Meet Jo
To mark our first anniversary we ask the team members who make More Than A Cyclist tick their thoughts and reflections on the last 12 months.
My name is Jo and I'm the campaign manager for More Than A Cyclist.
In December 2020 I came up with an idea about starting a nationwide road safety campaign following a series of incidents on the road, one in particular that shook me personally. It was then that the More Than A Cyclist team was formed with cyclists from our club who had particular skills; photography, graphic design, marketing....and me.
There are a few points to mention here.
I have no previous experience of running a campaign.
I have no previous experience of co-ordinating a team of professional people in a campaign.
We are trying to make a difference but I have no idea how I get doors to open with opportunities of getting the campaign off the ground etc.
Trust me when I say there have been plenty of occasions over the last 12 months where I have said "that's it, I can't do this anymore" but I didn't. I - we - have kept going holding down full time pressured jobs and fitting in campaign work around it, slotting in calls with British Cycling and sponsors and potential partners around our busy work and life schedules.
I'd like to say that we are doing is making a difference but I am unsure. Changes in the Highway Code created a mixture of good and bad publicity and with it an increased dislike towards people who ride bikes. I still get close passed by motorists, abused and fall victim to general bad behaviour for what, riding my bike? Wanting to partake in a leisure activity that keeps me sane and healthy?
There needs to be further change. There needs to be harsher penalties for motorists who cause harm or distress to cyclists. While I am waiting for this change, be it that it may never happen, I will continue to fight the cause that we are humans. People with families. Loved ones. And we are allowed to ride our bikes without fear of being hurt or killed.
