Bedfordshire residents encouraged to get cycling and win £500 towards a new bike

The council is using Bike Month to encourage people to cycle more
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Central Bedfordshire Council and Love to Ride are using Bike Month (June) to get more people to choose cycling as part of their daily travel and exercise.

To be in with a chance to win £500 towards a new bike sign up to the Love to Ride free event, it doesn't matter if you ride every day or haven't been on a bike in years, you just have to set yourself a goal and achieve it.

If you win the competition, Love to Ride will also give £500 to either the Bikes for Key Workers or the Community Support initiatives so you could be giving back to others at the same time as winning yourself.

Stock image of a bicycleStock image of a bicycle
Stock image of a bicycle

To help residents explore where they live, Central Bedfordshire Council has produced a series of maps to help you plan your rides.

They contain a range of useful information including National Cycle Network routes, on and off-road sections, local places of interest and the location of cycle parking.

Councillor Ian Dalgarno, Executive Member for Community Services at Central Bedfordshire Council, said: “This Bike Month we would like to encourage more people to enjoy the freedom of two wheels, by getting out for some fresh air to explore some of our beautiful routes across Central Bedfordshire.

“We are throwing down the gauntlet to residents and asking them to try something different from their normal daily routine.

"A lot of people in the area use a car to travel, but we want them to think more about how they get from one place to another, and if this could be done on a bike.”

“Riding a bike has so many benefits for our physical and mental health. It helps combat stress and anxiety. It’s great daily exercise and is the best mode of transport to maintain social distancing and avoid congestion.

“With this competition running throughout June, there’s even more reason to give cycling a go.”

The council also works with Sustrans, the charity which makes it easier to walk and cycle, who have produced some online activities for children, packed with creative, active and interesting indoor and outdoor activities for all the family.

A limited number of reconditioned bikes are available through the recycling scheme, please contact [email protected] for further details.

Employers can also to sign up for the Governments Cycle to Work scheme to offer staff tax-free bikes at a 40 per cent - 50 per cent discount from shop prices.