 Bicycle Mayors operating around the globe from Madrid to Mumbai, instantly sharing ideas and solutions that accelerate the shift from car-centric to human-centric places. The Bicycle Mayor programme started in Amsterdam and is run by non-profit BYCS.
Tranter received endorsements to be Coventry’s Bicycle Mayor from Sir Chris Hoy, the All Party Parliamentary Group on Cycling and Walking, British Cycling, BBC Coventry & Warwickshire presenter Phil Upton, the Warwick University Bicycle Users Group and other local cycling advocates.
Nonprofit BYCS explain it on their website as:
The Bicycle Mayor & Leaders Network is a global initiative to accelerate the progress of cycling in cities and help get another one billion people onto bikes. Pretty simple, right?
Bicycle Mayors are a catalyst to bring together the public and private realms to uncover the massive economic, health, and environmental benefits of increased cycling capacity. They are uncovering new ideas, working with others to deliver action and promoting innovations that support better cycling for all.
BYCS – which initiated and coordinates the network – is now working with local partners to set up Bicycle Mayors in cities around the world. Together, they are using the bicycle to address pollution crises, tackle road deaths, break down social barriers and enable people to access essential services for the first time. Time for your city to get a Bicycle Mayor?
You can read more about Bicycle Mayors in these press articles:
If your city doesn’t have a “bike mayor,” it could soon (Fast Company): https://www.fastcompany.com/90336191/if-your-city-doesnt-have-a-bike-mayor-it-could-soon
“Bicycles could save the world”: Meet Amsterdam’s bicycle mayor (Quartz): https://qz.com/1763240/amsterdams-bicycle-mayor-thinks-cycling-could-save-the-world/
Sir Chris Hoy
6x Olympic Champion“There are few people who understand the importance of getting more people active than Adam. There are even fewer who have the practical experience and knowhow to bottle all that is great about cycling and take it to new cyclists. I look forward to seeing what Adam can achieve, getting more children cycling and continuing to raise awareness of the many benefits.”
Phil Upton
BBC Coventry & Warwickshire“Adam is a ‘Covkid’ as we would say here. So he’s grown up here, still has family here and is uniquely placed to understand the frustrations of cycling infrastructure in Coventry and best represent a whole range of issues from cycling use, environmental and health benefits and modernising city transport strategies.”