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Amateur cyclist races rally pro for Ashford Council active travel video

Handlebars Vs Cars ‘is a Top Gear style’ challenge designed to encourage more people to use two-wheeled pedal power for short commutes. 

Pitting British rally cross driver Tristan Ovenden against journalist, TEDx curator, broadcaster and sustainability expert Liu Batchelor, Ashford Borough Council wanted to showcase the benefits of active travel compared with driving. 

Campaign transparency was a key consideration in the concept, with full details of all preparations, including chosen routes, shared online before the event – which took place during Bike Week. According to the authority’s own LinkedIn post at the time, this approach aimed to bring down some of the ‘perceived barriers to cycling such as accessibility, affordability, confidence and safety fears.’

The race itself ran from the suburb of Singleton, home to the Ashford Green Corridor Local Nature Reserve, to the town’s International Railway Station. A journey of eight miles, action was live streamed from dashboard and helmet cameras, before the video above was produced. 

More recently, another stage in Ashford Borough Council’s campaign began when members of the public were invited to submit their own photos and thoughts on cycling in the town. Contributions were then used for a follow-up Community Cycling Champions video. This brought together user generated content to showcase how active travel investment is being felt on the ground throughout the borough, and specifically its impact on journeys through town. Find out more about the authority’s current Cycling & Walking Plan 2019-2029 here, and discover more of Batchelor’s work here

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