York to Hold First Ever Cycling Festival

Cycling City York has announced plans to stage the city's first ever Festival of Cycling and the date has been set for the weekend of Saturday and Sunday 15 and 16 August.

The festival will take place at Rowntree Park, providing York residents of all ages and abilities with an opportunity to try a range of cycling-related activities in a safe and friendly environment.

Among the attractions on offer will be three themed bike try-out areas, where visitors will be able to ride a range of bikes that they may not otherwise have access to and many that they didn't even know existed! One of the more unusual bikes available for people to have a go on is the seven-seater ‘CircleCycle'.

A series of led rides along local cycle routes will be setting off from the park throughout the day and bikes for all the family will be available to borrow free of charge. There will also be a chance to have a go on the four-rider, pedal-powered Scalextric racing game.

Another highlight will be a BMX competition in the skate park area, which will see local BMX enthusiasts battle it out for prizes donated by local businesses.

In the Information Zone, visitors will be able to access a wide range of help and advice from cycling experts, as well as picking up fact sheets and other useful information. There will be plenty of opportunity to find out more about other projects and activities organised by the Cycling City York team. Local and regional exhibitors will also be in attendance.

Graham Titchener, programme manager for Cycling City York, said:

"A wide range of fun activities and attractions are planned for the Festival of Cycling. We believe that staging events like this is an important part of our efforts to encourage more people to take up cycling on a regular basis, either for pleasure or as a means of commuting to and from work, school or college. We hope to see as many local residents as possible coming along to try the different activities. I'm confident that the activities on offer at the festival will help to remind people that cycling is fun, safe and a cheap, healthy and environmentally-friendly way to get from A to B."

Cycling City York has joined up with York-based community interest company Get Cycling to stage the event. Get Cycling has staged a series of festivals, roadshows and other fun cycling events for communities across the country. If the festival proves a hit with York residents, it is hoped that it could become an annual event. The Festival of Cycling will be open to visitors from 11am until 6pm on Saturday 15 August and from 11am until 5pm on Sunday 16.

Cycling City York is a community-led partnership project that will see £3.68 million in government funding used to improve and develop facilities for cyclists, and get more people cycling, over the next two and a half years. Partners include City of York Council, North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust, major employers, education establishments, cycle campaign groups and cycle retailer.

For more information: www.getcycling.org.uk