Cycleways is first and foremost a cycle campaigning organisation. And to that end, it is really important to build good relationships with the transport policy makers in Warwickshire County Council. Chief amongst them is the Transport Portfolio holder, currently Cllr Stephen Shaw (Reform UK).
Our Chair, Simon Storey, has been keen to meet Cllr Shaw for some time, and on 1st October he and another committee member, Tony Lewenz, did just that.
Simon takes up the story (no pun intended!).
“As many of you may know, I have been trying to meet with a representative from Reform UK since they became the minority administration in May 2025.
“As my role as Bicycle Mayor is independent, I am keen to work with all parties of local government to push the cycling agenda forward, and it is not a secret that Reform’s stance on cycling is not particularly a positive one, however, all the more reason to engage with them, and I thank Cllr Shaw for meeting with me.
“It was a productive meeting where we both set out our stalls, so to speak, and as portfolio holder for transport I was pleased to hear that Cllr Shaw has a real emphasis on safe routes to schools on his agenda, and he admitted that cycling will form a part of that.
“We agreed to disagree on certain points, and he is keen to work with me and Cycleways going forward to understand the needs of cyclists. which if any investment is going to be given, understandably, he wants to see the economic business case for, which I know we will be able to provide.
“I look forward to meeting with him again and moving forwards together.”