On 17th February, MK business and school leaders met to celebrate the winners of a Winter Wheelers cycling competitions, and discuss next steps in helping MK to become the UK’s leading cycle city.

Hosted by Willen Hospice and supported by MK Council, the event was attended by representatives from several high-profile MK organisations attended: ICAEW, Network Rail, Nissan Technical Centre Europe, Red Bull Racing, The Open University, Volkswagen Financial Services (VWFS), The Radcliffe School and Ousedale School.

Chair Deborah Cooper of MK Cycle Forum introduced sponsors John Lewis (prize vouchers) and Spin Team (prize helmets) and showed an entertaining one-minute video produced by MK Grid Spinners. Then awards were presented by MK Mayor Mohammed Khan to the following winners (photo above).

Companies (full results here)

• Open University – 1st most riders (43), trips (384) and miles (3606), 2nd highest average trips per employee, Top Female Rider (most miles) – Marina Cantarutti (383 miles) – Marina Cantarutti to receive on behalf of Nick Braithwaite, Executive Dean for Sustainability
• Network Rail – 2^nd most trips (63), Top Rider 2nd Place (31 trips), Rafal Switaj – Rafal Switaj to receive
• Nissan Technical Centre Europe – 2^nd most miles (868) – Angus Mackay to receive
• VWFS – 3^rd most trips (58) and miles (862), Top Encourager, John Wilkinson (3 staff) – Mel Welburn to receive
• ICAEW – highest average trips per employee (0.1 trips) – Liz Tribe to receive

Schools (students & staff) (full results here)

• The Radcliffe School
  • Top School most trips (445) and miles (2,337) – Jason Falkner, Business Manager, to receive on behalf of headteacher Paula Lawson
  • Top Student Rider (most trips):  Cameron Webb (80 trips)
  • Top Staff Riders (most trips):  Steve Truan (79 trips)
  • Top Encourager – Jason Falkner (5 riders)
• Ousedale School – Mark Bell to receive
  • School 2^nd most trips (307) and 2nd most miles (1,424)
  • Top Student Rider (most trips), 2nd Place: Oli Gunn (26 trips)

Following the presentations, Andy Damerum of Red Bull Racing and Angus Mackay of Nissan Technical Centre Europe talked about the personal and corporate benefits of cycling, and Adekunle Odunewu of Realsolid Media showed a Cycling CitizensMK video featuring the Principal and students of The Hazeley Academy. Then Jim Parker, Executive Principal of Lord Grey School and Stantonbury School, spoke about why cycling is good for his students and how the school promotes it. He talked about the importance for cycle promotion of building students’ confidence in their bike ability and how the mechanics of a bicycle can be good for student learning too. Jim also noted that more must be done to encourage girls to cycle to school.

Ian Revell, of MK Community Foundation and Venkata Krishnan of the Sai Shital community spoke of the benefits of cycling to voluntary sector organisations.

Raeesa Chowdhury of MK Council (pictured speaking below) gave details of the upcoming Ride Anywhere competition 21st-27th March (details here) and Keith Wheeler, MK Council’s Road Safety Officer, introduced the new principals of the revised Highway Code.

Martin Swift introduced Cycle Saviours and offered mobile Dr. Bike repair workshops to businesses and schools, before an inspiring film was shown about effective cycle infrastructure in Oulu, a town in Finland, and Phil Murphy of MK Cycle Forum offered concluding observations.

Finally Dawn Clark of Willen Hospice advertised an upcoming fundraiser cycle ride in memory of Captain Tom.

Message from John Lewis: John Lewis & Partners are fully supportive of  regular cycling commutes as it does make for happier, healthier and wealthier partners. Cycling is fun to do in non-working hours too and it gives a real sense of freedom and the exercise can help to burn off the calories and stress. We will continue to donate vouchers for the award winners and we will be encouraging more of our partners to join in with ‘Cycling Citizens’.

Other certificates to be collected (from table) – Top Rider in Company

Name of company	Top Rider – most trips	No. trips	Top Rider – most miles	No. miles
ICAEW – Milton Keynes	Matthew Downton	10	Wayne  Murrie	159
The Open University	Jason Keenor	40	Marina Cantarutti	383
Gemini Rail Services UK Ltd – Milton Keynes	David Smith	27	David Smith	80
World Vision – Milton Keynes	Ian Tuirvey	14	Ian Turvey	155
Volkswagen Financial Services (VWFS) – Milton Keynes	Mel Welburn	17	John Wilkinson	262
Volkswagen Group (VWGroup) – Milton Keynes	Stuart Clarkson	6	Stuart Clarkson	134
Red Bull Technology – Milton Keynes	Phil Elvidge	20	Phil Elvidge	91
Atos – Milton Keynes	Kevin Findlay	26	Kevin Findlay	302
Nissan Technical Centre Europe – Milton Keynes	John Fettis	10	Angus MacKay	297
Deliveroo – Milton Keynes	Steven Abraham	29	Steven Abraham	709
Network Rail – Milton Keynes	Rafal Switaj	31	Keith Gibbs	132
Cranfield University – Milton Keynes	Chris Binch	14	Chris Binch	614
Nampak Plastics Europe – Milton Keynes	Andrew Smeets	5	Andrew Smeets	17
BSI – Milton Keynes	Alex Halasz	8	Alex Halasz	70
Domino’s Pizza Ltd – Milton Keynes	Mark Walke	6	Mark Walker	55
Santander – Milton Keynes	Neil Marchant	9	Neil Marchant	169
Sainsbury’s Argos – Milton Keynes	Stephen Henman	17	Stephen Henman	136
John Lewis – Milton Keynes	Christopher Charles	7	Christopher Charles	72

Contact:  Tom Bulman, cyclingmk@citizensuk.org, tel 07962 838685, Ellie Williamson, ellie.williamson@milton-keynes.gov.uk

Location of Willen Hospice