At the beginning of 2024 Manchester ushered in an incredible year after being named the European Capital of Cycling.
This accolade, awarded by ACES was the result of a huge amount of effort being put into investing in cycling across Manchester, and encouraging more people to look at it as the default way to travel.
Whether that was outreach in our communities to showing people that cycling was accessible and an enjoyable way to travel, to large infrastructure projects putting in place better and improved infrastructure to make cycling easier for everyone.
Over the course of 2024 some major milestones were hit. Whether it was getting more people than ever to pick up cycling, to a huge range of community events taking place, to having a record number of bike journeys take place in Manchester.
We achieved:
- More than 1.3m bike journeys taking place along the Oxford Road corridor – a record-breaking figure
- Cycling trips by Manchester residents increased from around 28,000 to 82,000
- Manchester cyclists spent one million minutes cycling last year – that’s more than 22 months of continuous cycling!
- More than £75,000 of funding directed towards Manchester bike schemes
- 69 community events took place throughout the year
- 47 bike grants were awarded
- 7 new infrastructure projects saw spades in the ground
- 449 bikes were fixed through community repair initiatives
Also, each year We Are Cycling compile a list of 100 women in cycling who have gone the extra mile to promote cycling within their community. The Council was thrilled that in the Year of Cycling 11 women from Manchester were included in this list.
This not only speaks to the important role that women are playing in promoting and growing cycling in Manchester, but an important marker on the increased number of women who are participating in a range of cycling-related fields.
Naz Khan, champion for accessible and inclusive cycling in Manchester, said: “I’m truly humbled by the wonderful recognition from Cycling UK, It’s a privilege to represent North Manchester nationally in the year that Manchester was named the European Capital of Cycling.
“The award is more special as I share it with remarkable women working exceptionally hard to promote cycling, creating equal opportunities and enhancing a better environment for everyone.”
Beth Craigen, champion of underrepresented groups in cycling, said: “I am honoured to have been recognised alongside such an incredible group of women doing amazing things in the world of cycling. It’s been brilliant to support so many awesome projects in Manchester this year including Pedal Parties for families, Intro to Mountain Biking for women and girls at Wythenshawe Park, Rides for Women, Kidical Mass and Women’s Cycling Stories events with Nacro Greater Manchester Outdoor Learning, Bee Pedal, Lady Pedal, British Cycling and the other brilliant community groups in the city.”
Councillor John Hacking, Executive Member for Skills, Employment and Leisure said: “Being named the European Capital of Cycling was an incredibly proud moment for Manchester. Improving our cycling offer and helping as many people as possible wheel or cycle through our city has been a top priority for us and to see the fruits of our labour has been incredibly moving to see.
“Breaking down barriers and helping more people to cycling is so vitally important, so celebrating women like Naz and Beth who have made their mark in Manchester is truly a moment to savour and to celebrate.”
Sarah Mitchell, chief executive at Cycling UK, said: “Each year I’m blown away by all the remarkable stories we receive of women making lasting, inspirational and transformative change through cycling. It’s a privilege to share these names and give real recognition to the women who have worked so hard to bring their love of cycling to others.
“This year’s nominees remind us of the power cycling holds to bring people together and empower individuals. Looking back, we’ve made great progress to make cycling more inclusive through campaigns for safer cycling infrastructure and initiatives that promote cycling for all ages and abilities. But our work is far from done. The road ahead is full of opportunity, and we’re eager to see more women and diverse communities take up cycling.”
Notes
Naz Khan, bio 100 Women in Cycling 2024 | Naz Khan
Beth Craigen bio 100 Women in Cycling 2024 | Beth Craigen
Full 100 list 100 Women in Cycling 2024 | Cycling UK
