PEOPLE in Leicester are being encouraged to take to their bikes for Cycle to Work Day on Thursday 1 August, for the chance of winning a prize.
People can share their Cycle to Work Day selfie on social media using the tag #Cycle2WorkDayLeicester, to be in with a chance of winning a Choose How You Move cycling goodie bag which includes a bike lock and lights.
Free fruit will be available outside the Town Hall Bike Park between 8-10am on Thursday morning, for people commuting to work by bike. Free cycle maintenance – courtesy of Community Cycles - will also be on offer outside the bike park from 12 noon to 2pm. Booking is not required.
BetterPoints are also offering rewards and awarding a virtual medal to everyone who records a cycling activity on Cycle to Work Day. The BetterPoints app can be downloaded for free to collect points, which can be redeemed for a variety of shopping vouchers and discounts or donated to charity.
Leicester now has 74km of cycle tracks installed throughout the city. These are tracks physically separated from cars and other vehicles and segregated from pedestrians. Finding your way by bike in Leicester has been made easier by the Choose How You Move Journey Planner available online.
The city offers a number of secure places for people to leave their bikes. St Margaret’s Cycle Hub - situated to the right of the main entrance of St Margaret’s Bus Station -provides secure parking for up to 50 bicycles and two disability scooters. The hub can be accessed using an Active Leicester e-card.
The bike park, located on the corner of Town Hall Square and Horsefair Street in the city centre, offers secure bicycle storage. This service is free to use.
Figures show that around 21,000 people cycle in Leicester each day.
Asst city mayor for environment and transport, Cllr Geoff Whittle said: “Leicester is a cycling city, regularly attracting national interest for the innovative measures we are introducing to make cycling or walking an easier, safer option for people.
“That’s why we are pleased to support Cycle to Work Day, and encourage more people to give cycling a try. Creating more everyday cyclists benefits the whole city, helping to cut congestion, improve air quality and improve the health of our residents.”
Cycle To Work Day is a national initiative, backed by charities and organisations including Cycling UK, Sustrans, British Cycling and Love To Ride.
People can find out more about the selection of promotions on offer in Leicester on the Choose How you Move website.
More information on bike parks in Leicester is available on the city council’s website.