Cycling News

Team up, ride more, win stuff

The Mayor and Transport for London (TfL) are encouraging Londoners to get their friends, family and colleagues cycling by signing up to the London Cycle Challenge this June. The Challenge is now open for all, not just workplaces



This year's challenge is open to everyone who lives, works or studies in London.

Groups of friends, families or work colleagues can get together to create a team and during June challenge each other - and other teams - to see who can cycle the most miles.

To take part you need to join or create a team on the London Cycle Challenge website and log all the journeys you cycle during June.

There is also a competitive element to the London Cycle Challenge - team members will be awarded points for the miles they cycle, with extra points awarded for clocking up those first few miles.

There are prizes to be won for the winning teams, including leisure vouchers which can be used at restaurants, health and leisure venues. Spot prizes will also be given out everyday of the challenge.

Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: "London is a wonderful city to cycle in, and summer is the perfect time to start. If you need a little encouragement, the London Cycle Challenge is a fun way to try the cleanest, greenest, and most convenient way of traversing the Capital.

"Last year more than 5000 Londoners cycled more than 950,000 miles as part of the challenge. This is London's Year of Cycling, and so this time we've made the challenge even bigger - opening it up beyond just schools and workplaces, so that anybody can put a team together and take part."

Ben Plowden, Director of Better Routes and Places at TfL, added: "The London Cycle Challenge is a great way to introduce people to travelling by bike, with friends, family and workmates supporting - and competing against - each other.

"Help is on hand for people who aren't already cycling. Free TfL-funded cycle training, available through London's borough councils, teaches people how to cycle safely and confidently in the Capital, while our free cycle maps help you plan the best route."

The London Cycle Challenge has four categories of awards:
Best performing Category 1 team (2-10 members), best performing Category 2 team (11-50 members), best performing Category 3 team (51-100 members), and best performing Category 4 team (101+ members).

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/cyclechallenge

Published Monday 24 May 2010