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Bristol gets its first ‘bicycle mayor’
Bristol’s first ‘bicycle mayor’ aims for at least half of all city trips to be taken by bike by 2030.
Leah DeHaan hopes to make Bristol “more human-centric and fit for the future”.
Unlike in other UK cities including London and Manchester, which both have a walking & cycling commissioner, the role in Bristol is unpaid and independent from the city council.
is needed now More than ever
Leah is taking up the voluntary role alongside her job as a bicycle courier.
She said: “I am really pleased to be named as bicycle mayor of Bristol. Bristol has such great energy to stimulate change and a real opportunity to create excitement around cycling.”
Leah said that she will be “promoting the fact that no two cyclists look the same, we are all unique in our expression, whether we have never cycled before, or just once a month, to commuting by bicycle – we all have a choice”.
She also promises to push for updating infrastructure including building new cycle paths and increasing secure bike parking.
The new two-wheeled tsar also promises to promote “a shift in awareness and interest towards Bristol’s cycle culture by listening to a variety of perspectives and collaboratively taking action in pioneering ways”.
Leah DeHaan is part of an international group of Bicycle Mayors – photo: Bristol Cycling Campaign
The international Bicycle Mayor network was established and is coordinated by the Dutch social enterprise BYCS.
Bristol Cycling Campaign chair, Tom Swithinbank, said: “This is an exciting time for cycling in our city and we are delighted to welcome Leah into this role.
“It was great for us to work with BYCS on this project to find a bicycle mayor for Bristol and Leah is the perfect fit for this role. We look forward to working with Leah!”
Main photo: Bristol Cycling Campaign
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