Family cycle ride success linked with Love Your Bike Month
- The cyclists take a breather en route for photo
On Sunday 29 September 2013, 14 children and 20 adults enjoyed quiet lanes, traffic-free cyclepaths and the warm sun on their backs on a family-friendly cycle ride out of Shrewsbury into the countryside.
The ride had been organised by cycle ride leaders from Travel Shropshire – Shropshire Council’s sustainable transport team, Phil Roe of Urban Bikes UK, and Emma Wilde of Sustrans and Alzheimers Society. Members of the local CTC group (the national cycling charity) also turned out to help and encourage the young riders on their way. £137.60 was raised for the Alzheimers charity.
With local sustainable transport funding, Travel Shropshire are able to provide a range of cycling services to help get more people cycling, more safely and more often. Gently-paced family cycle rides led by qualified cycle ride leaders, along well chosen cycle routes, play a vital part in this plan.
Ray Hughes, Travel Shropshire’s project officer, said:
“Working together with such enthusiastic partners ensured the ride was well attended and a great success. All the children did really well, and we all finished back at the Sports Village together in one tired but happy group. We broke up the distance at the half way mark by having a nice picnic in the grounds of Roddington Village Hall, and thank their committee for their hospitality.
“Children will be the future travellers, making choices about which mode of transport to use in and around town. There are national concerns over falling physical activity levels and child obesity. Hopefully we demonstrated how far they can comfortably travel on a bike and how it can be a social, green and fun way to travel.”
Emma Wilde, who brought her 12-year-old Tom, said:
“My one friend said that her 12-year-old enjoyed it so much that he wants to do the route again – she is very impressed with that”
Travel Shropshire will be running more free events and rides for all the family during October – Love your Bike Month. Young children can attend a cycling Halloween party at Shrewsbury Sports Village on Wednesday 30 October 2013. The party will include a sunset ride around the Sports Village cycle track, Dr Bike safety checks, facepainting and lots of ghoulish games.
Residents of Shropshire who sign up to receive Travel Shropshire enewsletters during October 2013 will receive a free winter cycling pack from Shropshire Council. Packs contain a selection of items to make you more visible on your bike, including reflective vests, slappits and stickers, bike lights and spoke reflectors. There will also be free bicycle maintenance classes in Shrewsbury, Ludlow and Oswestry, and you can book online here.
The team have a map of the route taken by the group on Sunday should you want to try it yourself. Free training is available to become a cycle ride leader, with the next course one day on Thursday 24 October 2013 at The Lantern in Shrewsbury. Details of this and all the Love Your Bike Month events, including times and dates and booking forms, can be found by by clicking here or by calling 01743 253008.
