Shropshire to welcome hundreds of cycling visitors in Ellesmere

Hundreds of cycling visitors will be gathering at Ellesmere College in north Shropshire next week (Monday 13 August to Sunday 19 August 2012) as part of the annual ‘birthday rides’ event for the Cyclists Touring Club. 

Shropshire Council is pleased to welcome this event, which takes place at different locations every year, and is expecting around 500 members of the Cyclists’ Touring Club to spend the week exploring local lanes and byways by pedal power. 

The council has been working with the organisers of the birthday rides to help print route sheets and provide leaflets. 

Simon Jones, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member with responsibility for cycling, said:

“It is great that this event will draw in hundreds of people, who I am sure will enjoy exploring this beautiful market town and its surrounding areas.” 

Keen to support and develop more sustainable forms of tourism, and actively market the county for walking and cycling visits, over the last 10 years the council has extended the range of cycling information available for visitors.  It now offers a wide range of leaflets including town guides, market town circular rides and National Cycle Network route maps.  All of the information can be downloaded or requested via shropshire.gov.uk.  

Shropshire Council has also invested in new cycling facilities in towns and on National Cycle Network routes, which have opened up opportunities for cycling as both a means of everyday transport and a leisure activity.