Diversity in Cycling

On Monday 24th June the Diversity in Cycling report was launched with an event at Look Mum No Hands. The report was written by one of our members, Andy Edwards, in collaboration with a number of riders from Black And Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds, including Kingston Wheelers members Alex Reid and Matt Kumar.
Starting off as a seed as an idea many months ago, Diversity in Cycling has grown to include contributions from over 60 BAME cyclists, whose experiences of cycling and cycling clubs are very revealing. These experiences are detailed in a report together with practical recommendations that cycling clubs, the media and brands can all play a part in embracing.  The report is supported by British Cycling, to share the report with cycling clubs across the UK and with brands and cycling related media.
The event was massively well attended with representation from most of London’s cycling clubs and the wider cycling community, who turned out to see a panel of guests, which included the legendary Maurice Burton of De Ver Cycles, talk about their own experiences in the sport and how we can all make a positive impact in the future.
Andy chaired the Q&A and had this to say after the event:
“Just to say a massive thank you to everyone who supported the Diversity in Cycling report and launch event at Look Mum No Hands! All those who came along, especially those who participated in the panel and helped shape the report. Extra special kudos to Yewande Adesida for saying some wonderful final words (and I only gave her about 2 minutes notice to think of something to say … as we had massively overrun).
Seriously though, we demonstrated that is a massive and much needed conversation in the sport of cycling and things MUST change. Anyone in that room can make that happen. One voice can change a room, if you can change a room, you can change a city, if you can change a city, you can change a nation and you can change a nation you can change the world. Start now. 
20 years ago cycling in Britain was a joke. No one thought we would top the medals table at the Olympics or World Champs, 10 years ago people laughed when David Brailsford said Team Sky would with the Tour de France with a British rider in 5 years (I was one of them). 
DO NOT tell me that cycling is just for middle aged middle class white guys, cycling is for everyone. Someone had the vision to change British Cycling for the better; we can have a vision to take it forward for the next 20 years.”
To find out more take a look at the full report on britishcycling.org.uk