British Cycling, tell Shell "On yer bike!"
Cyclists, healthcare professionals and climate groups have reacted with outrage and dismay at the announcement by British Cycling on 10th October 2022 to partner with Shell in a proposed 8 year sponsorship deal.
The Badvertising campaign has authored an open letter to British Cycling urging them to re-think this irresponsible and damaging sponsorship arrangement. Over 1000 organisations and individuals have signed the letter, including huge numbers of British Cycling members.
Open Letter to British Cycling re: Shell partnership
Dear British Cycling,
The bicycle is the transport choice of the future, but fossil fuels are the energy of the past. Judging by reactions to your announcement of accepting Shell UK as your official sponsor, you will by now appreciate that most people are therefore acutely aware of the incompatibility of aligning cycling with one of the world’s biggest polluters and major oil companies.
That you should allow the good name of British Cycling to become a billboard for an oil company which has for decades lobbied against environmental action and sowed doubt and confusion around climate science has come as a shock to many people. Whilst appreciating the challenges of funding any organisation, we ask you, for the sake of future generations, and to demonstrate that you reject greenwashing and sportwashing by major polluters, to withdraw from your sponsorship deal with Shell.
Shell has a track record of misleading communication on climate change and its own, unsustainable activities. The company is not aligned with international climate targets, nor has it accepted the science of the proportion of fossil fuels that must remain in the ground if these targets are to be met. Disturbingly the eight year period of your sponsorship deal overlaps with the time left for meaningful climate action to avert disaster.
All sports, including cycling, are vulnerable to the increasingly extreme weather associated with global heating. More than that, athletes and especially cyclists are vulnerable to the lethal air pollution that comes from the burning of fossil fuels, and the estimated 8.7 million premature deaths that result each year globally from that pollution. We believe that it is in the urgent interests of the sport of cycling, and cyclists everywhere rapidly to transition away from fossil fuel use. Cycling too is in a unique position to aid that shift. However, accepting sponsorship from an oil company with a history of delay and misinformation on the issue, is an irreconcilable conflict of interest. We ask you to consider immediate action to renounce sponsorship from Shell.
Yours, the undersigned organisations and individuals, (full list of over 1000+ organisations + individuals listed here)
Some of the signatories:
Andrew Simms, New Weather Institute
Robbie Gillett, Adfree Cities
Rosie Rogers, Greenpeace UK
Paul Maunder, Peloton Magazine
Leo Murray, Possible
Tommy Vickerstaff, 350.org
Colin Walker, former British Cycling employee
Louise Hazan, Tipping Point UK
Penelope Hayward, Breeze champion
Katie Rood & Dave Hampton, Champions for Earth
Melissa Wilson, Athletes of the World
Elizabeth Ayres, Girls That Ride
Julie Hill, Sustainability Expert
Dr Alan Cottey, Scientists for Global Responsibility
Prof Bill McGuire, University College London
Ruth Potts, Schumacher College
Hannah Davey, Liberate Tate
Dr Keith Baker, Common Weal
Casey Abaraonye, Hammersmith & Fulham Cycling
Mel Evans, Author - Artwash: Big Oil & the Arts
Jasmin Paris, The Green Runners
Frank Huisingh, Fossil Free Football
David Boyle, The Real Press
Ruth Mayorcas, Hounslow Cycling
Geoff Stilwell, Camden Cycling Campaign
David Dansky, Bikeworks
Graham Heysett, The Cycling Partnership LLP
Oliver Lord, Clean Cities Campaign
Louise Wass, Haringey Clean Air Group
Andrew Pendleton, Global Action Plan
Maeve Tomlinson, Cycling InstructorRichard
Hamilton, Spirit of Football
Femke Sleegers, Reclame Fossielvrij
Robert Noyes, Platform London
Erika Severini, Pedal Power
Helen Hayes, West London Breeze
Alice Harrison, Global Witness
Jacqui Godfrey, Cycle Confident & British Cycling
Neil Spence, British Cycling (member 957175)
Tony Williams, Evolve Mountain Biking & Bikeability
Stephen Grice, Kendal Cycle club member
Simon Bullock, British Cycling (member 720842)
Lara Taylor, Velo Club Godalming Haslemere
Judith Russenberger, Christian Climate Action
Lucy Jones, BellaVelo
Christine Selden, British Cycling volunteer
Andrew MacMillan, Wandsworth Living Streets
Ali Burr, Rainforest Foundation (UK)
Simon Edwards, British Cycling Qualified Coach
Melanie Mack, British Cycling Volunteer Breeze Champion
George Deacon, Lambeth Living Streets
Carlie Warren, PSSP Cycle Tutor & British cycle member
Alex Beattie, Brighton Mitre Cycling Club
Loui Fazakerley, Holos Performance
Paul Gallagher, Kendal Cycling Club & British Cycling
Mark Wilson, Track Nation
Diana Farrell, British Cycling & Breeze Champion
Anne Thomas, Friends of the Earth Inverness and Ross
Mike Johnson, British Cycling (member 882633)
Carol Hogan, Lochcarrom Medical Partnership
Chris Speight, Kendal Cycling Club
Jimena, Islington Cycling Club
Claire Stocks, Walk Ride Greater Manchester
Nathan Mills Monk, Fryston Cycling Club
Karolina Adamkiewicz, Hounslow Borough Friends of the Earth
Charlotte Brass, Cambridge University Cycling Club
Bridie Barnett, Kidical Mass North (Inverness)
Clare Marshall, XR Worthing
Isaac Beevor, Climate Emergency UK
Richard Osbond, Tadcaster Cycling Club
Alex Raha, Lewisham Cyclists
Jenny Bone, Welwyn Wheelers
Neil Wyatt, The Handmade Cyclist
Simon Ratcliff, Corsham Cycling ClubRute Bernardino, Moby Bikes
Morgan Lewis, Brighton Mitre CC
Louise Smith, University of Stirling Cycling Club
Fiona Farquhar, Bingley Belles
Willi Moore, Rhos on Sea Cycling Club
Alex Potsides, British Cycling (member 1251628)
George Bradley, Peckham Cycling Club
Rob Abrams, Medact
Thomas Locke, 7 Hills Cycling Club, Sheffield
Suzie Richards, CCI Coaching
Matt Williams, RevampBikes Race Team
Andy Shrimpton, Cycle Heaven Ltd
Kate Ravilious, York Cycle Campaign
Robin Grant, British Cycling Mountain Bike Leader
Claire Tupling, Breeze Ride Leader and Race Marshal
Penny Quilter , CommUnity Bike Rides
Ruarigh Hallam, Ride Sheffield
Chas Ball, Kirklees Cycling Campaign
Mike Roberts, Renegades Bike Club
+ (full list of over 1000+ organisations + individuals listed here)