Get on your bike!

Bike Week - an annual opportunity to promote cycling organised by Derry Access Forum - will take place over a two week period from Sunday, June 13th until Sunday 27th - known as "2 Wheels, 2 Weeks."

Bike Week will be launched on the first day of Derry City Council's annual maritime festival, Foyle Days.

Mayor Paul Fleming, has thrown his support behind what he called "this very worthwhile event."

Speaking about Bike Week he added: "Not only is cycling great exercise and fun for all the family, it's also great for our environment too.

"Bike week encourages people to think of other forms of transport and maybe think about leaving the car behind and getting on their bike instead."

Sustrans local staff and rangers will be manning a stall where members of the public can pick up copies of 2 Wheels, 2 Weeks programmes, local cycle maps and other promotional literature.

There will be slow bike races for the children with prizes sponsored by Claudy Cycles.

A range of demo bikes will be on display – from vintage to foldable, hybrids to tandems – to spark your interest in the wonderful world of cycling.

Halford's bike mechanics will also be on hand to offer free bike checkups to get your bike ready for two weeks of events.

Events are open to all from total novices to passionate cyclists and will inspire everyone to hop on their bikes and discover the benefits of swapping four wheels for pedal power in Londonderry.

Some other events happening here include a Bike To School Day on Wednesday June 16th and a Bike To Work Day on Friday June 18th – both of which will see a biker's breakfast.

Other events will include a poster competition and the Fresh Air Miles Sponsored Cycle, along the award-winning Foyle Valley Greenway, in aid of Sustrans – the leading sustainable transport charity.

The Derry Visitor & Convention Bureau in partnership with Claudy Cycles and Sustrans will officially launch the city's only cycle hire scheme during bike week.

Visitors and residents alike will be able to hire adult and children's bikes from the Bureau in Foyle Street at half day, full day and weekly rates.

Alternatively why not 'Bling Your Bike' at the parent and child cycle/fun day on Thursday June 24th or call down to the Inis Eoghain Cycle, and get a free bike doctor session with Halford's prior to 40km return ride to Inch Island, on Saturday June 26th.

Visit www.bikeweek.org.uk to see a complete online listing of all events planned across Northern Ireland and the UK.

If you register your participation with Travelwise on www.travelwiseni.co.uk before the start of Bike Week you'll automatically be entered into a draw to win a free bike!

This initiative is supported by the Public Health Agency working jointly with Local Councils in the Omagh, Strabane, Fermanagh and Derry District Council Areas. It is part of a programme aimed at 'Inspiring Communities to Get Active Together' which will help improve the health and well-being of people through increasing their participation in physical activity initiatives.

Bike Week is also sponsored by TravelwiseNI, Derry City Council, Derry Healthy Cities, Halfords and Claudy Cycles.

Pre-registration is essential for catering and organising purposes. To register or for more information please contact: Ross McGill, Sustrans Area Manager, Derry/Londonderry and North West, c/o Derry City Council, Level 4 - Engineer's Dept, 98 Strand Road, Derry, Tel: 028 71 365151, Mob: 07824 863032, email, [email protected]