Home News Pedal on Parliament campaigner shortlisted for award

Pedal on Parliament campaigner shortlisted for award

September 19, 2012 9:07 pm

Sally Hinchcliffe from Dumfries is a founding member of Pedal on Parliament, the cycling group which had such an important impact in Edinburgh earlier this year.

The campaigning group are raising awareness and putting pressure on politicians to sign up to an eight-point manifesto to make Scotland a cycle-friendly nation. This April, 3000 cyclists from across Scotland pedalled on Parliament in a mass ride in support of the manifesto.

Sally was a finalist for this year’s SMK Transport Award. Sponsored by Dr Simon Norton, this award is a celebration and recognition of people working to meet the transport challenges of our time.

She joins a collection of Sheila McKechnie Foundation (SMK) Campaigner Awards winners and finalists, who were announced last night at a special ceremony hosted by Channel 4 newscaster, and SMK Patron, Jon Snow, at St Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square, London.

The awards recognise the outstanding contribution that a new generation of campaigners are making towards achieving social, environmental and economic justice here in the UK. The winners each received a tailored package of support to help them develop their campaign.

Pedal on Parliament’s eight-point manifesto includes: proper funding for cycling, better infrastructure design, safer speeds, proper local cycling strategies, better law enforcement, reduced risk from HGVs, better training for all road users and better research to support policymaking.

The Transport Award was presented by Zac Goldsmith, MP. Zac is a vocal campaigner against Heathrow’s third runway and he is well known for his campaigning on other environmental and conservation issues.

SMK is the UK’s only charity dedicated to connecting, informing and supporting campaigners.

Sally Hinchcliffe said:-“I’m delighted to have been shortlisted for this award – especially when you consider Pedal on Parliament was only formed this February. We’re just a group of cyclists who’ve never done anything like this before, and having some support from SMK to help us make connections with others on the Scottish scene will be invaluable.”

Sally is shown in our photo above with her fellow members of Pedal on Parliament after their meeting with Transport Minister, Keith Brown, and at the very top with the other award winners and nominees in London last night with Jon Snow.