Staffordshire to celebrate National Bike Week and soon to welcome ‘Team Wiggins’
PEOPLE from across Staffordshire are being encouraged to get on their bike as the biggest nationwide cycling campaign in the UK gets underway.
National Bike Week, starting on Saturday 13 June, aims to promote cycling and health bosses at Staffordshire County Council want to see more people on their bikes in a bid to promote a more active Staffordshire.
The week comes as the county prepares for the third Staffordshire Cycling Festival and news that ‘Team Wiggins, the team of the 2012 Tour de France Champion’ are coming to Stafford. The team will join over 100 professional cyclists when they take to the county’s roads for the competition on 3 and 4 July.
Staged across two venues, Stafford Town Centre and the Shugborough Estate, the action packed weekend is a celebration of cycling featuring both professional races and opportunities for everyone to get involved. New for Friday 3 in Stafford Town Centre is Free-Ride Friday. This is the opportunity for families and individuals to ride the Stafford GP circuit. For more info visit: www.ridestaffs.co.uk
With improvements to cycleways across the county and investments of over £4m in the last year, the County Council continues to make cycling easier and safer for everyone. Most towns have seen improvements to their cycleways with many now linking into the National Cycle Network.
Cllr Mark Winnington, Cabinet Member for Economy, Environment and Transport at Staffordshire County Council said: “There has never been a better time to dust off the saddle, pump up the wheels and with the good weather here, get out and about to explore our great county on a bike.
“The news that Team Wiggins will be taking part in this year’s Staffordshire Cycling Festival is also fantastic and no doubt will see thousands of fans line the streets to cheer them on.
“We want to see more people on their bikes for both leisure and getting to work and that is why we are investing in our cycleways, and cycle training. This is the perfect week to give it a go and I would like to see as many people as possible take part in the campaign and reap the many health benefits of cyclin g.”
In Stafford the newly completed NCN 55 cycleway to Newport is being enjoyed by hundreds of people each day. The Tour of Stafford Secondary school cycling relay on 16 June will see five schools with 75 pupils and support riders. The tour will take in the new Two Waters Way Bridge in Baswich which opened in March giving people a safer way to the town over the River Sow and we have had over 7000 cycle journeys over the bridge since it opened.
Active Staffordshire supports a number of cycling initiatives to improve health and wellbeing across Staffordshire. Wheels around Stafford and Stone are an 8 week programme supporting newcomers to cycling. For details visit: www.staffordbc.gov.uk/wheelsaroundstaffordandstone.
In South Staffordshire there are a number of rides planned around the district and these can be found on the South Staffordshire Cycling Scheme on Facebook.
Tamworth
In Tamworth free cycling activities, adult training, school activities and further cycling support is available. The next cycling class for adults will take place on Thursday 18th June at Dave Owen Cycles in Tamworth.
Lichfield
In Lichfield – there are some summer cycling and walking sessions happening in Lichfield. On road cycling sessions are suitable for over 16’s (must be accompanied by an adult) and will be done in the Lichfield area. Off road cycling sessions are suitable for over 14’s (must be accompanied by an adult) and will be done at Cannock Chase. More information can be found at:www.lichfielddolphins.co.uk/summer-activities
Cannock
In Cannock - Cannock Chase has professionally maintained tracks and pathways which make for a fantastic cycling experience for all ages and abilities. There are 17 waymarked trails to enjoy.
Staffordshire Moorlands
In Staffordshire Moorlands, work continues on the £4m Pedal Peak project linking the county with the Peak District National Park and has seen a 10km stretch of modern cycleway along the Caldon Canal now completed. Work is also due to start on a £60k cycle project, linking the Chatterley Valley development, home to JCB Logistics Hub to Bathpool Park. Work will be complete by September 2015.
Cycle training through Bikeability is also helping keep young people safer on their bikes and each year delivers training to around 10,000 pupils across the county.
People can find out more about cycling in Staffordshire by visiting www.staffordshire.gov.uk/intostaffs. Individual cycling maps for all districts, which show both traffic free and quieter routes suitable for cycling and on the road are available from local libraries.
