An new programme which outlines some of the many cycling opportunities and events in York this year will be launched by members of York’s cycling fraternity and cycling residents on Tuesday 29 April.

Brochures have been distributed through schools and can be picked up from leisure centres and libraries. Further information and a copy of the brochure to download is available from www.york.gov.uk/cycling

The programme is a fun, friendly and exciting series of cycling and fitness activities for the whole family and forms an important part of York’s local cycling legacy which aims to increase participation in cycling. Details can now be found in a new brochure, produced by City of York Council.

The programme includes a wide variety of different opportunities, many of which are free, for residents to get on their bike and set the wheels rolling. These include local family rides, led rides for novices, older adults and those living with a disability or medical condition and the popular one-day York Sky Ride event in September.

The brochure has a useful calendar of cycling activities and includes much loved 2 wheeled events such as the annual York Festival of Cycling, Heart of York Ride and cycling taster events. It also includes introductions to local cycling groups such as the Breeze network Bike Belles groups for women cyclists, Clifton Cycling Club and the Wednesday Wheelers Cycling Group. Fantastic new cycling facilities – York Sport Village Closed Circuit Cycle Track and Rawcliffe Off Road Cycle Pump Track – are also detailed as safe, exhilarating places to cycle.

York has signed up to, and is the lead partner on, the regional Tour de France Grand Départ Legacy for cycling, Cycle Yorkshire. Yorkshire is already a great place to cycle and has a long cycling heritage with participation being above the national average and York being named as one of the best cycling cities in the county. This is a great base from which to start but Cycle Yorkshire recognises that there is still a lot of work to do. The 10 year strategy has five themes – get more people cycling, make choosing cycling easier, more events to take part in, greater awareness of cycling and cyclists and a thriving network of cycling businesses and social enterprises – all to encourage more people to cycle more often.