Tower Hamlets Wheelers
NEWS RELEASE 5 June 2003
For immediate release
Ref THW13BikeWeek050603
TOWER HAMLETS CYCLE ACTION GROUP GEARS UP FOR BEST 'BIKE WEEK' EVER
National Bike Week is 14-22 June (1) and the Tower Hamlets Wheelers (2) are
putting on more events than ever before. Fourteen free events in Tower
Hamlets span the week which aims to highlight cycling as a practical means
of transport and a healthy leisure activity.
Events include Cycling Fun Days for all the family, easy local bike rides,
free breakfasts for cyclists, a showcase of weird and wonderful bikes, and
the famous Great Beigel Race - different forms of transport pitting
themselves against each other to transport a beigel across the borough.
Owen Pearson, Wheelers co-ordinator, says:
"You do not need a helmet or any special clothing to take part in Bike Week.
We want to see all sections of the community enjoying what cycling has to
offer - it's healthy, cheap, convenient and most of all, fun. Come and join
in with any of our events throughout the week which are free to all. If you
are nervous about cycling please do book yourself in for a free lesson with
professional trainers and gain the confidence to enjoy cycling.(3)"
The week kicks off with a 'Family Cycling Fun Day' in Victoria Park (at
Crown Gate East by Old Ford roundabout) on Saturday 14th June 12-4pm. The
event will provide free cycling lessons (3) for people who are new or
returning to cycling (which must be pre-booked - contact 7364 6704); Dr Bike
giving free bike safety checks to make sure your bike is running smoothly;
security bike marking to help prevent bikes being stolen; colourful
rickshaws from Bangladesh giving rides; a cycling clown with many crazy
bikes on show; and an 'Arty Bikes' painting opportunity for children to
contribute to a large decorative banner of bicycle art, with prizes for the
best pictures. Contact Owen Pearson owen@towerhamletswheelers.org.uk
Sunday 15th June sees a 'Cycling Fun Festival' at the Lee Valley Cycle
Circuit (Eastway) from 12-5pm - more details are in news release
THW12Eastway040603 contact Mark Pearson 07876 687433 (4). Safe guided bike
ride to the Eastway leaves 11:30am from the Green Bridge spanning Mile End
Road near Mile End tube station; contact Owen Pearson owen@towerhamletswheelers.org.uk
Monday 16 June
Monday Morning Breakfast for cyclists, 8-10am, Royal London Hospital,
Whitechapel Road; followed by 10am-5pm Bike Try-out Roadshow:
Discover the full potential of pedal-power with the Company of Cyclists. A
wide range of stunning bikes, representing the best of conventional design,
with some more specialised machines to fire the imagination will be
available to try out. Contact Lyndal Peters, transport planner at Tower
Hamlets council 7364 6704
Then 7:30-9pm bike ride entitled 'The good, the bad and the advanced stop
line'; are cyclists, pedestrians and the disabled taken into consideration
when transport planners put in traffic schemes? We take you on an
informative tour of some examples in and around the borough highlighting the
good and the bad. Contact Gary Cummins gary@towerhamletswheelers.org.uk
Tuesday 17 June
10am-5pm Bike Try-out Roadshow - as Monday.
Wednesday 18 June
7:30-9:30am Cyclists' Breakfast on Narrow Street at Ropemakers Fields (near
The Grapes pub) E14. A traditional Bike Week event across London - stop by
on your way to work and enjoy some free breakfast. Meet with your fellow
Tower Hamlets commuters, councillors and council transport officers. Contact
Owen Pearson owen@towerhamletswheelers.org.uk
7:30-9:30pm Ride entitled: East End on Screen. Meet at the Royal London
Hospital, Whitechapel Road (opp. Whitechapel tube). A tour of the many parts
of Tower Hamlets used as film locations. Rated PG! Contact Keith Jones
kcjones@postmaster.co.uk or Owen Pearson owen@towerhamletswheelers.org.uk
Thursday 19 June
7:30-9pm Ride entitled: 'The Useful Places Tour'. Meet on top of the Green
Bridge, Mile End Park E3. Discover your local amenities as we ride round
what the borough has to offer; swimming pools, cinemas, parks, libraries,
museums etc. Contact Alix Stredwick 8880 6873
Saturday 21 June (night of Friday 20 June)
2am (yes!) Midsummer Madness Ride. Meet at the Beigel Bake, Brick Lane E1
6SB for a ride to Primrose Hill to watch the sun come up on the longest day.
We will first ride to Soho to meet up with cyclists from all over the
capital before heading up to Primrose Hill to watch the sunrise at 4.43am.
Contact Owen owen@towerhamletswheelers.org.uk
10am The Great Beigel Race; meet at the Beigel Bake, Brick Lane E1 6SB for
the famous fun challenge between different modes of transport travelling
across the borough whilst carrying the precious beigel cargo. Let us know if
you would like to enter, especially if you have a more unusual transport
alternative. In the past we have had a horse & cart, the Mayor in his limo,
DHL quad-cycles, rickshaws and disability mobility buses taking part as well
as cyclists and public transport users. Contact Owen Pearson owen@towerhamletswheelers.org.uk.
"This is a chance to see whether cars really are the fastest way of getting
around the borough," says Owen. "I'm not convinced - my money's on the
bicycle."
Sunday 22 June
10:30 am Pedalling Picnic: Mile End Park to Greenwich Park to Victoria Park.
Meet on the Green Bridge, Mile End Park E3. In association with Sustrans,
the sustainable transport charity that is building cycle routes across the
UK. Easy ride ride down south to the Observatory at Greenwich Park to
rendezvous with cyclists coming from the south. After taking in the panorama
we will all ride an easy pace up to Victoria Park mostly following Sustrans
route 1. There will be short stops at places of interest along the way and a
chance to see and hear something about the East End now and in the past.
Picnic in Victoria Park at about 1.00pm. Ride back to Greenwich afterwards
or make your own way home. Contact Caroline: caroline@towerhamletswheelers.org.uk
Tower Hamlets council's Traffic & Transportation department is organising
the Cyclists' Breakfasts and Weird Bikes Roadshow at Royal London Hospital,
Whitechapel Road on Monday 16 & Tuesday 17, and the Wheelers would like to
thank the council for their support during Bike Week.
ENDS
Further info
Please contact Alix Stredwick alix@towerhamletswheelers.org.uk tel 020 8880
6873. Pictures of last year's Bike Week are available on request (e.g.
rickshaws, obstacle course, Dr Bike).
Notes for editors
(1) National Bike Week is a celebration of all things cycling which aims to
introduce more people to using bicycles, tricycles and other pedal-powered
cycles for transport, leisure and fitness. See http://www.bikeweek.org.uk
for more details or contact Frances Hoy, Bike Week Media Officer
media@bikeweek2003.info
(2) The Tower Hamlets Wheelers is the local cycle action group in the east
London Borough of Tower Hamlets, campaigning for better cycling facilities
and encouraging more people to cycle - for health, the environment and for
London. The Wheelers are affiliated to the London Cycling Campaign, the
largest urban cycling campaign in the world.
(3) From beginners to those wanting to improve their road skills, receive
FREE professional cycle training, paid for by Transport for London - the
Mayor's transport authority. You must pre-book to attend one of these
sessions on Saturday 14 June in Victoria Park. Training will be provided by
a professional company and you will be allocated a session time based on
your ability. Contact Lyndal Peters 7364 6704
(4) Please note that the correct time for the Hackney bike ride leading to
the event is 10:30am (not 11:30am) at Hackney Town Hall, Mare Street.
Wheelers main contact details:
(Alix Stredwick should be contacted for media enquiries: alix@towerhamletswheelers.org.uk)
Tower Hamlets Wheelers
wheelers@towerhamletswheelers.org.uk
www.towerhamletswheelers.org.uk
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