Following increased cycling among MK schools and businesses in 2021-22, and to celebrate the recent achievement of city status, a large group ride will set off from The Old Bus Station and cycle through CMK to Campbell Park and back. This event follows the inaugural Bikeability Olympics competition for primary school pupils on 7th July.

Date/time Thursday 14th July from 4pm, Celebration Ride at 6pm

See what MKFM are saying about it!

Location: The Old Bus Station, 401 Elder Gate, MK9 1LR

Schedule

• 4-5.30pm: Cycle Stunt Contests (cash prizes):  4pm Wheelie Delicious Donut Challenge; 4.45pm Bunny Hope Contest. See promo video.
• 4-5.30pm: Vintage Cycle Show:  Pre-1970 bikes only, points awarded for style, and all participants must have at least one item of tweed on their person at all times.
• 5.30-6pm: Mayor’s Awards 2021-22 presented by Deputy-Mayor Cllr Mick Legg (see running order below)
• 6-6.30pm City Status Cycle Ride – meet outside The Old Bus Station, ride up Midsummer Boulevard, Saxon Gate and Silbury Boulevard to Light Pyramid in Campbell Park for a large group photo at 6.30pm. Children are welcome but must be accompanied by a parent/carer/teacher.

Draft running order for Presentation of Mayor’s Cycling Awards during which hot snacks from Namji’s Restaurant will be served.

5.30pm – Welcome – Ian Revell, CEO, MK Community Foundation; with a short performance from MK champion breakdancer Kevin Kallon

5.35 – Mayor’s Awards – Former Mayor Cllr Mohammed Khan introduces Deputy Mayor Mick Legg

• Category 1: MK’s Top Large Companies (average trips per employee), with Award winners saying a few words about how their company promotes employee cycling
  • ICAEW (0.89) – Liz Tribe, Senior Employer Training and CPD Support Executive
  • Volkswagen Financial Services (0.76) – Richard Scott, Chair of Employee Forum
  • The Open University (0.48) – Nick Braithwaite, Head of Sustainability
  • Gemini Rail Services UK (0.45) – David Smith, Change Control Manager
  • Red Bull Technology (0.35) – Phill Elvidge, Production Control
• Category 2: MK’s Top Secondary Schools (average trips per student & staff member), with Award winners saying a few words about how their school promotes student cycling
  • The Radcliffe School (1.29) – Paula Lawson, Headteacher
  • Watling Academy (0.51) – Ian Bacon, Headteacher
  • Ousedale School (0.26) – Tim Coffey, Teacher
• Category 3: MK Bikeability Olympics Awards for primary school pupils
  • Gold Award: Giles Brook School – to be collected by pupils Carlos Lee and Ethan Saxon
  • Silver Award: Bradwell Village School – to be collected by pupil Luca Galeanu
  • Bronze Award: Oxley Park School
• Category 4: Contest Awards
  • Wheelie Delicious Donut Challenge Winner (£100 cash prize)
  • Wheelie Delicious Donut Challenge 2nd Place (£50 cash prize)
  • Wheelie Delicious Donut Challenge 3rd Place (£50 Madison voucher)
  • Bunny Hop Contest Winner (£100 cash prize)
  • Bunny Hop Contest 2nd Place (£50 cash prize)
  • Bunny Hop Contest 3rd Place (£50 Madison voucher)
  • Vintage Cycle Competition Winner (£50 Madison voucher)
  • Vintage Cycle Competition 2nd Place (£10 John Lewis voucher)
  • Vintage Cycle Competition 3rd Place (£10 John Lewis voucher)
• Category 4: Special Award
  • MK Council Head of Highways – Thank you for providing our roads and redways – certificate and cycle garland to be presented by recently elected Youth Parliament members Charlotte and Dylan, collected by Andy Dickinson, Highways Client Service Manager

5.55 – Instructions for City Status Cycle Ride, including Route & Risk Assessment (below) – Tim Layden, Lord Grey School. Group photograph – Jane Russell Photography

6.00 – Ride departs

6.15 – Arrive at Light Pyramid, Campbell Park, for group photo and Pyramid Plunge contest (fastest rider to go down from Light Pyramid, around lone tree to south-east, and back!)

6.30 – Depart.

Route, Risk Assessment & notes for Guide Riders: Click here. In case of extremely hot weather, riders are advised to bring water.

Filming: This event will be photographed and filmed. If you wish to not have your image recorded, please let Tom Bulman know immediately you arrive.

Sponsors & Prizes: Prizes will include vouchers and cycle accessories from John Lewis, Madison and Trek Bikes.

Partners: Ringway Infrastructure Services are providing cones and tape to mark the area off for safety.

For more information, contact:

• Tom Bulman, Cycling CitizensMK, cycling@citizensuk.org, 07962 838685
• Raeesa Chowdhury, MK Council, raeesa.chowdhury@milton-keynes.gov.uk
• Adekunle Odunewu, akaodunewu@yahoo.co.uk, 07935 797242

Note: Category 1 and 2 awards above are based on institutions’ performances over four cycling competitions 2021-22 (Bike Month June 2021, Cycle September 2021, Winter Wheelers 2021, Ride Anywhere March 2022)