Gearing up for annual Festival Of Cycling (From York Press)
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Gearing up for Cycling City York’s annual Festival Of Cycling
8:08am Wednesday 1st September 2010 in Cycling news
A stunt rider performs tricks at last year’s festival
CALLING all cycling enthusiasts – a festival dedicated solely to two-wheeled fun is returning to York for a second year.
The countdown is well under way for Cycling City York’s annual Festival Of Cycling, which will take place in Rowntree Park on September 11 and 12.
The free event will offer a range of cycling-related activities, with something to interest cyclists of all ages and abilities.
Among the attractions will be daredevil performances by a top bicycle stunt display team and a “try-out” zone where you can test a range of bicycles, including tandems, tricycles and even bouncy bikes. Other activities include a pedal-powered Scalextric racing game and a BMX Jam for local riders to compete in.
Graham Titchener, programme manager for Cycling City York, said: “Last year’s inaugural Festival Of Cycling attracted almost 10,000 visitors of all ages and levels of cycling ability, which was just fantastic.
“In response to the many calls from members of the public who said they wanted to see this type of event again, we want to build on this success by making sure that this year’s festival is even bigger and better, and has plenty to appeal to people of all ages.
“It promises to be a really fantastic couple of days out for all the family, so come along and be a part of Cycling City York.”
A number of local retailers, cycling groups and organisations will have stands in the exhibitor village and there will be bike doctor sessions where cyclists can get some help and advice on basic care, repairs and maintenance.
There will also be several guided cycle rides setting off from the park throughout the weekend, as well as a series of themed bike sessions for children under six, teenagers, families, girls only and people with special needs.
For more information about the festival and other cycling events visit cyclingcityyork.org.uk
Comments(18)
1speedisalluneed
says...
8:43am Wed 1 Sep 10
Yosser Hughes wrote:Here's hoping you are struck by lightning
Heres hoping for flash floods
horatio churchill
says...
8:44am Wed 1 Sep 10
Garrowby Turnoff
says...
8:59am Wed 1 Sep 10
hifive
says...
9:11am Wed 1 Sep 10
pedalling paul
says...
9:14am Wed 1 Sep 10
Garrowby Turnoff wrote:York Cycle Show is organised by the national cyclists organisation CTC. It usually coincides with National Bike Week and attracts visitors from across the UK.
In Cycling City York I thought the York Cycle Show was in June? And what about the "York Naked Bike Ride" and "York Bike Week" and York cycle lanes everywhere and... too much homage paid to the bycycle?
I suspect that the forthcoming Cycling City event is primarily aimed at local residents, to encourage a greater take up of cycling across the City. That will also help to free up more road capacity for essential motor vehicle traffic.
1speedisalluneed
says...
9:14am Wed 1 Sep 10
hifive wrote:Well said
I don't know what people are complaining about - stay at home and gripe if you don't fancy it, I'm sure you won't be missed!
Garrowby Turnoff
says...
10:06am Wed 1 Sep 10
pedalling paul wrote:Thanks for the info Paul.
Garrowby Turnoff wrote: In Cycling City York I thought the York Cycle Show was in June? And what about the "York Naked Bike Ride" and "York Bike Week" and York cycle lanes everywhere and... too much homage paid to the bycycle?York Cycle Show is organised by the national cyclists organisation CTC. It usually coincides with National Bike Week and attracts visitors from across the UK. I suspect that the forthcoming Cycling City event is primarily aimed at local residents, to encourage a greater take up of cycling across the City. That will also help to free up more road capacity for essential motor vehicle traffic.
.
But, Rather than showing trick cycling why don't these events encourage the cyclist to ride within the laws of the road more often? Shouldn't these 'shows' encourage the introduction of Cycle Road Tax, Cycle Insurance and obligatory Cycle proficiency Tests before cyclists are allowed to use our roads as equals? When was the last time a cyclist was prosecuted for a traffic misdemeanour?
moleculeman
says...
10:11am Wed 1 Sep 10
If this is taking council funding that should be better spent on ESSENTIAL services for residents, then I think we ought to be annoyed about it.
(If it isn't, then, yes, we are a bunch of miserable buglers)
spiritofyork
says...
11:07am Wed 1 Sep 10
pedalling paul
says...
11:43am Wed 1 Sep 10
moleculeman wrote:I think you'll find that the funding is coming from York's separate £3.68m Cycling City grant, direct from the DfT. This Govt. cash is ring fenced for spending on cycling promotion through new infrastructure, information and participation events. So no Council tax income is being diverted to fund the September event.
The reason we don't like it is that one other Press story - this VERY DAY! - claims that the council is "hit by cuts of £2.3m". If this is taking council funding that should be better spent on ESSENTIAL services for residents, then I think we ought to be annoyed about it. (If it isn't, then, yes, we are a bunch of miserable buglers)
Local highways are funded by Council tax to which most of us comtribute, regardless of our travel preferences. Vehicle Excise Duty revenue(wrongly called road tax by some) goes to general Govt. income and is not ring fenced for roads. Some may end up funding Mways (York has none) and Trunk Roads (we only have the A64).
TooRelaxed
says...
1:15pm Wed 1 Sep 10
It's in a park that means away from the precious roads 'what we all pay for wiv our precious road taxes'.
There's just as much emphasis on learning, cycling proficiency and skills as there is fun and stunts.
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I just don't get the objections to bikes, I can only assume it's projected frustration and latent jealousy.
If we're going to bang on about other stories *this very day* in the Press how about these -
1: Cyclist seriously injured in collision near Oswaldkirk Bank Top
2: County crashes claim three lives
3: Girl, five, struck by van in Selby street
That's all pretty awful eh? I'm not seeing -
1: Horror as cyclist fails to ride on cycle path, stays on road.
2: Hundreds injured as cyclist goes through red light, turns left.
3: Van driver dead after cyclist hits van.
Perspective.
hifive
says...
3:46pm Wed 1 Sep 10
TooRelaxed wrote:Very much agree. Especially regarding the irony of what has happened on this VERY DAY!
Anyone objecting to this is a miserable barsteward. It's in a park that means away from the precious roads 'what we all pay for wiv our precious road taxes'. There's just as much emphasis on learning, cycling proficiency and skills as there is fun and stunts. . I just don't get the objections to bikes, I can only assume it's projected frustration and latent jealousy. If we're going to bang on about other stories *this very day* in the Press how about these - 1: Cyclist seriously injured in collision near Oswaldkirk Bank Top 2: County crashes claim three lives 3: Girl, five, struck by van in Selby street That's all pretty awful eh? I'm not seeing - 1: Horror as cyclist fails to ride on cycle path, stays on road. 2: Hundreds injured as cyclist goes through red light, turns left. 3: Van driver dead after cyclist hits van. Perspective.
And GT - I pay enough road tax - the day I pay extra for committing the heinous crime of occasionally freeing up the road for more cars is the day you will think before you type.
melted
says...
3:59pm Wed 1 Sep 10
melted
says...
3:59pm Wed 1 Sep 10
moleculeman
says...
4:51pm Wed 1 Sep 10
Utterly sick to death of non stories about some groups' obsession with bicycles though, but that's a different story, and no-one makes me read this rubbish except myself.
Caecilius
says...
7:06pm Wed 1 Sep 10
Garrowby Turnoff wrote:When was the last time a motorist was prosecuted for (e.g.) jumping the red light on Gillygate at its junction with Bootham? All the many drivers who do this have (presumably) passed a test, pay road tax and have insurance: it doesn't seem to stop them flaunting "the laws of the road", so there's no reason to suppose it would work for cyclists.
pedalling paul wrote:Thanks for the info Paul. . But, Rather than showing trick cycling why don't these events encourage the cyclist to ride within the laws of the road more often? Shouldn't these 'shows' encourage the introduction of Cycle Road Tax, Cycle Insurance and obligatory Cycle proficiency Tests before cyclists are allowed to use our roads as equals? When was the last time a cyclist was prosecuted for a traffic misdemeanour?Garrowby Turnoff wrote: In Cycling City York I thought the York Cycle Show was in June? And what about the "York Naked Bike Ride" and "York Bike Week" and York cycle lanes everywhere and... too much homage paid to the bycycle?York Cycle Show is organised by the national cyclists organisation CTC. It usually coincides with National Bike Week and attracts visitors from across the UK. I suspect that the forthcoming Cycling City event is primarily aimed at local residents, to encourage a greater take up of cycling across the City. That will also help to free up more road capacity for essential motor vehicle traffic.
hifive
says...
9:16am Thu 2 Sep 10
Yosser Hughes says...
8:12am Wed 1 Sep 10