n e w s r e l e a s e
Date: 08/06/02 Release: immediate Number: 02/04
Cycle skill session makes 12!
A last minute addition to Greenwich Cyclists’ programme means that there will now be 12 action packed local events during National Bike Week (Saturday 15 to and Sunday 23 June).
A cycle skills session for beginners, from 10am alongside the river behind the Woolwich Waterfront Leisure Centre, will now kick start the Bike Week activities on Saturday 15 June. The session, which runs from 10am – 12 noon, is for those that can balance and pedal, but would like to improve. "We work on turning, braking, gear changing, signalling and generally just increasing confidence on the bike," says organiser, Kate Horne. "It’s very informal and great fun and some bikes are available for hire."
Quirkiest event in the Bike Week programme is the Midsummer Madness ride which starts at 2 O’clock on Friday morning (that’s 2am!) from Cutty Sark Gardens in Greenwich and travels through the deserted streets of London to Primrose Hill, to watch the sun rise on the longest day. For the less (fool)hardy, a three mile jaunt from the Cutty Sark around the Dome, to the Pilot pub on Tuesday 18 June, may be more in order. And, in between there is an incredibly varied programme, with rides around Greenwich borough, Docklands and out to the Lea Valley or to Rochester, plus family rides and picnics.
There’s also a week long cycle buddy scheme, which provides one-to-one support for riders who need to build their confidence and develop their road skills for their cycle journey to work.
"All our rides are free and open to anyone," says Kate. "With such a varied programme, there is no excuse not to get on your bike this June!"
Further details from www.greenwichcyclists.org.uk or phone 020 7232 0444.
Ends
Note to editors:
Full details of the Greenwich Bike Week programme on Events page here. Details of National Bike Week events from www.bikeweek.org.uk
n e w s r e l e a s e
Date: 31/05/02 Release: immediate Number: 02/03
Bike Week Bonanza
Greenwich Cyclists will be celebrating National Bike Week (Saturday 15 to and Sunday 23 June) in style this year, with 11 action packed rides and activities designed to appeal to cyclists of all abilities.
Quirkiest event in the programme is the Midsummer Madness ride which starts at 2 O'clock on Friday morning (that's 2am!) from Cutty Sark Gardens in Greenwich and travels through the deserted streets of London to Primrose Hill, to watch the sun rise on the longest day. For the less (fool)hardy, a three mile jaunt from the Cutty Sark around the Dome, to the Pilot pub on Tuesday 18 June, may be more in order. And, in between there is an incredibly varied programme, with rides around Greenwich borough, Docklands and out to the Lea Valley or to Rochester, plus family rides and picnics.
There's also a week long cycle buddy scheme, which provides one-to-one support for riders who need to build their confidence and develop their road skills for their cycle journey to work.
With so much to choose from, organisers say there is no excuse not to get on your bike this June. "We're running more activities than anywhere else in London during Bike Week," says Greenwich Cyclists Co-ordinator, Barry Mason. "And, you don't have to be an Olympic athlete to join in - the emphasis is on fun. All our rides are free and open to all-comers".
Further details from www.greenwichcyclists.org.uk or phone 020 7232 0444.
Bike Week has the support of London Mayor Ken Livingstone who says: "it's an enjoyable and social way for people to try cycling in London."
Ends
Details of National Bike Week events from www.bikeweek.org.uk
Greenwich Cyclists
National Bike Week programme
Saturday 15 - Sunday 23 June 2002.
Further details phone 020 7232 0444.
n e w s r e l e a s e
Date: 25/04/02 Release: immediate Number: 02/02
Spring into the saddle!
Greenwich Cyclists have announced an exciting range of activities and classes to help would-be cyclists to get on their bikes this spring.
The programme includes cycle training by professional instructors, a series of ‘Easy Going’ rides and one-to-one support aimed at turning novices into confident cyclists.
The programme includes:
• Learn to ride classes - on Saturday 11 May at the Waterfront Leisure Centre in Woolwich from 10am to noon;
• Cycle skills classes - for those who have just started or who wish to brush up on their bike handling, on Saturday May 11 at the Waterfront Leisure Centre in Woolwich from 1pm to 3pm;
• Easy going rides – a series of gentle, short rides - many off-road - to develop experience in a supportive group; and
• Buddy scheme - one to one support for riders interested in cycling to work during National Bike Week, 15 – 23 June.
• Innovative events – such as the already famous midsummer madness dawn ride on the longest day
The classes are £5 for those in work or £2 for unwaged and cycles can be provided. The rides and buddying are free.
Barry Mason, of Greenwich Cyclists, explains: "Cycling is fantastic exercise, it’s very practical and above all it’s great fun. We aim to help anybody interested in learning to cycle or brushing up their bike skills to do so. Our activities are designed to suit all ages and abilities – they’re open to everyone".
Further details from www.greenwichcyclists.org.uk or phone 020 7232 0444.
Ends
n e w s r e l e a s e
Date: 02/11/01 Release: immediate Number: 01/09
Cycle route cuts condemned
Greenwich cyclists have reacted angrily to the news that Transport for London – London’s official transport authority - plan to completely drop all funding for the London Cycle Network (LCN).
Whereas £8m million was earmarked for this network this year, the draft Transport for London budget for 2002 contains no money at all to continue the work next year. As a result, safe cycling routes in Greenwich, Woolwich, Thamesmead and Eltham are all at risk. And Camden Council, whose job it is to complete the LCN by 2004, has put the recruitment of 5 project managers on hold.
The funding freeze comes in spite very encouraging commitments made by the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, in his recently published Transport Plan. The plan clearly sought to give greater priority to cyclists in order to make London an ‘exemplary sustainable word city’. And it is a massive embarrassment to the Greater London Authority’s newly established Centre for Cycling Excellence, whose newly appointed boss, Rose Ades, has well-established pro-cycling credentials.
Speaking for Greenwich Cyclists, Greg Engelfield, commented: "Completing the London Cycle Network was clearly part of the Ken Livingstone’s Transport Plan, but its future is now in jeopardy. Many routes in Grenwich are under threat. We will be joining other cyclists across London in opposing this move and calling for funding to be increased to encourage cycle use across the capital."
Ends
Notes to Editors
Please phone for further details:
Barry Mason: 020 7232 0444
Julian Dobson: 07771 692 344
n e w s r e l e a s e
Date: 12/09/01 Release: immediate Number: 01/08
‘OctoBike’ will navigate Greenwich Roadworks!
The amazing ‘Octobike’, a seven-seater, circular bicycle, will be just one of the many weird and wonderful pedal powered attractions at the ‘Roadworks’ celebration in Greenwich town centre on Saturday 22 September, courtesy of Greenwich Cyclists.
Greenwich Council’s Roadworks festival will close much of Greenwich’s historic town centre to traffic for the day and combines celebrations of European Car-Free and London Open House weekend. In the ‘pedal power’ zone the public will be able to ride the OctoBike themselves, experience the fabulous velodrum (see it at www.eea.org.uk/html/velodrum.htm), test their cycling abilities on the obstacle course, take cycle training, have Dr Bike attend to their bike’s aches and pains, and much more.
And, at 2pm, cyclists will join wheeled cousins on the Wheely Walk cavalcade along Trafalgar Road, which will be led by the Mayor of Greenwich in a horse drawn carriage. Featuring human-powered wheeled objects of all shapes and sizes -bicycles, skates, scooters, even prams and buggies – all extravagantly decorated, the cavalcade aims to promote alternative forms of transport.
Julian Dobson, of Greenwich Cyclists, explains: "Roadworks will be great fun for all the family, with market stalls, cafes and bars spilling on to the streets, a delicious Japanese barbeque and giant games to play, in addition to the cycling fun."
He added: "We’re delighted that Greenwich Council is staging this event in response to our lobbying, as it’s an opportunity for people to see Greenwich at its best – car-free – and to think about alternatives to the blight that cars cause to the town centre and to the borough generally."
Ends
Notes to Editors
Please phone for further details:
Barry Mason: 020 7232 0444
Julian Dobson: 07771 692 344
Nick Williams: 07876 477931
Further information from www.greenwichcyclists.org.uk or from www.greenwich.gov.uk/council/other/carfree/carfree.htm
n e w s r e l e a s e
Date: 07/09/01 Release: immediate Number: 01/07
Cyclists celebrate Dome path opening (at last!)
Cyclists will be staging a mass ride to celebrate the belated opening of the Thames Path around the Millennium Dome on Monday 17 September.
Greenwich Cyclists have been campaigning for many months to get English Partnerships, who own the site, to honour their agreement with the Council to open the riverside path to the public within 6 months of the closure of the Dome. But, in spite of having these six months to prepare, English Partnerships revealed that the path would not be ready shortly before the 30 June deadline.
After intense lobbying by Greenwich Cyclists and the Council, English Partnerships now say they expect the route to be opened on 17 September.
"For many Greenwich residents the riverside path is one of the few lasting benefits of the Dome," explains Julian Dobson, of Greenwich Cyclists. "So, we were deeply disappointed that local people were barred during the summer when it would have been most popular. However, we’re delighted that our lobbying has helped to open the path at long last and we are inviting the public to join us on a celebratory ride on the evening of the 17 September."
The ride will depart from Cutty Sark Gardens at 7pm. It’s a free, sociable, slow-paced ride of only a couple of very flat miles. Just turn up and go - all are welcome.
Ends
Press invitation
Photographers and the press are invited to join the ride at 7pm at Cutty Sark Gardens, Greenwich SE10 or at the Western end of the Dome Path for a photocall at 7:30pm (access from North Greenwich Underground station).
Please phone for further details:
Barry Mason: 020 7232 0444
Julian Dobson: 07771 692 344
Further information from www.greenwichcyclists.org.uk
Coming soon.
Road Works,
European Car Free Day Festival
Saturday 22 September in Greenwich Town Centre.
Seven-seater cycles, giant board games, a giant Japanese barbeque, cafes on the streets.... and much more!
See www.greenwichcyclists.org.uk or www.greenwich.gov.uk for details.
n e w s r e l e a s e
Date: 14/06/01 Release: immediate Number: 01/06
Cyclists mass to celebrate new Crossness Thames Path link
Up to 200 riders are expected to join Greenwich Cyclists’ ride on Sunday 22nd July for a fascinating, free, family day at the historic Beam Engines Trust Museum and the newly opened Thames Water Nature Reserve at Crossness.
The cyclists will leave from the Cutty Sark at Greenwich at 11am for a flat 9 mile, almost traffic-free ride to celebrate the opening of Thames Water’s Crossness Pathway, which fills a previously missing link in the Thames Path. And, at Crossness, the attractions include:
The Crossness Beam Engines Museum Trust ‘s team of volunteers is offering free guided tours of the Museum courtesy of Thames Water. The Nature Reserve will be open with Thames Water’s Nature Reserve Officer on hand to answer questions.
"We are very excited to be working with Thames Water who have done a great job opening the Crossness Pathway to local cyclists and walkers," says Greenwich Cyclists Co-ordinator, Barry Mason.
"It promises to be an exciting day out too — with lots to see on the way and plenty to do on arrival, so we’re keen for cyclists of all abilities to join us" says Barry.
Local residents are encouraged to join in on foot and by bike. Cyclists can just turn up and go, but bring your bike!
Some light refreshments will be available at Crossness.
Ends
Media enquiries:
Greenwich Cyclists: Julian Dobson 07771 692 344
Thames Water: Andrew Boyd 0118 959 3396
Greenwich Cyclists: for local rides, training, advice and much more www.greenwichcyclists.org.uk or 020 7232 0444
Cyclists celebrate green light for Car Free Day plan
Intense lobbying by Greenwich Cyclists paid off yesterday when Council chiefs provisionally agreed to support an exciting street festival in Greenwich for September.
Councillors on the Greenwich Area Planning & Environment Committee last night agreed a plans allowing a local celebration of European Car Free Day on 22 September, when over 800 towns throughout the UK and the continent will adopt similar schemes.
Greenwich Cyclists first suggested pedestrianising key Greenwich town centre roads last year, in order to combine celebrations of the Car Free Day and London Open House Weekend, when many historic buildings in the capital will be open to the public free of charge. Closure of College Approach and King William Walk provides a seamless link between a number of Greenwich attractions and will allow an arena for events to take place on the busy three lane one-way system busy streets.
Greg Englefield, of Greenwich Cyclists, explains: "We’ve been discussing the idea with the Council for the last six months and we’re delighted that they’ve given it the green light. It will mean local people and tourists alike can enjoy Greenwich’s attractions and a range of entertainment without worrying about the heavy traffic that blights the area currently."
Greenwich Cyclists and the Council are urging local groups including Greenwich Theatre, the National Maritime Museum, the Laban Dance Company and Greenwich Market to get involved in animating street life on the day in order to make the event a flagship for London.
Ends
Note to editors
Further information about Greenwich Cyclists is available from www.greenwichcyclists.org.uk
Media contact: Greg Englefield -.020 7006 2643 or 020 8318 2742 (h)
Greenwich Cyclists, c/o The Forum, 177 Trafalgar Road, Greenwich, London SE10 9EQ
n e w s r e l e a s e
Date: 12/06/01 Release: immediate Number: 01/05
Free wheeling fun at the Greenwich Cycling festival
An exciting range of free bicycle rides and activities gets underway on 16 June as part of Greenwich Cyclists’ contribution to the National Cycling Festival which runs until 24 June.
Seven organised bike rides are designed to provide something for every cyclist. Highlights of the programme include:
* an overnight ‘summer solstice’ ride to watch the dawn break at Primrose Hill;
* coastal trips to Dungeness or Whistable;
* local rides around the Royal Docks or Lea Valley; and
* midweek events before and after work.
Julian Dobson, of Greenwich Cyclists, explains: "The aim is to encourage more people to dust down their bicycles this summer with an emphasis is on fun and fitness. The British Medical Association states that cycling only 30 minutes per day adds significantly to your life expectancy. And you’ll also have a fitness level equivalent to someone ten years younger!"
Further details of the Cycling Festival and Greenwich Cyclists is available from www.greenwichcyclists.org.uk
Ends