Tower Hamlets Wheelers
NEWS RELEASE 4 June 2003
For immediate release
Ref THW12Eastway040603
FREE BICYCLES, FUN RACES, MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAIL, 'DR BIKE' SAFETY CHECKS AND
CYCLING CLOWN AT FREE CYCLING EVENT AT LEE VALLEY CYCLE CIRCUIT (EASTWAY),
SUNDAY 15 JUNE
Free second-hand bikes from the Newham Wombles (1), fun cycling races for
kids and adults alike, free access to the mountain bike trail, a cycling
clown and a free 'Dr Bike' safety check for your bike are just some of the
fantastic features of a 'Cycling Fun Festival' at the Lee Valley Cycle
Circuit (Eastway) (2) on Sunday 15 June, 12 noon - 5pm.
The event is being held jointly by London Cycling Campaign groups in Tower
Hamlets (3), Newham (4), Hackney (5), Waltham Forest (6) and Redbridge (7)
and is one of many events being held as part of National Bike Week 14-22
June (8), a celebration of all things cycling which aims to introduce more
people to using bikes, trikes and other pedal-powered cycles for transport,
leisure and fitness.
Mark Pearson, co-ordinator of the Cycling Fun Festival at Eastway says:
"Come and see how much fun cycling can be in a safe environment. This event
will be even better than 2001 when a similar event took place. There is
plenty for all the family and most features of the event are free of charge.
NO special clothing and NO helmets are required to take part in Bike Week
events - we aim to be open to all."
Siobhan Owens, from Newham LCC, says:
"This is a great chance to try out different kinds of cycling for free at
this wonderful facility that borders several East London boroughs. Mayor of
London Ken Livingstone has recognised the Cycle Circuit and adjacent Eastway
Sports Centre as valuable sports and leisure facilities. They are very
likely to feature as prime sites for venues should London's Olympic Games
bid be successful."
Other exciting things on offer at the Cycling Fun Festival, mostly for free,
are:
- children's races: 1 mile time trial, who-can-cycle-the-slowest race,
egg-and-spoon race
- bike obstacle course
- safe area for practising riding for novices
- "Be safe, be seen" bike decoration workshop
- bikes available for hire on the circuit and mountain bike trail
- Road Safety information stall from Newham council
- stalls from other organisations e.g. Friends of the Earth
- heated debate at 2pm: panel discussion on 'Transport issues in
the East End' with representatives from the Motorists & Small Shops Party,
the London Cycling Campaign, the Motorcycle Action Group, and Vincent Stops:
Hackney's Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport & Planning
- BBQ, cakes and hot & cold drinks provided by the Hornbeam Environmental
Centre
Guided easy bike rides from Tower Hamlets and Hackney can take you safely to
the Eastway: in Tower Hamlets meet 11:30am on top of the Green Bridge in
Mile End Park (spanning Mile End Road, near Mile End tube station); in
Hackney meet 10:30am, steps of Hackney Town Hall, Mare Street.
Buses 26, 30 and 276 stop within 10 mins walking distance, and bus W15 stops
nearby. Nearest tube station is Leyton on the Central Line. National Rail
station Hackney Wick and train/tube/bus station Stratford are also fairly
nearby. Car park spaces are available.
Members of the public can contact Mark Pearson for more information: markpearson2@hotmail.com or check on the
Tower Hamlets Wheelers Bike Week webpage
http://www.towerhamletswheelers.org.uk/bikeweek/ and Bike Week website
http://www.bikeweek.org.uk
All LCC groups involved would like to thank the Lee Valley Cycle Circuit
(Eastway) for providing their facilities free of charge.
ENDS
Further info: Mark Pearson markpearson2@hotmail.com (Mark is acting on behalf of Tower Hamlets Wheelers
and Waltham Forest LCC.)
Photos of the Eastway event in 2001 are available on request; please contact
Alix Stredwick alix@towerhamletswheelers.org.uk and quote your
email address.
Notes for editors:
(1) FREE BIKES! Newham Council run a recycling scheme: The Wombles, that
collects dumped bicycles (amongst other things). They will be bringing a
Luton truck full of old bikes to give away at the Eastway Cycling Fun
Festival.
(2) address: Lee Valley Cycle Circuit (Eastway), Quartermile Lane, London,
E10 5PD
(3) LCC in Tower Hamlets is known as the Tower Hamlets Wheelers
http://www.towerhamletswheelers.org.uk contact Mark Pearson, Eastway
Cycling Fun Festival event co-ordintor markpearson2@hotmail.com
(4) LCC in Newham is known as Newham Cycling Campaign: contact Siobhan or
Rob Owens Siobhan.Owens@ukgateway.net
(5) LCC in Hackney is known as Hackney Cyclists: contact Oliver Schick
oliver.schick@kcl.ac.uk http://www.hackney-cyclists.org.uk/
(6) LCC in Waltham Forest is known as Waltham Forest Cycling Campaign:
contact Geoffrey Whittington geoffrey@wfcyclists.freeserve.co.uk
http://www.wfcycling.org.uk/
(7) LCC in Redbridge is known as Redbridge Cycling Campaign: contact Gill
James gilljames@btinternet.com
(8) For more information about National Bike Week please contact Frances
Hoy, Bike Week Media Officer media@bikeweek2003.info
http://www.bikeweek.org.uk
Wheelers media contact details:
(Alix Stredwick should be contacted for media enquiries: alix@towerhamletswheelers.org.uk)
Wheelers main contact details:
wheelers@towerhamletswheelers.org.uk
www.towerhamletswheelers.org.uk
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