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Make a bright start to your day!

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On Friday 25th October, Love Your Bike are inviting people commuting to work or education to join one of the Bike Friday cycle routes and ‘make a bright start to your day’. [1]  With the clocks going back on Sunday 27th October and dark nights drawing in all road users need to take extra care and look out for others. Love Your Bike want people to continue enjoying the freedom of cycling in Greater Manchester and are encouraging people to ‘make a bright start to your day’ and cycle safely and with confidence during the winter months.

To help people ‘make a bright start to your day’ all new Bike Friday participants will receive a free Love Your Bike hi-viz vest [2]. Also, Love Your Bike supporters and Greater Manchester Cycling Campaign (GMCC) members can get discounts on cycle lights from a wide range of bike shops across Greater Manchester. [3]

More information and advice on bike lights is available from all good bike shops and on the Love Your Bike website. [4]

Catherine Thomson, from Manchester Friends of the Earth’s Love Your Bike campaign said:

“With the clocks going back this weekend it’s the perfect time to dust off those bike lights and hi-viz vests. Cycling is a healthy and safe way to travel but over the dark winter months it is really important to be bright and visible on your bike.”

Bike Friday provides a range of cycle rides into the City Centre from various locations across Greater Manchester and also works with companies and local authorities in the area to promote cycling, improve cycling facilities and encourage more people to continue cycling to school, work and for leisure all year round.

ENDS

CONTACTS FOR COMMENTS

Pete Abel, Love Your Bike campaign. Mobile: 07951 642858

Graeme Sherriff, Manchester Friends of the Earth, transport campaign co-ordinator. Mobile: 07948 405071

Notes to Editors:

[1] The Bike Friday cycle rides start at 8am from Blackley, Chorlton Library, Levenshulme Station, Prestwich Pizza Express, Sale Waterside / Stretford Mall and Withington Library and finish at approx 8.30am at Eastern Bloc, Stevenson Square, M1 1DN in the Northern Quarter. The Worsley and Middleton routes start earlier. See the website for details. The Bike Friday cycle rides take place on the morning of the last Friday of every month (except December). The rides go a moderate pace, have experienced ride leaders, are entirely law-abiding and can help people develop more confidence in their cycling abilities.

For details of the routes see: www.bikefriday.org or join the Bike Friday Facebook group

[2] Love Your Bike cycling vests are available for £8 from the Love Your Bike website.

[3] See GMCC Bike Shop Discounts page and Manchester Friends of the Earth members discounts page.

[4] See the Pocket Guide to Cycling. High-visibility clothing: Wear brightly-coloured clothes in the daytime, and high visibilty and reflective gear at night. Lights and reflectors: Your bicycle must have a rear facing reflector at all times. If you use it during hours of darkness it must also have front and rear lights and reflectors on the pedals. Other reflectors are optional. http://manchesterfoe.org.uk/loveyourbikeintro/pocket-guide-to-cycling-leaflet/ or http://www.thecyclingexperts.co.uk/get-cycling/bike-lights-guide/

[5] Bike Friday is coordinated by Love Your Bike (Manchester Friends of the Earth) and Greater Manchester Cycling Campaign (GMCC)

Love Your Bike is an award winning Manchester based campaign aiming to promote cycling and help make it an even more attractive, accessible and fun way to get around. Co-ordinated by Manchester Friends of the Earth, the campaign works in partnership with other like-minded organisations. See www.loveyourbike.org