Don't be dim – light up your day!
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On Friday 26th October, Love Your Bike are inviting people to join one of the Bike Friday cycle routes and ‘light up their day’. [1] With the clocks going back on Sunday 28th October and with the darker 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 ‘Light up your day’ and cycle safely and with confidence during the winter months.
To help people “Light up their day’ all new Bike Friday participants will receive a free Love Your Bike hi-viz vest [2] and those lovely people at the Keep Pedalling bike shop [3] will be offering 10% discount on bike lights to all Bike Friday participants till 9.30am on Friday morning.
More information and advice on bike lights is available from all good bike shops and on the Love Your Bike website. [4]
Graeme Sherriff, from Manchester Friends of the Earth’s Love Your Bike campaign said:
“The clocks may be going back and the nights getting longer but we don’t have to put our bikes in the shed. Cycling is a healthy and safe way to travel but it is really important to be bright and visible on your bike over the dark winter months.”
Bike Friday provides a range of cycle rides into the City Centre from various locations across Manchester and also works with companies and local authorities in Greater Manchester to promote cycling, improve cycle facilities and to 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 Chorlton Library, Levenshulme Station, Prestwich Pizza Express, 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 www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=99198337652
[2] Love Your Bike cycling vests are available for £8 from http://manchesterfoe.org.uk/loveyourbikeintro/love-your-bike-cycling-vests/
[3] Keep Pedalling is a new, independent bike shop situated in the bustling, Northern Quarter of Manchester. 23 Hilton Street, Manchester, M1 1EL. http://www.keeppedalling.co.uk/
[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
