Fusion launches its travel active public affairs team

Fusion has announced the launch of its public affairs department and team, featuring Trudy Harrison, Adam Tranter, Jack Mayorcas and Matt Porter. The announcement occurred at their HQ in London where Fusion hosted a PR event, featuring a panel to discuss the future of active travel. Harrison and Tranter were joined on stage by Ruth Cadbury MP and Chris Broadman to announce Fusion’s new team and discuss the future of cycling in the UK.

The team will focus on policy and engagement to bring about social change, using Parliament and the Bikeability Trust to spur change nationally. The public affairs department and team is a cross-party effort, featuring current and former members of both the Conservative and Labour Party.

Harrison, former MP and Minister of State for Future of Transport, recalled the ‘stars had aligned’ when she first entered government. Net zero by 2050 had been committed to, and a plan for transport decarbonisation had been published.

At the time, active travel was not in the remit of the Transport Department, Harrison changed this and brought active travel into the department’s purview. Bikeability was utilised during this time, as the Department could not fund and support all the infrastructure that was required to make active travel a viable option across the nation.

Mental health and the obesity crisis are two important issues to Harrison, who looks to help alleviate the UKs issues using active travel, helping people reconnect with the great outdoors whilst engaging in healthier lifestyles.

Broadman, former professional cyclist turned cycling advocate, spoke of the whirlwind surrounding active travel England over the last few years. He was complimentary of the organisation, which managed to cut training delivery times in half over the last year despite a change in Government and overseeing bosses.

The power of language is a key topic for Broadman, noting the difference in reaction between saying you want to remove cars from the road versus the reaction to wanting to make all pavements usable for parents with a double buggy. By reframing the conversation, Broadman believes people will become emotionally engaged and this will help shape change.

Ruth Cadbury MP sits on the select committee in Parliament for transport, scrutinising decisions made by heads of departments and offering opposition to Government decisions, despite being a member of the Labour Party.

In her role, Cadbury can call Ministers and the Secretary of State to answer, providing valuable accountability whilst being able to raise issues which Fusion and the public view as pressing.

Issues such as infrastructure, cycle training, and safe cycle routes will be on the agenda for the newly assembled team.

Fusion was recently appointed as the media team for the Bikeability Trust.