West Yorkshire residents gear up for #7DaysofCycling this Bike Week (6-14 June)
Bike Week (6-14 June), an annual UK-wide celebration of everyday cycling for everyone delivered by the charity Cycling UK, is underway.
8 June 2020
Bike Week (6-14 June), an annual UK-wide celebration of everyday cycling for everyone delivered by the charity Cycling UK, is underway.
As part of the celebrations, the West Yorkshire Combined Authority is getting behind the charity’s #7DaysofCycling challenge through its CityConnect programme, aimed at enabling people to travel by bike and on foot.
Cycling UK is calling on people to get on their bike for seven days in a row between Saturday 6 and Sunday 14 June.
Any journey counts, whether that involves cycling to work, the shops, meeting friends and family while following the latest Government guidance on social distancing, discovering a new route or pootling around the park.
Cllr Kim Groves, Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Transport Committee, said: “Cycling and walking are excellent ways to support your mental and physical health and undertake essential travel while maintaining social distancing.
“Through our CityConnect programme, we have invested significantly to enable more people to travel by bike and on foot, which will be crucial to meeting the transport challenge created by the COVID-19 pandemic by ensuring capacity on public transport is there for those who really need it.
“By 2027, we are aiming to increase the number of trips people in our region make on bike by 300%. This will not only boost people’s health and save them money, it will also help us to achieve our aim of being a net zero carbon economy by 2038 at the latest.”
Find out more information about Bike Week and the #7DaysofCycling challenge.
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CityConnect’s top cycling tips
Remember you don’t have to be a cyclist to cycle and what’s more it doesn’t require an unwavering commitment to cycling everywhere, every day of the week.
Don’t let the weather get the better of you. “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing”, so the saying goes. We may have had a good run of sunshine for the last couple of months, but it’s always worth packing an extra layer or two and some waterproofs in case the weather changes.
Be seen. Make sure you have a working set of lights to hand, even if there’s only a slim possibility you’ll still be out at dusk or after dark. It’s also worth carrying a spare set of lights or batteries so you don’t get caught short. Many people choose to wear reflective clothing, belts and strips. If you cycle in everyday clothes try and choose a light colour to increase your visibility.
Plan your route. Cycling need not involve tackling busy roads but your route choice may vary between the seasons, from a more scenic route in the summer months to, for example, a well-lit, gritted route, such as the Bradford Leeds Cycle Superhighway, during winter. Plan your route with our handy online map.
Recruit a bike buddy. If someone you know already cycles ask them which routes they use or even better ask them to ride with you as a bike buddy, while following the latest government guidance on social distancing.
Make sure your bike’s in good health. Make sure everything is in working order and well lubricated. Sustrans 11-step M-Check is a good place to start or if in doubt take your bike for a once over at your local cycle shop.
Last But not least, enjoy it!Cycling can save you time and money, and it has been proven to boost health and happiness. What’s not to love?