Big Bike Bonanza this weekend
Sutton Coldfield has a reason to celebrate cycling this summer with the return of the 'Big Bike Bonanza' event.
Between 11am and 4pm on Sunday (August 17), Sutton Park will be packed out with families looking for a fun day out, cyclists of all abilities and intrigued locals alike for Bike North Birmingham's 'Big Bike Bonanza'.
After the success of last year's event in Pype Hayes Park, it has been revived once again with even more cycling related games, activities, rides, stalls and competitions.
Anyone with an interest can attend the activities in Sutton Park (Town Gate entrance, off Park Road) with a huge range of activities for all ages.
There will be a selection of weird and wonderful bikes for everyone to try out, great prize from several competitions, a chance test out bike maintenance skills, and to even test out the power of pedalling on a Watt meter.
For younger bike fans, free face painting, balance bikes to whizz around on, and activities for those who have recently ditched their stabilisers are all planned.
Experienced ride leaders will be leading family friendly leisure rides all day, allowing participants to take in all the beautiful surroundings of Sutton Park. Mountain bikers will be catered for too, along some of Sutton Park's more rugged terrain.
Bike entertainers will be a highlight of the day experimenting with wacky bikes, and entertaining the crowds with their incredible cycling skills.
Cllr Lisa Trickett, Cabinet Member for a Green, Smart and Sustainable City at Birmingham City Council, said: “We're really excited about this year's Bonanza - last year was great fun and this year is set to be even bigger and better. We want to leave a lasting legacy for cycling in North Birmingham and this event should help to inspire people about what's on offer on their doorstep and how much fun cycling is.”
Working alongside Bike North Birmingham, will be Birmingham City Council's new cycling project, Birmingham Cycle Revolution. Representatives will be on hand during the day with advice and information on cycling in Birmingham and what changes are to be expected from the £24.3m citywide investment in cycling.
Bike North Birmingham gives practical advice, information and support to help people get bike smart and confident. Further information on the project and all other activities is available at www.bikenorthbirmingham.org.uk
ENDS
Notes to editors
Birmingham Cycle Revolution is a major initiative led by Birmingham City Council to increase cycling in the city.
A team of consultants, led by WSP (and including Peter Brett Associates LLP, Grontmij, and Steer Davies Gleave) has been appointed to lead the delivery of the project, working closely with BCC and other key partners (such as the Canal and River Trust).
The aim of the project is to make cycling an everyday form of transport over the next 20 years. Currently, around 2% of trips in the city are by bike. We want 5 per cent of all trips to be made by bicycle by 2023 and to double this again to 10 per cent by 2033.
This revolution will help to make Birmingham a greener, safer, less congested and healthier place to live.
To achieve this, Birmingham City Council secured a £17million from the Government's Cycle City Ambition Fund announce in August 2013 , topped up to £24.3million from other sources, to support an intensive programme of cycling improvements.
This funding will be used initially to improve the cycling network within a 20 minute cycling time from Birmingham city centre, providing 95km of improvements to existing cycle routes and 115km of new routes.
This funding will be used to build new cycle lanes on popular commuter routes into the city centre, upgrade tow paths on canals, introduce “green routes” through parks, introduce 20mph speed limits within residential areas, provide secure cycle parking hubs and develop cycle loan and hire schemes (including Big Birmingham Bikes).
For more information on the Birmingham Cycle Revolution, visit: www.birmingham.gov.uk/bcr or contact admin@birminghamnewsroom.com
Bike North Birmingham - In April 2011 Birmingham City Council bid to the Government's new Local Sustainable Transport Fund for Bike North Birmingham. In July 2011 £4.1M was awarded for a four year programme of new cycle routes and supporting cycling activities aiming to take cycling to a new level and help improve the environment, the local economy and health and fitness in the process.
Bike North Birmingham's aim has been to get more people cycling in and around the Erdington and Sutton Coldfield areas. Whether to school, the shops, work or to visit friends, Bike North Birmingham gives people an alternative option to car travel that is fun, healthier and cheaper.
Working directly with schools, local workplaces, rail stations and in dedicated bike hubs, Bike North Birmingham gives practical advice, information and support; and have also delivered cycling infrastructure by developing existing dedicated cycle routes and creating more.
Bike North Birmingham delivers everything cyclists need to get bike smart and confident.
Discover a world of fun, fitness and freedom… it's as easy as riding a bike.
To find out more about Bike North Birmingham, email admin@birminghamnewsroom.com or visit www.bikenorthbirmingham.org.uk
