The event, delivered in collaboration with key partners including the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the Scottish Government, British Cycling and Glasgow City Council, was held at Scotland’s Climate Ambition Zone. Taking place on Wednesday 10 November - during the global climate summit’s official Transport Day - it focused on how the humble bike can be a powerful tool to combat climate change and how the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships can act as a catalyst for behavioural transformation in Scotland. Approximately 90 people attended live, and another 417 people registered to watch online.
In 2023, the inaugural UCI Cycling World Championships will bring together 13 UCI World Championships from multiple cycling disciplines for the first time in one unprecedented event. The vision for the 2023 UCI Cycling Worlds is that it will be ‘a catalyst for change across Scotland from 2019 to 2027’, supporting the development of world class cycling through the event itself – but also supporting the cycling industry, cycling tourism, cycling participation, and cycling as a key mode of transport. The 2023 UCI Cycling Championships is part of a long-term plan to enable and encourage more people to ride bikes more often. Through the ‘Power of the Bike’, the event aims to inspire Scotland and Britain to be healthier, wealthier, and greener, via the 3 campaign themes for 2023 – People, Place and Planet.
After welcoming speeches from Paul Bush (Chair of 2023 Cycling Worlds Ltd) and Trudy Lindblade (CEO of 2023 Cycling Worlds Ltd), an inspiring keynote address was delivered by Maree Todd, Scottish Minister for Public Health, Women’s Health & Sport. They all highlighted the holistic vision for the 2023 Cycling Worlds, including the tangible impacts across Scotland which have already been inspired either directly or indirectly by a focus on cycling and walking.
Two panel discussions, moderated by Orla Chennaoui, well known within cycling spheres for her work as a sports broadcaster, podcaster, columnist and writer, featured diverse speakers from cycling organisations, governments, NGOs, young riders and cycling brands.
The first panel discussed the power of sport and large-scale events to inspire positive societal change. Drawing on experience from various events, sectors and sports, the panel included the following speakers:
Maree Todd, Minister for Public Health, Women’s Health & Sport.
Enrico Della Casa, UCI Vice President.
Hannah Dines, 2016 Paralympic Cyclist, sports pundit and writer.
Dan Reading, Head of Sustainability at Right Formula.
Peter Crowson, Young Peoples Panel at Scottish Cycling.
Nick Chamberlin, Policy Manager at British Cycling.
The session highlighted the key factors in ensuring sport is a catalyst for change, the need for inclusive and accessible events and infrastructures, and the necessity to include the voice of young people in early stages of planning. Speakers also pinpointed obstacles – and how to overcome them – when trying to implement change.
The second panel focused on cities transforming the lives of their inhabitants thanks to cycling, with examples from the UCI and Glasgow regarding the UCI Bike City Label, as well as strategies followed by cities and international organisations to promote greater cycling use. Input came from:
Billy Garrett, Director of Sport and Events, Glasgow Life
Isabella Burczak, Advocacy & Development Manager, UCI
Henk Swarttouw, President, European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF)
Heather Thompson, CEO, Institute for Transportation & Development Policy (ITDP)
Stephen Loftus, CCO, Brompton Bicycle.
As well as the obvious importance of protected and safe infrastructure to get more people cycling, speakers also underlined the need to identify and remove diversity barriers in order to induce cultural change. The ITDP’s new Cycling Cities campaign as well as the UCI Bike City Label were shared as two examples of city networks looking to inspire knowledge sharing, holistic planning and best practices. E-bikes, children’s cycling education and fiscal incentives were identified as means to increase cycling across populations.
During the event, Chris Boardman - British Cycling Policy Advisor and Transport Commissioner for Greater Manchester – inspired participants with his personal story with regard to cycling advocacy, providing insights into the tangible steps and actions he has been leading to make streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists in Greater Manchester.
At the end of the event, Paul Bush said: “Cycling represents one of the planet's great hopes to shift towards lower or zero-carbon methods of transport and address some of the greatest threats to humanity; climate change, air pollution and premature death from inactivity. The knowledge, experience and passion of our speakers and panellists generated some great debate and I hope it has inspired many more people to join us on our journey to delivering something truly transformational in 2023.
“I’m grateful to our partners at the UCI, Scottish Government, British Cycling, UK Sport and Glasgow City Council in supporting the delivery of the session and look forward to continuing to work together towards the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships in Glasgow and Scotland.”
Nick Chamberlin, Policy Manager at British Cycling, added: “The championships in Glasgow and Scotland in 2023 marks a significant moment for the sport of cycling, one where the ambition for a sustainable future for the sport meets the ambition of a city and a nation to embrace the power of cycling to enable more people to choose a different way to live their lives.
“British Cycling is proud of the work we have done with the UCI, UK Sport and the Scottish and UK Governments to ensure that national and global fans of the sport understand that cycling is serious about the need for rapid and sustained action so that future generations can continue to enjoy the sport while living a more sustainable life.”