Saddle up for Like Your Bike Week

Ellie Williams, Elected Officer for Community at UBU

Press release issued: 18 October 2013

Students from the University of Bristol will be demonstrating their love for cycling next week thanks to a new campaign created by the University of Bristol Students’ Union (UBU). Starting on Sunday, Like Your Bike Week aims to celebrate cycling as a fun, flexible, sustainable and economical mode of travel for students.

Starting on Sunday [20 October], Like Your Bike Week aims to celebrate cycling as a fun, flexible, sustainable and economical mode of travel for students.

The campaign will coincide with the last Make Sundays Special of 2013 and has received backing from Bristol Mayor, George Ferguson. The week will be made up of fun and informative events in collaboration with Bristol Bike Project and Roll for the Soul Café.

The project was the brainchild of Ellie Williams, Vice President of Community at UBU, who wanted to make cycling more accessible and inclusive for students.

Ellie said: "I was really keen to organise a huge cycling campaign in partnership with the University and local community groups to get more people into cycling.

“I want to get students feeling safe cycling and demonstrating that it's an affordable activity. Most importantly I want to make it fun! Sustainability is a core value of our union so I'm really keen to promote it to students, especially as Bristol is a cycling capital of the UK.”

The events throughout the week include bike maintenance classes, spinning classes, a pedal powered cinema and a Halloween themed fancy dress bike ride on the Downs.

Tony Clayton, Sustainability Manager at the University of Bristol, said: "Cycling is an economical, efficient, low impact and easy way of travelling around our wonderful city. To do so safely is a key element of the University's cycling strategy.

“One of our latest and popular initiatives to support safe cycling is the sale of discounted, high quality cycle lights and locks to staff and students. We look forward to playing our part in the Students' Union's exciting Like Your Bike week, where we will be selling more of our locks and lights to participants."

All events are free but some require booking:

Sunday 20: Make Sundays Special, City Centre, All day

Second Hand Bike Sale, The Fountains, 11am

Monday 21: Bike Maintenance Class, Hawthorns, 12pm *

Tuesday 22: Rave Spin Class, SEH, 8pm and 9pm *

Wednesday 23: Bike Maintenance Class (Women only), Bristol Bike Project, 6pm *

Thursday 24: Bike Maintenance Class, Hawthorns, 12pm *

Intro to London to Paris Cycle talk, Roll for the Soul Cafe, 6pm

Pedal Powered Cinema, Roll for the Soul Cafe, 8pm

Saturday 26: Fancy Dress Cycle Ride, The Downs, 3pm

Sunday 27: UoB Cycling Club Ride, Suspension Bridge, 10am

(*Booking required)