This year’s Bike Week will begin tomorrow, Saturday 15 June. Leeds City Council will be supporting almost 50 schools across the area who have signed up to the national event. More than 16,000 pupils will be taking part in what has become the UK’s biggest mass participation cycling event.
“What is striking about biking is not that it solves any particular problem, but that it is the answer to several “ Harry Wray
Since the amazing success of British cyclists last summer, Leeds City Council travelwise and road safety teams are working together with the schools to encourage children, parents and staff to dig out their bikes, get back on the saddle and fall in love with cycling all over again. They have been providing posters, stickers, lessons and assemblies on cycle safety, and even a competition for cyclists to win shopping vouchers.
A whole week of exciting cycling events within schools has been organised. These fun activities aiming to promote cycling include designing a super bike, designing cycle helmets, raffles and prize draws for cyclists, school cycle rides, producing a local cycle route leaflet and Bikeability training.
The week will start with 40 pupils from Otley schools taking part in a cycling extravaganza on Monday 17 June. Pupils from Westgate Primary, Ashfield Primary and The Whartons will cycle to Otley St Joseph’s Catholic Primary for a fun-packed day of relay races and an opportunity to try out some fantastic roller bikes. Roller Bikes are stationary bicycles used by Olympian cyclists and Tour de France riders to improve fitness and to warm up and down during races.
Throughout the week there are events planned throughout the city. And Otley’s kids will be there at the end, too.
The week will be brought to a close with the first Leeds Bike Week Schools Off Road Race. Teams from Benton Park Technology College, Otley Prince Henry’s Academy, Rodillian School and Corpus Christi Catholic College have been invited to take part in after school races in the grounds of Benton Park.
And if you’re a student or staff member at Leeds Met or Leeds University and cycle to work, or would like to know more about cycling to work, UTravel Active have organized a series of Bike Breakfasts to coincide with Bike Week.
Monday 17th June: Bike to Work Week Breakfast. Rose Bowl food Court, City Campus, Leeds Metropolitan University. 8am-10am
Tuesday 18th June: Bike to Work Week Breakfast. Headingley Campus Central, Headingley Campus, Leeds Metropolitan University. 8am-10am
Wednesday 19th June: Bike to Work Week Breakfast*. The Refectory, University of Leeds. (7.30am- 10am)
Thursday 20th June: Dr Bike*. Headingley Campus Leeds Met University 11am-2pm
‘These are a great opportunity to bring along friends and colleagues who are thinking about swapping to two wheels.’
They’ve also organized a Panel Debate on the theme
“Can we get Leeds Cycling?”
The Panel will include
Andrew Hall (Acting Head of Transport Policy at Leeds City Council)
Dave Horton (Cycling academic and consultant, Thinking about Cycling blog)
Lea Ruzich (Masters Student at the Institute of Transport Studies)
Lizze Reather (Leeds Cycling Campaign)
It will be held on 19 June, 5.30pm-7p.m. in the Yorkshire Bank Lecture, Business School, University of Leeds.
Labour Councillor Richard Lewis, Leeds City Council’s executive member for development and economy, said:
“Bike week is the perfect chance for us to remind everyone just how easy and fun cycling can be and how it is a recreation for everyone. Not only is it good for you and a great way to keep fit and healthy, but as a sustainable form of transport, it’s also good for the environment.”
“It’s an important week where we will be doing all we can to promote safe cycling across the city, so make sure not to miss out and get involved in whatever way you can.”
Gear up and get on your bike!
Leeds North West Constituency 