Dorling Kindersley is a subsidiary of Penguin Random House. They are a worldwide publisher who specialise in illustrated reference books, and have been based in the Strand for over 40 years. Carole Mackenzie is Head of HR at DK UK and she released a statement about TfL’s Cycle Superhighway plans:
‘Like many businesses in London, a growing number of our 550 employees cycle to work. An even larger proportion of our team would cycle to the office if they felt comfortable and safe on the roads.’
Workday is a market-leading online software business. They provide HR and financial management software to companies across the globe. European HR Director Mandy Jeffery had this to say about the Cycle Superhighways:
‘Having seen the TfL plans and the traffic modelling for two new segregated routes through the heart of the city, we strongly support them. The proposed north–south and east–west routes will help us attract and retain the employees our business needs to continue to thrive.’
The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) champions and strengthens volunteering and civil society. They have over 10,000 member organisations throughout the UK. For 90 years, they have been bringing together those who work in the voluntary sector to solve problems and address root causes. External Relations Manager Aidan Warner sent TfL this statement:
‘The National Council for Voluntary Organisations represents and supports charities and other voluntary organisations. We employ around 120 people and run a large conference venue in King’s Cross, with many staff and visitors cycling to us every day. The health and wellbeing of our staff and visitors who cycle is very important to us. We know their journeys would be safer, easier and more pleasant with the creation of quality cycling routes.
‘As a responsible organisation, we try to minimise our environmental impact through measures such as generating our own electricity through solar power, and avoiding creating waste that would need to go to landfill. Enabling and promoting cycling is an important part of this. Our staff travel survey showed that even more of our staff would be willing to cycle if they had a good route to follow.
‘Cyclist safety in King’s Cross has rightly been under the spotlight. It is clear that there is a need to radically improve cycling infrastructure in and around the area. These plans are a very welcome part of doing that and we support them.’
Dot Dot Dot is a property guardian service. They provide landlords a flexible and cost-effective way to ensure that no harm comes to properties which would otherwise be vacant. At the same time, they house hundreds of people who do voluntary work in buildings across the city. Katharine Hibbert is the Director of Dot Dot Dot and she firmly supports the Cycle Superhighways:
‘Like many businesses in London, several members of our team of eight employees cycle to work, as do many of the hundreds of people who live in the properties we manage. An even larger proportion of them would cycle to the office and in their daily lives if they felt comfortable and safe on the roads.
‘We value their safety and we want to promote active lifestyles for all our employees. And as a social enterprise, we are committed to making London a safer, friendlier, greener place – cycling is crucial to that.’
Keep Britain Tidy is a nationwide environmental charity. They are based in Old Street and have been striving to improve environmental quality for 50 years. Chief Executive Phil Barton released a statement in favour of TfL’s cycle plans:
‘Many of our staff in London choose to cycle to work and more would if this type of safer provision was available. We are proud to have offices and staff in the capital and are clear that better and safer cycling routes have multiple benefits for our organisation and employees.
Increasing the wellbeing, safety and productivity of our staff and reducing the time and costs they have to spend travelling across the capital are both important to us as an employer. Increasing opportunities for our staff to cycle more safely is something we value highly and we look forward to seeing the plans for new North-South and East-West Cycle Superhighways implemented soon.’
Farm Africa is a charity working with small hold farmers in Africa. They provide the skills and expertise that smallholders need to improve their harvests, from crops to animals. Started in 1985 in response to the devastating Ethiopian famine, Farm Africa operates exclusively in eastern African countries. Chief Executive Nigel Harris explains why his organisation supports the plans:‘Farm Africa is a leading charity working with small holder farmers in Africa to end hunger and bring prosperity. We have been based in London for over 10 years. Our current offices are located in the heart of The City of London (EC2Y) and provide a vital central hub for our entire London-based workforce.
‘Like many businesses in London, a growing number of our employees cycle to work. An even larger proportion of our team would cycle to the office if they felt comfortable and safe on the roads.’
Bail for Immigration Detainees (BID) is a charity that works with asylum seekers and migrants to secure their release from detention. It’s been helping people since 1998, with offices in London, Portsmouth and Oxford. BID supported over 2000 people in the last year alone. BID supports the Cycle Superhighways, as Director Celia Clarke explained in a statement this week:
‘We value [our employees’] safety and we want to promote active lifestyles for all our employees. We support their freedom to choose how they get to work. We also note strong evidence that more cycling increases spending in local retail businesses and lowers air pollution levels.’
CyclingWorks 