London Freewheel

The London Freewheel is a major cycling event in London, England, aimed at cyclists of every age and ability. The inaugural 2007 event was designed for 30,000 cyclists but over 50,000 took part, and the 2008 event was planned to accommodate twice that number.

Background

The number of cyclists on London's major roads has grown by 83 per cent from 2000 to 2007. It is estimated that 40 per cent of Londoners have access to a bike, but only five per cent use one regularly.

The Mayor of London and Transport for London increased investment in cycling by 50 per cent in 2007/08 from £24 million in 2006/07 to £36 million in 2007/08. In 2000 investment in cycling stood at just £5.5 million. This money is being spent on improved cycle parking facilities, education and training, events and cycle promotion. 500km of the London Cycle Network Plus - a network of signed routes for cyclists across the capital - has already been completed and the full 900km network will be completed by the end of 2010. Transport for London has installed 10,000 cycling parking spaces across the capital in the past two years.

The 2007 Hovis London Freewheel

The inaugural 'Hovis London Freewheel' was developed by the Mayor of London and Transport for London (TfL) to encourage and increase cycling participation, and promote cycling as a form of transport within London. The event was launched at City Hall on 26 June 2007 by the Mayor, Ken Livingstone, Konnie Huq and Tim Dewey, Marketing Director for the event's sponsor Hovis.

The event took place on Sunday 23 September 2007. In 2007, a 14km route around central London from London Bridge to St James's Park was closed to motorised traffic, allowing cyclists to take over the streets and enjoy London’s most iconic sights. The route took participants past a number of landmarks including the London Eye, Victoria Embankment, Westminster, Whitehall, St Paul’s Cathedral, and The Mall.

As part of the day’s cycling experience, there were six ‘Freewheel Hubs' across London where riders gathered to be led by experienced cyclists onto the vehicle-free route. The six borough ‘Freewheel Hubs’ at Gladstone Park - Brent, Finsbury Park - Haringey, Victoria Park - Tower Hamlets, Peckham Rye - Southwark, Clapham Common – Wandsworth, Ravenscourt Park – Hammersmith and Fulham, also offered the chance to have bikes checked by experts.

London Freewheelers could also take part in the Freewheel Festival, an event at St James's Park open to all participants and visitors. Highlights of the festival included a Hovis picnic, BMX, mountain and trial bike stunts, cycling acrobatics, and bike displays along with children’s activities and information on cycling in London. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7009034.stm Cyclists enjoy car ban in London] , BBC, 23 September 2007.]

The 2008 Sky Sports London Freewheel

London Freewheel again took place on Sunday 21 September 2008, organised by TfL and the new mayor Boris Johnson, and sponsored by Sky Sports. [http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23433887-details/100%2C000+to+Freewheel+in+London%27s+streets/article.do 100,000 to Freewheel in London's streets] , Evening Standard, 24 Jan 2008] A different route, 12 km in length, between the Tower of London and Buckingham Palace, was again closed to motor vehicles all day (between 09:30 and 16:30) and open to cycles. Local 'hubs' at the Emirates Stadium in Islington, Victoria Park, Clapham Common and Ravenscourt Park provided meeting points and guided rides to the event. [ [http://www.lcc.org.uk/index.asp?PageID=902 London Cycling Campaign] ]

External links

* [http://www.london.gov.uk/freewheel/ London Freewheel]
* [http://www.londonfreewheel.com/downloads/HovisLondonFreewheel.pdf 2007 Route Map]
* [http://www.london.gov.uk/freewheel/docs/routemap.pdf 2008 Route Map]
* [http://www.tfl.gov.uk Transport for London]

References