Swindon’s first Cycling Festival - June 14
02 June 2009 Around a thousand schoolchildren in Swindon will be getting on their bikes ahead of Swindon’s first Cycling Festival.
CTC’s Cycle Champions project in Swindon will be working in conjunction with Cycle Experience to run cycling activity days in 5 schools in the area in the week running up to the Cycling Festival. The children will learn about the health and environmental benefits of cycling and get on their bikes too.
The Cycling Festival is free and will take place in Lydiard Park on Sunday 14 June from 10am to 4pm. It will bring together different groups that have an interest in cycling in Swindon including: CTC Swindon, Swindon Road Club, GWR Race Team, The Great Western Community Forest and various environmental and wildlife groups.
Tamina Oliver, CTC’s Cycle Champions Officer in Swindon, said: “If you are thinking about getting on your bike in Swindon this summer, the Cycling Festival is the perfect place to start. There will be maps, routes, advice and even a free bike check to help you on your way.”
Tamina and the team will provide help and advice to adults and children who want to learn about cycling in the area. There will be a wide selection of bikes available to try, a chance to have a go on the Try Out Track and free guided cycle rides around Lydiard Park led by professional cycling instructors.
For more information or an interview, contact CTC’s Cycle Champions Officer in Swindon Tamina Oliver on 07717696672 or tamina.oliver@ctc.org.uk CTC’s Media Officer Victoria Hazael is also available on 01483 238 315 or 07786320713.
Notes to editors
CTC is the national cyclists' organisation, with 70,000 members and affiliates in 250 clubs across the UK. We are the oldest and largest cycling body in the UK, established in 1878. We provide a comprehensive range of services, advice, events, and protection for our members and work to promote cycling by raising public and political awareness of its health, social and environmental benefits. For more information see www.ctc.org.uk.
CTC’s Cycle Champions programme will improve the health, transport and environment prospects for individuals and communities across England who have historically not benefited from cycling. In partnership with local organisations, our officers will work with volunteers to bring CTC’s knowledge and expertise to inspire, train and support 34,000 new cyclists who are currently inactive or at risk of inactivity.
CTC’s Cycle Champions is part of a portfolio of projects being delivered by a consortium of leading walking, cycling and health organisations and is funded through the Big Lottery Fund’s Well-being Programme. The consortium is led by Sustrans and includes CTC, Cycling England, British Cycling, Living Streets, London Cycling Campaign, the National Heart Forum, the National Obesity Forum, the Ramblers’ Association, and Campaign for Better Transport and Walk 21. It is delivering projects that will enable 2 million people to become more physically active by walking or cycling as part of their daily lives by 2012.
The Swindon Cycle Champions project is a partnership between CTC Charitable Trust, the Strategic Transport Group of Swindon Borough Council and Active Swindon. The Community Cycling Development Officer is hosted by Swindon Borough Council’s Leisure Services Team.
Published by: Travel Actively on Tuesday June 02 2009
