INTERVIEW
FROM WESTMINSTER TO ACTIVE TRAVEL, TRUDY HARRISON LAYS OUT HER VISION FOR CYCLING IN THE UK
Jake Holmes speaks with the former Transport Minister and current Bikeability Chair on her fresh new role with Fusion…
TRUDY HARRISON, former Conversative MP and Minister for Transport under Boris Johnson’s administration, has recently joined Fusion, becoming a political advisor to the organisation. She gives her advice to the company on political matters and lobbying the current Government to get meaningful legislation passed.
During her tenure at the Department for Transport (DfT), Harrison convinced Johnson to bring Active Travel under the department's stewardship. This gave Harrison more power to implement her vision of Active Travel in the UK, whilst also incorporating Active Travel into DfT planning and budgets.
Having lost her seat in 2024, Harrison joined Fusion in an effort to continue her work in Active Travel, continuing to pursue a healthy and fitter nation.
Harrison explains why she decided Fusion was the correct option for her after leaving government: “There is a strong nature-nurture nuclear theme to what I’ve chosen to do after leaving parliament, when Adam asked if I might have the capacity to support Fusion as their political advisor and on general matters, I jumped at the chance as they really align with what I stand for.”
Harrison says: “We are a country that suffers with all of the complexities of obesity, high rates of diabetes and low rates of activity. Fusion is trying to tackle that in a really positive way.”
Along with her work with Fusion, she is also the Chair of the Bikeability Trust. Whilst chair, Harrison has advocated for the Bikeability Trust to be more active in schools. Using the Bikeability Trust, children can be educated in how to ride their bikes.
“WE ARE A COUNTRY THAT SUFFERS WITH ALL OF THE COMPLEXITIES OF OBESITY, HIGH RATES OF DIABETES AND LOW RATES OF ACTIVITY. FUSION IS TRYING TO TACKLE THAT IN A REALLY POSITIVE WAY”
Trudy Harrison
The organisation offers training schemes for people of all ages to get to grips with cycling. Adding the Bikeability Trust Level training to the school curriculum could be a way to increase cycling uptake amongst children, with the hope of this having a lifetime impact onto their travel choices.
One of Harrison's beliefs is all children should leave school having attained either level two or three Bikeability training. This would incorporate the programme into the curriculum, making it compulsory and increasing accessibility to cycling.
Added to this, cycle clubs are a big part of her beliefs when evaluating the future of cycling. Getting people engaged is a key factor, and cycle clubs can be great for this. By having more cycle clubs, people are held more accountable by their peers. “If you agree to meet someone for a cycle, you are more likely to turn up” Harrison argues.
Run clubs, five-a-side football teams, social sports and fitness clubs can be a fantastic way to keep people fit and healthy whilst improving the social lives and mental health of those who attend.
Harrison's affinity for bikes is explained through the practical aspects: “Walking’s brilliant, but we can get three times further, three times faster [on a bike], with the invention of the electric bike, you can carry cargo, you can carry children. As a mother of four, I think it opens up the world more conveniently to where walking might be a little bit limited.”
“WALKING’S BRILLIANT, BUT WE CAN GET THREE TIMES FURTHER, THREE TIMES FASTER [ON A BIKE], WITH THE INVENTION OF THE ELECTRIC BIKE, YOU CAN CARRY CARGO, YOU CAN CARRY CHILDREN. AS A MOTHER OF FOUR, I THINK IT OPENS UP THE WORLD MORE CONVENIENTLY TO WHERE WALKING MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT LIMITED”
Trudy Harrison
Inspiration for how we can become a true cycling nation comes from our European cousins. Harrison notes how in the Netherlands, cycling is seen as a means to an end.
She recalls a trip she had to the country for cycling purposes. Upon getting ready to go for a ride, she was a little taken aback when a woman in heels responded ‘this is my cycling clothes’, as the concept of changing into full-body Lycra for simple transportation seemed alien to them.
Harrison says: “Not everyone feels confident to get into a pair of leggings, which can be a barrier for a lot of people. If you are not cycling very far… normal clothes is part of being more accessible, wearing everyday clothes, so it's not as much of a barrier.”
Having said this, the debate about whether helmets discourage people from cycling is an outlier. Harrison herself declares she is more than happy to wear a helmet cycling.
Harrison expanded: “It’s a little safety feature that causes me no hassle whatsoever.”
Leaving Government when she did, Harrison is now left with the expertise and knowledge of what changes are required to bring about a better plan for active travel in the future. She credits her experience at the DfT for this, and is now working with multiple active travel organisations to help bring about the change she believes in.