All-Party Parliamentary Group for Cycling and Walking 2026
Organised by the Dutch Embassy
How do we ensure that new cycling infrastructure best serves the people who need it most? The answer lies in data. This was the core focus of the annual cycle ride of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Cycling and Walking, which we attended in June.
Organised by the Dutch Embassy, this year’s event explored how data can be used to support and enhance cycling networks. The event opened with contributions from Fabian Hamilton MP, Chair of the APPG for Cycling and Walking; Annemijn van den Broek, Deputy Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; and Lilian Greenwood MP, Minister for Local Transport, before a guided cycle ride around Hyde Park.
The day brought together a wide range of organisations involved in active travel, shared mobility and transport data, including Strava, Forest, Voi, Active Travel England and Goudappel, our Dutch mobility partners.
During the sessions, we learned how data collected from Strava and shared mobility operators can be used to identify usage patterns, helping to pinpoint where network improvements are most needed to protect vulnerable users. These insights highlight the importance of infrastructure that reflects how people actually move, including connected and segregated routes, adequate lighting, and convenient cycle parking close to home.
Emma Stubbe of Goudappel showcased how data can directly inform evidence-based policy, supporting a ‘vision and validate’ approach to transport planning where the starting point is the kind of place we want to create. This means designing environments where everyone, irrespective of age, gender or ability, is invited to cycle safely.
This approach is highly relevant for practitioners in England, particularly now that vision-led transport planning is embedded in the National Planning Policy Framework.
The discussion reinforced the role of data in moving beyond broad ambition towards targeted, evidence-led investment in cycling infrastructure, helping to ensure that improvements are delivered where they can have the greatest impact.
A fantastic event highlighting the connection between data, design and active travel.
