Press Release

Mayor and Kelly Brook launch London's biggest cycling event
8-9-2009   456

Boris Johnson was today joined by Kelly Brook to launch the Mayor of London’s Skyride. The event, on 20 September, is expected to be the biggest mass participation cycling event ever held in the capital.
 
The mayor met model and actress Kelly Brook in front of St.Paul’s Cathedral, a London landmark which will feature for the first time at the event.

The Mayor of London’s Skyride will give tens of thousands of cyclists the chance to enjoy traffic-free city centre roads for the day, encouraging riders of all ages and abilities to get on their bikes with friends and family.

The route for the free event will take riders past landmarks such as Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square and The Tower of London and will feature St James Park and the river views of The Embankment.

Boris Johnson, Mayor of London, said: “It’s been a great summer of cycling in London, with more and more people discovering that ours is a fantastic city in which to go by two wheels. We had some 11,000 at our Hounslow event, and the central London extravaganza promises to be the biggest and best yet. The fantastic thing about it is the huge range of people who take part – whatever your age or ability you can come and join in our free, unique, and most importantly fun, celebration of the best way of getting around.”

Kelly Brook said: “I’m delighted to be involved in the Skyride initiative and can’t wait to take part on September 20th. I really enjoy cycling and anything that reminds people how much fun it can be is a fantastic idea. It doesn’t matter if you’re an experienced cyclist or getting back on your bike again for the first time in ages, the Mayor of London’s Skyride will be a great day out for all ages and abilities.” 

As well as providing a unique opportunity to see one of the world’s greatest cities in a new light and enjoying a day cycling with friends and family around an extended 15km route, there will be a range of activities to create a carnival atmosphere in the capital.  Highlights include:

· Skyride Street Zone – Professional BMX and Mountain Bike riders will perform tricks, with the opportunity for members of the pubic to take a course in stunt riding.
· Skyride Style Zone – Participants can get a free bike make-over using the most up to-date designs and accessories.
· Skyride Photo Point –At designated points riders will smile as they ride past cameras for a free memento of the day to download at www.goskyride.com
· Skyride Active Zone – Tips on health and wellbeing from British Cycling and Bike4Life – part of the Department of Health’s ‘Change4Life’ campaign to tackle obesity in the UK.
· Skyride Active Zone - Cycle Sprint Challenge – An opportunity to try out cycle sprinting on Watt bikes - used to measure power - and compete against friends and family as well as beat celebrity sprint times.
· Skyride Family –Designated area for kids and families, where children can learn new bike skills with free Go-Ride sessions from British Cycling professionals.

Sky’s Chief Executive Jeremy Darroch said: “It’s only fitting that the climax of what has been a great Skyride summer is held in our capital city. Working in partnership with British Cycling and local councils, the Skyride team has got tens of thousands of people on their bikes so far.  I hope that the Mayor of London’s Skyride will help us to encourage even more people back on their bikes.  It’s going to be a great day – I hope you can join us there.” 

Free registration for Mayor of London’s Skyride is easy and takes no time at all – simply visit www.goskyride.com now to get involved. The website has tips and expert advice on how to ride comfortably and safely plus news from Sky’s cycling ambassadors and British Cycling’s stars. 

Notes to Editors

Skyride background
· The Skyride campaign builds on Sky’s partnership with British Cycling, announced last summer, and follows the creation of a new professional road-cycling team, which aims to take on the world in the Tour de France.

Transport For London (TfL)
· To find out more about cycling in London visit www.tfl.gov.uk/cycling 
· The Mayor’s Skyrides form a part of a summer of cycling in the capital: an action-packed series of events, and campaigns designed to boost the numbers of people travelling by bike and pave the way for London’s cycling revolution.
· As well as the Skyride events, the Tour of Britain cycling race is returning to London, and a major new marketing campaign ‘catch up with the bicycle’ has been unveiled.
· Safety training is being boosted, new cycle parking unveiled, and work is proceeding apace on landmark projects such as the Cycle Hire scheme and London’s Cycle Highways.
· This is part of a record £111m investment in cycling being made by the Mayor this year.
· The latest figures show a bicycle boom is underway with a record 545,000 daily bicycle journeys now made on London’s major roads, up 9% in the year since the Mayor was elected.  
· Cycling is not just a healthy and handy way of getting about London, it is also good for the environment – cutting congestion and reducing emissions.
· TfL is funding £3 million in cycle training for Londoners this year, through London's borough councils. The TfL funded training sessions are individually tailored to each person's needs and teach them to deal with a wide range of traffic conditions. For information on cycle training provision, see - http://www.tfl.gov.uk/cycletraining.
· TfL has a series of 14 free cycle maps, available to order from the TfL website - www.tfl.gov.uk/cycling or by calling TfL’s 24-hour travel information service on 020 7222 1234.

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