|
 Residents
and businesses in Woking will be
encouraged to start thinking about
using pedal power instead of petrol
from next Monday (22 September)
when a new initiative called `Cycle
Woking' is formally launched at
The Lightbox.
A special programme of events has
been organised by Woking Borough
Council and Surrey County Council
following their joint success in
securing £1.82 million from
Cycling England to be spent on improving
cycling facilities in the area.
The competition for this funding
was fierce, with 74 towns and cities
bidding for the £47 million
available under the Cycling City,
Cycling Towns programme. Woking
was one of only ten towns, plus
one city, to have successfully achieved
the funding and the title of Cycling
Town for the next three years.
To celebrate this achievement and
to tell people more about the councils'
plans for the future, The Lightbox
will be hosting a free bicycle-themed
exhibition on Monday (when the gallery
is usually closed).
The formal completion of the first
phase of improvement works to the
Basingstoke Canal towpath will take
place in the presence of a group
of local cyclists who are keen to
take advantage of the improved facility.
From 2.30pm onwards, members of
the public will have the chance
to look around the exhibition, complete
with bicycles from across the ages
and accompanying riders in period
costume.
Displays showing what improvements
the councils hope to make to the
cycle network in the future will
be also be available for people
to view.
Bicycle boffin, Dr Bike, will be
on hand to offer free safety checks
and on-the-spot repairs, and children
will be able to participate in creative
activities or a slow bike race in
The Lightbox courtyard.
In the Town Square, keen spinners
(static cyclists) from Woking Leisure
Centre will be putting themselves
through their paces, cheered on
by Victorian policeman, PC Persuasion
on his penny farthing bicycle.
Speaking about the event, Woking
Borough Council's Leader of the
Executive, Cllr John Kingsbury,
said: "We are really keen to
involve all of our residents and
businesses in the launch of Cycle
Woking as their support will be
vital in moving successfully towards
a more sustainable future. There
are so many good reasons to opt
for pedal power instead of relying
on motor vehicles and we hope the
exhibition will encourage people
to start exploring their transport
options."
Leader of Surrey County Council,
Nick Skellett, added: "We can
now start to develop a more joined
up network of cycling routes that
people can use to get in and out
of the town centre. This combined
with extra cycle parking facilities,
training for new cyclists and education
about the health benefits of getting
on a bike will be crucial to guaranteeing
the success of this very exciting
project."
The launch of Cycle Woking has
been organised to co-incide with
Car Free Day - another joint initiative
from Surrey County Council and Woking
Borough Council to highlight the
need to think about using alternative
forms of transport.
For more information about Cycle
Woking, please call Woking Borough
Council on 01483 755855.
For more information see: www.woking.gov.uk
|
