City Safe Scheme

City Centre half term bike safety event

(Date of issue: Friday, 22 October 2010)

Local children will be able to have a ‘wheelie’ good time in Carlisle’s city centre pedestrianised area on Wednesday, 27 October.

To coincide with the October half-term holidays, Carlisle City Council has arranged a “Stay Fit, Stay Safe, Light up, Lock Up” event, between 10am and 2pm.

A series of bike safety awareness activities and information will be on offer for families wanting to keep safe on the roads. There will also be a wide range of free gifts to give away including bike-marking kits and reflectors. A prize draw will also be on offer, with the chance to win locks, lights and helmets.

The City Council’s Sports and Recreation team will also be giving children and adults the chance to take a ride on a bike within a barriered area outside the Old Town Hall.

Following the road-safety theme, Cumbria Fire & Rescue will also be attending the event and will ‘splitting’ a car, to illustrate how easily road accidents can happen. They will also have information to hand which encourages motorists to be aware of bikes on the road.

Rebike, a local business, will attending between 12noon and 2pm to promote their work. They recycle old unwanted bikes and restore and repair them so they can be sold on at discounted prices.

Cllr Ray Bloxham, Portfolio holder for Local Environment, said:

“The “Stay Fit, Stay Safe, Light up, Lock Up” is the first event planned as part of our new City Safe scheme. We want to promote the health benefits of cycling, but also get across safety messages too.

“Our free family event is a great opportunity for parents and their children to get all the information they need to enjoy and take part in cycling. Come along and enjoy a fun-packed event.” 

Carlisle United FC is also backing the City Safe Scheme.

For further information about the event, telephone 01228 817371.