Free family cycling festival returning to Leeds

British Cycling and HSBC UK will be returning to Leeds in September following the success of last year’s free, family event.

Let's Ride 2018 May 2018

HSBC UK Let’s Ride Leeds (formerly Sky Ride and City Ride) will take place on Sunday 2 September, when six kilometres of city centre roads – including a section of the University campus – will be closed to motor traffic to give thousands of people the perfect opportunity to explore their city on two wheels.

The event – part of a series being held across the country – seeks to inspire people to get on their bikes to combat some of the societal issues that blight Leeds and other major cities. Leeds is currently undertaking a range of work to tackle and improve air quality in the city.

This year’s event will have a strong community focus, linking up with local attractions, including the First Direct Arena. Along the route there will be a range of local community groups, bike shops, performers and giveaways, with participants encouraged to hop off their bikes and find out more.

The University’s Head of Sport, Suzanne Glavin, said: “This is a great opportunity for us all to experience this wonderful city traffic-free and get out there with family and friends and enjoy being active in the fresh air.

“There are some wonderful stop-offs on the way, with refreshments stalls and entertainment, so it will be a fun day out for all. And if the ride inspires you to be more active, more regularly, we have some exciting opportunities for you to try out our closed cycle circuit up at Bodington and/or our spin classes at The Edge.”

Councillor James Lewis, Leeds City Council’s executive member with responsibility for sport, said: “The response to this event in Leeds last year was absolutely fantastic, and we are delighted to host its return in September. This is a great opportunity for all the family and people of all abilities to enjoy the delights of cycling whilst also experiencing – in a safe and fun environment – the views of some of the city’s most iconic landmarks.”

Julie Harrington, British Cycling Chief Executive, said: “Last year, we were blown away by the response of the thousands of local people who got on their bikes and joined us.

“We are passionate about creating better cities for cycling, and events like HSBC UK Let’s Ride Leeds are a fantastic opportunity for people to get on their bike and take that first step towards making cycling a part of their everyday life.”

Visit the British Cycling website to register your free place.

But if you can’t wait until September to saddle up, Let’s Ride Pop-Up events are taking place in Leeds throughout the summer, with the next scheduled for noon to 2pm on 27 May at the Brownlee Centre at Bodington Playing Fields. Whether you want to ride for fun or fitness, these free regular events give you the chance to cycle on a traffic-free circuit as many times as you want, at a pace that suits you. Sign up here to take part.

Volunteers are also being sought in a number of key roles for HSBC UK Let’s Ride Leeds. See the volunteering section of British Cycling website for further information.

Full details of the day’s activities and route will be announced on For Staff in due course.

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