Cycle Ipswich have launched a new initiative to encourage local organisations and individuals to express their support for measures to enable walk and cycle safely and enjoyably in and around Ipswich. We have done this by creating a “charter” – a shared statement of views that is designed to be both clear and positive and also broad in its appeal. It has a separate identity and website to Cycle Ipswich (IpswichCWcharter.org.uk) and we emphasise that signing up to the charter does not mean one has to agree with every policy Cycle Ipswich puts forward.
We have based our charter closely on similar initiatives in Exeter, where we understand that the idea originated, Chelmsford, Colchester, Winchester, and the West Midlands.
Despite our focus being on cycling, it was felt that other modes of active travel, particularly walking should be included and the Ipswich group of Living Streets (https://www.livingstreets.org.uk/get-involved/local-groups/ipswich) have agreed to get involved and to promote the charter alongside us.
Although it is early days – the charter was launched in February 2021, representatives of all four main political parties active in the area have signed up, as well as major local organisations including University of Suffolk, Ipswich Town, Suffolk County Council and Ipswich Borough Council have already signed up.
Once we have collected a sufficiently large body of signatories, the plan is to use the charter and our contacts with those who have signed to increase pressure for positive change, as well as providing signatories with useful information about steps they can take as an employer, a school, a business etc. We can also use news updates to those signatories who have ticked the box for them to increase awareness of new developments, consultations and campaigns.
Please add your name at IpswichCWcharter.org.uk and pass the word on to your employer, school, and business partners, to encourage them to do the same.