Enabling sustainable travel - Cycle Tourism Revolution webinar 3

In conversation with Dave Clasby Partnership Sustrans Development Manager – East Midlands and Tim Nicholson Transport Policy Planner – Peak District National Park.

Dave from Sustrans will highlight the economic growth opportunities the National Cycle Network offers businesses across the Peak District & Derbyshire. He’ll also talk about creating attractive people friendly places both across Derbyshire and in the wider context.

Tim Nicholson will talk about the importance of creating a sustainable, low-carbon destination that works with nature and enhances the well-being of our communities and visitors.

Carol Parsons, Cycling and Walking Networks Project Officer at Derbyshire County Council (DCC) will highlight DCC's ambition to make Derbyshire the most connected and integrated county for cycling.

The Peak District and Derbyshire is one of the UK's most popular cycling destinations and is a key driver of visitors to the destination. With options for road cycling, mountain biking or gentle traffic-free cycle trails, it attracts visitors of all ages from both domestic and international markets.

Cycling tourism offers a diverse market. Germany and the United Kingdom are the largest source markets for cycling tourism, followed by the Netherlands. The demand for this niche market is increasing, partly accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the urge to explore nature. Cycling tourism offers many opportunities, including an experience with the local community, cycling tours using unpaved roads, advertisement via specific cycling-focused media and the new possibilities that come along with e-bikes.

With potential economic benefits this series of webinars will help you to develop product to attract visitors, and how to market these effectively. Cycle tourism can have environmental benefits such as reductions in pollution and traffic congestion, economic regeneration and better health. The UK is in the middle of a cycling boom. Recreational and weekend cycling is up by 60% over the last two years, partly due to the coronavirus pandemic. Sales of bicycles increased dramatically during the Covid-19 lockdown, and councils across the country have begun bolstering their support for cyclists. In England alone, the length of cycling trips rose by 26% between 2019 and 2020, proof that more people than ever are opting for two wheels over four.

Derbyshire has a great cycling offer with over 260 miles of traffic-free cycle routes to explore and plenty of circular cycle trails in Derbyshire for everyone to enjoy, each cyclist will be looking to find cycle-friendly businesses to stay with and visit.