On 22nd December, 42 Cycling Santas left The Old Bus Station for a short ride through Central Milton Keynes to Campbell Park and back and made many friends. This was the second year of preparation for a world record-breaking attempt in 2023 (see video and photos of last year here).

The event was reported by BBC TV (above) and on BBC online and YouTube (Adventures of Paul). (Photos below are by Jane Russell Photograph unless otherwise indicated.)

As well as creating fun, the aim was to bring together leaders from different business, education and community organisations towards building a broad-based alliance to get more people cycling in MK.

Following free Dr Bike services from Cycle Saviours, a Winter Wheelie stunt contest (£50 prize won by Loven Prentice, pictured left in main picture below)

and breakdancing display from MK’s own Kevin Kallon

MK’s Deputy-Mayor and -Mayoress, Cllr Mick and Mandy Legg,

presented awards to schools and businesses for cycling achievements this winter (listed below).

Jodi Houghton (pictured below) spoke about why cycling is important to The Open University and what they are doing to encourage cycling there

and a raffle was drawn. Then the Cycling Santas rode out to the drums of new MK band Panacea Samba.

and proceeded up Midsummer Boulevard.

Along the walkway between thecentre:mk and Midsummer Place, the Santas dismounted, in accordance with instruction on blue sign

and distributed flyers promoting cycling to shoppers,

then circled outside MK Theatre

and around MK Rose

before the final stretch

to the Light Pyramid for a final hohoho

and turnaround for the ride back to The Old Bus Station (see video from The Salvage Hacker).

Mayor’s Winter Cycling Awards 2022

• Top Bikeability School 2022 (total no. trainee riders) – Middleton Primary School (246 riders), collected by Philip Morris.
• Top Cycling Hardiness School (lowest decrease in no. cycles parked at end of term compared with beginning) – Lord Grey Academy (-11%), collected by Tim Layden
• Top Cycling Innovation School (highest number of Cycling Initiatives per student) – Watling Academy (0.36)
• Top Cycling Research School (highest number of survey respondents per 100 pupils) – Walton High (36)
• Wheelie Contest Winner (£50 cash prize) – Loven Prentice
• Top Cycling Company (highest no. cycles this month) – The Open University (22), collected by Jodi Houghton, and Santander (22)
• Top Cycling Company (highest no. cycles per 100 staff one day this month) – Gemini Rail Services (7.87)
• Services to Cycling – MK Highways Department for gritting the roads in freezing weather, collected by Naveed Ahmed.

Thanks to Nextbike for providing free Santander bicycles for those who needed them. “We want to be part of the MK community,” said nextbike’s Leigh Richards, “really want to be engaged with it.”

Thanks to Ringway Infrastructure Services for providing cones.

And thanks to Jane Russell Photography and Sagar Khachera (where indicated above) for the photos.