London: Bike Week, the UKs biggest mass participation cycling event, is this year challenging families to get out of their cars, step away from the TV and get on their bikes. The call to action is Free the Family and rediscover how much fun you can have together on a bike.
From Bristol to Belfast and Edinburgh to Eastbourne, thousands of free cycling events will provide the opportunity for everyone from total novices to passionate cyclists to get on their bikes. This years focus on the family means there will be childrens rides, free bike safety checks and advice on getting started.
Andre Curtis, Manager at Bike Week said; Plenty of parents have forgotten how much fun cycling was as a child. This years Bike Week will help to revive those memories and encourage families to spend quality family time together, have fun and get fit at the same time. We hope that taking part in a Bike Week event will act as a catalyst for people to cycle more regularly and enjoy the long term benefits of a healthier lifestyle.
Why not join the 500,000 people who came along last year? To find out what is taking place in your local area, visit www.bikeweek.org.ukand enter your postcode. If youd like to take part but dont have a bike – this shouldnt stop you you can simply search for your nearest bike rental outlet on the website. All participants get the chance to win a Center Parcs family holiday giving another reason to get on your bike!
For further information, or if youd like to organise your own event, log on to www.bikeweek.org.uk or phone 0845 612 0661 (within UK)
Five reasons to get on your bike:
1. Cyclists live on average at least two years longer than non-cyclists and their fitness levels are equivalent to being ten years younger so forget nip and tuck, think pedal and push!
2. Cycling is the ultimate family activity; its healthy, fun and encourages children to be independent.
3.Twenty minutes of gentle cycling burns up to 100 calories, so if you cycle to work, youll be able to have that afternoon treat without feeling an inch of guilt!
4. Studies show that car drivers are exposed to five times as much polluted air than cyclists, making cycling good for the environment, as well as your health
5. In a rush? Cycling is often much quicker than public transport or taking the car – even better, you wont spend a penny on public transport, road tax, parking, MOT or fuel.
Bike Week will run from 14-22 June 2008
Bike Week is one of the UKs biggest annual promotions of cycling and provides a national umbrella for locally organised events and activities up and down the country.
Bike Week began as a grass-roots organisation in 1923 and receives funding from the Department for Transport, Cycling England, Transport for London, Northern Ireland Executive, The Welsh Assembly Government and The Scottish Government. Bike Week also receives funding from the cycle industry via Bike Hub.
The partners that run Bike Week are drawn from the whole cycling community including the cycle industry, Cycling England and Cycling Scotland, Sustrans, CTC and Cycle Campaign Network. More information can be found at www.bikeweek.org.uk