Cycle to Work Day events around the country
2nd September 2015
It's Cycle to Work Day tomorrow, Thursday 3rd September 2015. According to the Cycle to Work Day website, it's a celebration of everyday cycling, and aims to encourage people to go to work by bike, at least on this one day. It's in its third year.
760,000 people cycle to work regularly in the UK, but Cycle to Work Day aims to increase this number to a million by 2021.
Whose idea was Cycle to Work Day?
Cycle to Work Day appears to be an invention of Cyclescheme - at least, they have the same Bath address as is given on the Cycle to Work Day website, and both sites say they are 'part of the Grass Roots Group.' Cyclescheme don't sell bikes, but they have inserted themselves into the government's cycle to work scheme. They work with a number of bike shops (internet and local bike shops), and organise the paperwork associated with the cycle to work scheme. They give the employee a voucher to be able to collect their bike from the shop, and they take a percentage of the price of the bike - 12% according to this CTC Forum discussion.
Cycle to Work Day is supported by British Cycling, CTC, Sustrans, London Cycling Campaign, and the Bicycle Association.
What's going on around the country for Cycle to Work Day? There are a lot of free breakfasts!
Cycle to Work Day events: Manchester
Corridor Manchester Travel, who promote sustainable travel along the Oxford Road Corridor, have one of their regular monthly events, on Thursday 3rd September, to coincide with Cycle to Work Day. Volunteer 'buddies' support new cyclists on their journeys, then there's a free breakfast for anyone who cycled to work. On Thursday, it's at the Royal Northern College of Music.
Cycle to Work Day events: Leeds
Cycle City Connect, who are organising the work to the Leeds & Liverpool canal towpath, and the Leeds-Bradford cycle superhighway, are putting on a free breakfast at the Tiny Tea Room, Rodley, on the canal towpath between 7.30 and 9.30am. In the evening, there's a Bike-In Cinema at the Northern Monk Brew Co, Holbeck.
Cycle to Work Day events: Birmingham
According to Birmingham Cyclist, there's a free breakfast between 8 and 10am at On Your Bike, Digbeth.
Cycle to Work Day events: Glasgow
Dales Cycles, described as the oldest and largest local bike shop in Glasgow, is supporting Cycle to Work Day. For a Bike Breakfast, however, you have to go to the Bike Station between 7.30 and 11am. Directions are to go to the 'Broomielaw side of the squiggly bridge'. I presume Glaswegians know what that means.
Cycle to Work Day events: London
According to Timeout magazine, On Your Bike shop at London Bridge is offering free breakfasts to cyclists. Among employers supporting the day is CIHT, the Chartered Institute of Highways & Transportation. Also in London, there's a lunchtime Cycle to Work Day roadshow, at Whitfield Gardens.