By Simon Brammer, Ashden UK Programme Manager

As someone who worked in sustainable travel before joining Ashden, I’m getting really excited about what’s happening.  Take for example the biggest ever London cycle protest ride that took place at the end of April, or the Times newspaper’s ‘Cities Fit for Cycling’ campaign. And at the end of April, the first ever cycling hustings took place before the mayoral election here in London on 3 May.  I’ve never seen cycling escalate so far up the political agenda.  Exciting times!

This is reflected in all six finalists for this year’s first ever Eurostar Ashden Awards for Sustainable Travel, which show that this renewed energy for sustainable travel isn’t just happening in big urban metropolises like London.  Take Cycle Cambridge, which now has an amazing transport modal share of 22% cycling. That is almost one in four trips by bike!  Their innovative activities and infrastructure development are making cycling the natural choice of transport.