Category Archives: Campaigns

Follow the Rabbit ride through CMK 28.3.24

Follow the cycling rabbit on a short ride through Central Milton Keynes leaving Station Square on Thursday 28th March at 5.30pm. Gather clues left by the rabbit to create a magic word and possibly win the biggest chocolate egg donated by John Lewis – anyway get chocolate eggs for taking part. There will also be a £25 shopping voucher prize, donated Ringway Infrastructure Services, for best dressed rabbit!

Ride ends at Light Pyramid in Campbell Park, following the same route as the Cycling Santas ride in December.

Riders will then be invited to follow the rabbit down a hole at a large CMK retailer which has made a decision to not provide cycle parking facilities for shoppers, and politely ask for a reconsideration.

Cycle Saviours mechanics will be in Station Square offering free Dr. Bike offering free repairs from 4pm.

Why are only 23% MK cycle journeys by women?

Initial research by the Cycling Citizens MK alliance suggests only 23% of cycle journeys in MK are by women.  Volunteer researchers simply counted cyclists using redways in the last 10 days of January and found 131 male and 32 female.

“It’s a justice issue,” said Jane Whild of Voices of Women in MK, a partnership of women’s organisations to champion women’s voices to bring about change.  “Women’s equal access to cycling must be designed in to City plans.  Other research by Lime Bikes (‘Tackling the gender pedal gap’) shows only 19% of female cyclists feel sale riding alone at night and 91% face barriers to cycling.  To make progress, we must understand the barriers.”

Hazel Dean, another member of the research group, said: “For me the barrier was my confidence.  By joining the short cycle ride through CMK organised by Cycling Citizens on Thursdays, I now have the confidence to cycle around where I live.”

In partnership with MK City Council, Jane Whild has created a short online survey, https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/CyclingMK/, and wants at least 1,000 MK residents, female and male, to complete it.

Kurshida Mirza, High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire in Nomination 2024-25, said: “I’d love to cycle more around Milton Keynes, but I don’t feel very confident on my bike yet.  I’m interested to see what other women are saying about why they don’t cycle”.

Cllr Jenny Wilson-Marklew, Cabinet Member for Transport, said:  “As a regular cyclist I know what some of the barriers to cycling are.  Given the Council’s goal of reducing carbon emissions, and our principle of equal access to transport facilities, we urge as many adults as possible to fill in the short survey.”

Jane Whild will give an initial report on participation in the survey at the Mayor’s Cycling Awards on 14th March.

Ringway hosts Mayor’s Cycling Awards Tea

On Thursday 14th March, primary school leaders from across Milton Keynes received Mayor’s Cycling Awards for their achievements in Bikeability training and Modeshift STARS progress. The event was hosted by Ringway Infrastructure Services on Bleak Hall. Awards were also made to secondary schools which have excelled in the MK Secondary Schools Cycling Challenge.

After a welcome from Ringway’s Daniel Mullins, and an update on the Cycling Citizens alliance’s data monitoring from Michael Pattinson of PWC, MK Mayor and Mayoress Mick and Mandy Legg presented the following awards:

  • Top Cycling Secondary School (most cycles on site per 100 students in March 2024) – Glebe Farm School (10.7)
  • Top Cycling Primary School (most progress on Modeshift STARS) – Cold Harbour (‘Very Good’), Two Mile Ash (‘Good’), Barleyhurst (‘Approved’)
  • Top Cycling Primary School (high % Year 5 & 6 pupils on Bikeability training in 2023-24) – Knowles (68.5%), Barleyhurst (56.9%)
  • Bikeability Champion Schools pledging 80% participation by March 2025 – Giffard Park, The Premier Academy, Two Mile Ash.

Cllr Zoe Nolan, Cabinet Member for Children & Families (main picture above), spoke about the importance of MK City Council’s target of 80% children receiving Bikeability training. Bikeability instructors Richard Allman and Maria Riding spoke about the progress primary schools are making in Bikeability training and in using the Modeshift STARS platform for recording and monitoring achievements in promoting active travel.

Jane Whild, of Voices of Women in Milton Keynes, talked about the recently launched campaign to increase cycling by women and asked all attendees to complete this survey

and encourage others to do the same. Ann Shrimpton, leader of Breeze rides for women, celebrated last week’s ride to celebrate International Women’s Day, and Ian Revell, CEO of MK Community Foundation, outlined the upcoming City rides planned in March, May, July, September, December) including the Follow The Rabbit ride on Thursday 28th March.

Tom Bulman presented the summary findings of the recent MK Secondary Schools Survey, which will be published next week.

Finally attendees had a chance to see up close an e-assisted quadra-cycle (see below), similar to the one intended for next year’s MK Mayor, as outlined by Tristan Allen of Fully-charged e-bikes.

Other winners unable to attend were:

  • Top Cycling Secondary School (most students in Year 7 travel survey) – Watling Academy (220)
  • Top Cycling Secondary School (highest % students in Year 7 travel survey)Kents Hill Park (91%)
  • Top Cycling Secondary School (most cycling promotion initiatives) – Walton High (7)

Cycling Santas ready to ride again in 2024

At 10.30am on Saturday 14th December 2024, 500 MK residents will rally at Station Square, MK9 1LA, and set off on a short ride through Central Milton Keynes to Campbell Park and back (see photo story of last year’s event). This will be a formal world record attempt.

Register here now to participate, including a free Santa costume and/or free Tier/Santander hire bike on the day, if you need it.

There will be awards for the company and the school with the most registered Cycling Santas, and prizes for the best blinged bikes!

As well as creating fun, the event will bring together leaders from different business, education and community organisations who are members or supporters of a new broad-based alliance to get more people cycling in MK. This will be an opportunity from our civic and political leaders about their visions for cycling in MK.

The route itself is an easy ride, suitable for adults and children (with parents). The Cycling Santas will pedal up Midsummer Boulevard in the left-hand lane, as legally permitted, led and supported by 16 Guide Riders wearing pink hi-viz jackets, whose role includes making all junctions safe as the cyclists pass through. Cyclists will dismount to walk between thecentre:mk and Midsummer Place, the cycle together to MK Rose, and round and round it a few times, where mince pies and fruit will be shared. From there, most will return to Station Square by the same route (some will leave for home). For details, see Route & Risk Assessment.

For further information, contact cyclingmk@citizensuk.org, 07962 838685.

Cycling Santas delight CMK shoppers

Shoppers stopped to cheer and wave as 135 MK residents, including MK’s Deputy-Mayor and senior councillors, cycled through the city centre in Santa suits.

At 10.30am on Saturday 16th December, the Cycling Santas rallied at Station Square for a short ride to Campbell Park. Following last year’s pilot ride, this was a rehearsal for a formal world record attempt next year, which will encourage 500 people to participate. The event was reported by BBC News (online story) and ITV Anglia News (TV report).

Father Christmas (aka actor Dave Lovesy) led the proceedings with some hilarity:

As well as creating fun, the event brought together leaders from different business, education and community organisations who are members or supporters of a new broad-based alliance to get more people cycling in MK, especially children.

It was an opportunity to hear from civic and political leaders about their visions for cycling in MK.

  • Dame Ann Limb, High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire, said: “I am totally behind MK Council’s ambition to find ways to get more children cycling to school. Walking and cycling are good for people, places, and the planet which is at the heart of my sustainability focus as High Sheriff.”
  • Cllr Emily Darlington, Cabinet Member for Adults, Housing & Healthy Communities, said: “Research shows active travel leads to longer, healthier lives.  I pledge to do all I can to help MK City Council make walking and cycling easier and more attractive to MK residents.”
  • Cllr Zoe Nolan, Cabinet Member for Children & Families said: “We know cycling to school makes a big difference to children’s health and wellbeing. We want more children and young people to cycle to school. Last year MK Council delivered Bikeability Training to 35% of all 9-11-year-olds and we’re doing all we can to increase it to 60% this year. I pledged to work with our schools to find ways we can work together with the Cycling Citizens alliance to achieve this goal, and get to 80% by 2025.”

Mayor’s Cycling Awards were presented by Deputy-Mayor Cllr Marie Bradburn:

Then it was time for the Santas to cycle! MK’s Panacea Samba band provided the drum beat as they left the Square for Midsummer Boulevard.

With the help of 16 Guide Riders in hi-viz pink, the route was easy ride, attracting participants aged from 5 to 75 and a passenger dog!

The Cycling Santas pedalled up Midsummer Boulevard,

then dismounted at the ‘Cyclists Dismount’ sign to walk between thecentre:mk and Midsummer Place,

then circled MK Rose in Campbell Park

(video courtesy of Venkat Krishnan)

before stopping for mince pies and fruit.

Some pedalled on to the Light Pyramid and back.

before finally heading back to Station Square.

Thanks to MK Community Foundation for providing staging, Cycle Saviours (MK Christian Foundation) for providing transport and bike repairs, The Parks Trust for providing sound, Fully Charged for pedal haulage, and JAR Photography for the professional images above.

Madison Cycles hosts Mayor’s Cycling Awards

On Thursday 23rd November, Madison Cycles’ CEO Dom Langan welcomed 34 people from 19 MK’s businesses and education organisations to celebrate the results of this term’s MK Business Cycling Challenge and MK Schools Cycling Challenge.

“It was a pleasure to host the Cycling Citizens MK awards at Madison and to be joined by the Mayor and Lady Mayoress,” said Dom afterwards. “There were some emotional speeches about how cycling has changed their lives and some inspirational speeches about how teaching children to cycle is changing their lives for the better. Milton Keynes is very lucky to have such a motivated group of people promoting cycling for our community.”

After an update on Cycling CitizensMK’s strategy from Malcolm Davies of Trek Bikes and Michael Pattinson of PWC, Cllr Jennifer Wilson-Marklew, Cabinet Member for Sustainability and Action on Climate Change, gave her reflections on the importance of cycling to MK. She pledged to attend a meeting with the Cycling CitizensMK strategy group in the next three months.

Awards were then presented by Mayor & Mayoress Mick & Mandy Legg:

  • Top Cycling Secondary School (most students in Year 7 travel survey and most cycles on site per 100 students) – Watling Academy (220 Year 7 students, 12.4 bikes per 100) – collected by Assistant Headteacher Cameron Parks (first picture below).
  • Top Cycling Company (biggest increase in cycles on site compared with May23) – The Open University (9%) – collected by the OU’s Jodi Houghton (third picture below)
  • Top Cycling Company (most cycles on site per 100 employees) – Gemini Rail Services (7 bicycles)
  • Best new cycle parking provision – Unity Place – collected by Nathan Kennard (pictured above)
  • Services to Cycling – Ringway Infrastructure Services, for maintaining roads and redways through winter.

Then John Wilkinson of Volkswagen Financial Services spoke about ‘What we have done to increase cycling among our staff’ (pictured below)

and Sarah James from MK City Council spoke about ‘How cycling helps achieve Healthy Workplace Standards’.

Teachers Rich Hill of Bushfield Primary School and Jake Saville of Two Mile Ash School (pictured afterwards below) talked about ‘What we have done to increase cycling among our pupils’,

Simon Rudiger, CEO of MK Christian Foundation/Cycle Saviours, talked about ‘How we help MK access and fix bicycles’ and Mary King gave her personal testimony of e-bike benefit.

Richard Allman & Paul Hammond of MK Council Bikeability talked about routine Bikeability training in primary schools and the upcoming Bikeability Olympics 2024 competition. And Ian Revell, CEO of MK Community Foundation, encouraged people to sign up for Cycling Santas 2023. As well as fun, this will be an opportunity to get pro-cycling pledges from Cllr Zoe Nolan, Cabinet Member for Children & Families: Cllr Emily Darlington, Cabinet Member for Adults, Housing & Healthy Communities; Cllr Marie Bradburn, MK’s Deputy-Mayor; and Dr. Ann Limb, High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire.

Finally Jane Whild of Voices of Women in MK and Ann Shrimpton of Broughton Cycling Group, talked about the importance of including women when planning for cycle promotion in MK.

Then more refreshments were served, courtesy of Madison Cycles.

Photos by Jos Dyer, Madison Cycles.

Cycling CitizensMK Alliance launch at Parks Trust

Deputy Mayoress Marie Bradburn joined leaders from member organisations and supporters to launch the Cycling CitizensMK alliance at Campbell Park Pavilion.

“We’re pleased to be hosting this, proud to be a founder member,” said Julie Dawes, Events and Community Engagement Manager for The Parks Trust.

Nudrat Hopper and Tom Bulman, both Community Organisers of Citizens UK, talked about the method of Organising which has been used to build the alliance.

Malcolm Davies of Trek Bikes and Daniel Mullins of Ringway Infrastructure Services agreed to serve as co-chairs, at least initially.

Daniel’s Ringway colleague Suzanne Moss presented a draft survey to find out more about why people don’t cycle – and also details of an electric assisted pedal vehicle which could be made into the MK Mayoress’ chariot next year. Cllr Bradburn agreed to ride in provided room for another person in the carriage.

The meeting also heard about a recent application for funding of a Cycling Transition 567 project to increase cycling among school pupils in Years 5-7, and powerful and challenging testimony from Suze Miller, author of a report on ‘How people use and value their cars‘ while a student at The Open University.

The meeting agreed to set up a manifesto working group to review the draft vision, aims & objectives, member/sponsor offer and calendar of events. The first meeting will be hosted by PWC 1.30-4.30pm on Monday 9th October.

Cyclists rally to praise Council

Following last year’s inaugural city status celebration ride (photo story & video), 90 cyclists from across the city rallied at The Old Bus Station to thank MK City Council for its leadership and ambition in recent efforts to promote cycling to school and work.

Business and school leaders were welcomed by the High Sheriff of Buckingham and Mayor’s Cycling Awards were presented.

Before the presentations, Cycle Saviours provided Dr. Bike services, Panacea Samba band played music and cyclists met a cycling dinosaur and automota created from bicycle parts by Festive Road.

There was also a break-dancing display from Kev Kallon and free hot food from Namji’s Restaurant.

While the awards are being presented, free hot snacks will be provided by Namji Restaurant.

After a welcome from Ian Revell, CEO of MK Community Foundation (pictured below left), there was a speech from Dame Ann Limb, High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire (pictured below centre), who later joined the cycle ride. “Cycling plays an important role in tackling inequality and reducing inclusion,” she said. “MK’s cycling infrastructure is for everyone, not just cycling fanatics.” She pledged to join a Mayor’s Cycling Breakfast next year and promote cycling at other events across the county.

Victoria Miles MBE, CEO of The Parks Trust (pictured above right), spoke about how MK’s parks provide excellent opportunities for leisure cycling as well as routes to school and work.

Then the Mayor’s Cycling Awards were presented by Deputy-Mayor Marie Bradburn.

  • Top Cycling Companies (based on results here) were introduced by Grant Wildman of Schwalbe Tyres, pledging a prize set of new Green Marathon tyres to the winner:
    • Top Company Cycling Promotion Initiatives (per 100 employees) – 1st place, Gemini Rail Services (2.36) – collected by David Smith
    • Top Company Cycling Promotion Initiatives (per 100 employees)– 2nd place, ICAEW (0.80) – collected by Liz Tribe
    • Top Company Cycling Promotion Initiatives (per 100 employees) – 3rd place, Volkswagen Financial Services (0.43) – collected by Mel Welburn.
  • Bikeability Olympics 2022-23 awards for primary schools, introduced by Nicky Newlands, Bikeability Instructor, who announced that MK City Council has provided Bikeability cycle training to 20,000 local people in the past 10 years, including 2,187 in 2022-23:
    • Gold Award – Bushfield – collected by pupils
    • Silver Award – Giles Brook – collected by pupil Thomas Winepress
    • Bronze Award – Two Mile Ash – collected by teacher Jake Saville.

Then Cllr Zoe Nolan, Cabinet Member for Children & Families (pictured below), talked about why and how MK City Council wants to increase cycling among Year 7 school students.

And Murray Woodburn, the Council’s new Head of Traffic & Transportation (pictured below), talked about why and how MK City Council wants to improve its national Active Travel rating.

Then Eliza Ahad, Year 8 student from Stantonbury Campus (pictured below), spoke about why she likes cycling.

“Cycling gives me freedom to explore my neighbourhood and makes me feel independent,” she said.  “I like cycling around my area, but would like it even better if more other people of my age did it too.”

Then Councillor Nolan accepted a gift for Council leader Pete Marland, to say thank you for including in the Council’s new Delivery Plan a goal to increase MK’s Active Travel rating from 1 to 2 in the next one year and also a goal to support a pilot project to get more Year 7 pupils cycling to school. Both Cllr Nolan and Officer Woodburn pledged to continue their support for these initiatives.

After a safety briefing from Dave Lewis of MK Parks Trust (route map & risk assessment), the cyclists set off up Midsummer Boulevard for a ride to the Light Pyramid in Campbell Park.

Free bikes for the event

People were invited to take up the Nextbike of free Santander bicycle use for three hours. “We want to be part of the MK community,” said nextbike’s Leigh Richards, “really want to be engaged with it.”

BetterPoints

Cyclists using the Better Points app were given an extra 250 Better Points on their account for recording a cycle ride of more than half a mile to Campbell Park between 5 and 6.30pm.

Thanks to Ringway Infrastructure Services for providing cones.

Flyer: download event flyer here.

Photos: by Sagar Kharecha.

Film: click here to see Thomas Gray’s fantastic new film about cycling in MK, Grid Spinners.

Other rides. Cycling enthusiasts meet for a short ride through CMK every Thursday 5.30pm. Just show up at Station Square.

Bushfield School wins Bikeability Olympics final

On Friday 7th July, 36 Year 5-6 pupils from 9 primary schools competed in the final of Bikeability Olympics 2023 at Sports Central in Central Milton Keynes. This followed heats in March, May and June.

Events included an obstacle course (pictured above), relay race, slow race, bike detectives (organised by Cycle Saviours) and road ride.  Each event tested different cycling skills taught to 2,000 pupils in Bikeability training sessions run by MK City Council over the past school year.

In a close contest, Bushfield School took team Gold (pictured above), with Giles Brook running second to take Silver (pictured below left) and Two Mile Ash taking Bronze (pictured below right).

Presenting the awards, Emily Cherry, CEO of Bikeability Trust UK, commended the pupils’ skills and attitude.  She thanked the organisers and instructors for creating Bikeability Olympics. “It’s the only one of its kind in the country,” she said.  “You should all be proud of what you’ve achieved.”

MK Mayor Cllr Mick Legg (pictured left below), told the children, teachers and parents: “Our Council is proud of what you’ve done. We want more children to cycle to school.”

SONY DSC

The action

The winners (full results here):

  • Bike Detectives
    • Gold: Thusani Suseelan, Water Hall School
    • Silver: Patrik Konya, New Bradwell School
    • Bronze: Ivy Thota, Loughton School
  • Obstacle Course
    • Gold: Rae Langston, Giles Brook School
    • Silver: Jake, Bushfield School
    • Bronze: Sophie Christie, Barleyhurst School
  • Relay Race
    • Gold: Ted, Bushfield School
    • Silver: Thomas Jolly, Giles Brook School
    • Bronze: Dylan G, Two Miles Ash School
  • Slow Race
    • Gold: Ito P, Two Mile Ash School
    • Silver: George Jackson, Giles Brook School
    • Bronze: Ted, Bushfield School
  • Road Ride
    • Gold: Edie, Bushfield School
    • Silver: Ara S, Two Mile Ash School
    • Bronze: Natalia Hearn-Kasimi, Loughton School
  • Overall school winners
    • Gold: Bushfield School
    • Silver: Giles Brook School
    • Bronze: Two Mile Ash School

The presentations

Thanks to all teachers and parents who enabled their children to participate in Bikeability Olympics 2022-23.

Photos by Erin and Zdenka Mgbolu

Final presentations

Engraved trophies were presented to each of the winning schools by Deputy-Mayor Marie Bradburn at the CMK Carnival Cycle Ride on 13th July.

Supported by

With their European head office and Campbell Wharf store in Milton Keynes, Trek is excited to be part of this project encouraging kids and families to enjoy all the benefits that cycling brings.

in partnership with

MK Council has a goal to make Milton Keynes the UK’s leading city for cycle infrastructure.

and

with thanks too for support from Martin Swift of Cycle Saviours and Chris Barltrop of Avanti Cycling.

The inaugural Bikeability Olympics was held in MK on 7th July 2022 (see photo story). Plans are underway for Bikeability Olympics 2023-24.

Loughton School reaches Bikeability Olympics final

On Friday 30th June at Sports Central in CMK, Loughton School progressed to the Final of Bikeability Olympics 2023 on 7th July. There they will join Bushfield and Two Mile Ash, whose second teams also progressed to the final.

In drizzly weather, 26 pupils from 7 schools competed in each of five contests, including a road ride around Loughton.

“Thanks to all (Bikeability) instructors for another amazing event today,” said Jake Saville, Head of PE & Enrichment Coordinator at Two Mile Ash.

The final results were as follows (3 points for a contest win, 2 for 2nd place, 1 for 3rd place):

Schools

  • Two Mile Ash – 14 points
  • Loughton – 6 points
  • Bushfield – 4 points
  • New Bradwell – 3 points
  • Water Hall – 3 points

Individuals

  • Marshall B, Two Mile Ash – 6 points
  • Darragh B-A,  Two Mile Ash – 4 points
  • Ito P, Two Mile Ash – 3 points
  • Natalia Hearn-Kasimi, Loughton – 3 points
  • Patrik Konya, New Bradwell – 3 points
  • Thushani Suseelan, Water Hall – 3 points

Lauren Townsend, MK City Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Realm, presented the certificates and encouraged them to continue cycling.

Supported by

With their European head office and Campbell Wharf store in Milton Keynes, Trek is excited to be part of this project encouraging kids and families to enjoy all the benefits that cycling brings.

in partnership with

MK Council has a goal to make Milton Keynes the UK’s leading city for cycle infrastructure.

and

Mayor’s Cycling Breakfast 6.7.23

On Thursday 6th July, 20 leaders from 13 business and education institutions attended the third Mayor’s Cycle Breakfast & Awards of the year, which was hosted by The Open University (photo story of last one on 16th March). The meeting was organised by Cycling CitizensMK, a project funded by grants from MK City Council’s Economic Recovery Fund and Capability Fund, using monies from Active Travel England and the Department for Transport.

Following a welcome from event Chair Deborah Cooper, of MK Cycle Forum, Professor Nick Braithwaite, VCE Sponsor for Sustainability and Executive Dean at The OU gave an opening address: “We aim to be carbon neutral by 2030.  I see it as my job, stimulated by this morning, to increase the number of people cycling to The Open University. You can rely on us doing our bit as a relatively large employer in the region.”

Then Adam Sciberras, Special Projects Director of MK Development Partnership, shared some of the ideas driving MK planning for 2050. “For too long the city has been steered by a small group of people who have lived here a long while. We’re trying to listen to those people who are moving here and will be here in the future. We’re trying to introduce cycling as a more sustainable way of getting around the city.”

Cllr Jenny Wilson-Marklew, Cabinet Member for Climate Action & Sustainability, said: “As a city we need to not just take our cycling infrastructure for granted and think, well obviously we’re going to be an active travel city, and think more about what that network needs to look like so people can use it efficiently.

“The way I am trying to work in my role and to promote active travel and public transport is to bring it into the round, so it’s about making the conversation not just about cycling, but about the health benefits of active travel, and frame it around poverty.”

Murray Woodburn, the Council’s new Head of Traffic & Transport, will say: “There are some things we can do which are quick wins.  Lighting, surfacing, priorities and removing obstructions, are relatively cheap and can be done relatively quickly.”

Then the Top Cycling Company awards were presented by MK Mayor Mick Legg and Mayoress Mandy Legg based on bike counts and the number of cycling promotion initiatives undertaken (full results here). The winners were: The Open University, Network Rail, Niftylift, MK Council and Volkswagen Financial Services. Walton High won the Top Cycling School award.

The OU’s Neville the Newt also visited.

The meeting also enjoyed presentations from Dave Lewis of The Parks Trust, Chris Brittain of Walton High and Clive Faine of Abbeygate and MK Cycle Forum, and finally heard from Ian Revell, CEO of MK Community Foundation, about the upcoming CMK Carnival Cycle Ride on Thursday 13th July.

Bushfield, Giles Brook and Caroline Haslett through to Bikeability Olympics final

35 pupils from five MK primary schools tested their cycling skills in the second heat of MK Bikeability Olympics 2023. The event was held at Middleton Hall, thanks to thecentre:mk management, attracting parents and passing shoppers to enjoy the spectacle.

Pupils competed over five contests, including an obstacle course, slow race, relay race and a road ride in Central Milton Keynes.

After a close contest, pupils from Slated Row and The Premier Academy were edged out by pupils from Bushfield, Giles Brook and Caroline Haslett schools, who now proceed to meet Barleyhurst and Two Mile Ash schools in the final on Friday 7th July. The final heat will take place at Sports Central on Friday 30th June, for which registration is still open – click link to sign up here.

Presenting the awards, Matthew John, Development Director for MyMiltonKeynes, said: “It’s important to us all – businesses and individual citizens alike – that more people cycle, starting with our youngest citizens!”

The contests

The contestants

The scores (full details here)

– Schools

  • Bushfield 1, 42 points
  • Giles Brook, 37 points
  • Caroline Haslett, 31 points
  • The Premier Academy, 20 points
  • Slated Row, 18 points
  • Bushfield 2, 14 points

– Individuals

  • Jenitha Johnson, The Premier Academy 12
  • Oliver Stokes, Caroline Haslett 11
  • Macey Paul, Giles Brook 11
  • Markus, Bushfield 10
  • Ted, Bushfield 10

Thanks to thecentre:mk for hosting and Ringway Infrastructure Services for providing the bollards.

And thanks to Trek Bikes for sponsoring Bikeability Olympics 2023.

Photos by Jane Russell Photography.

Council Leader listens to Cycling CitizensMK leaders

Cycling CitizensMK recently scored an important win:  inclusion of specific pro-cycling goals in the Council’s Delivery Plan 23/24 (pts 73 & 74). Setting the goal of achieving Level 2 or higher with Active Travel England opens the prospect of additional funding from central government to improve cycling and walking infrastructure in Milton Keynes.

This win came about through a meeting with Cllr Pete Marland, leader of MK City Council, on 16th May. Cycling CitizensMK was represented by three leaders: James Heslop, Director of Strategy at Network Rail; Jim Parker, Executive Principal of Tove Learning Trust (Lord Grey Academya nd Stantonbury School); and Nicky Newlands, Bikeability Trainer.

Each leader gave testimony of their different interests in promoting cycling (for employees’ health, for improved routes to school, for cycling skills development) and listened to Cllr Marland’s explanation of Council priorities and constraints. They requested that he prioritise: a) achieving ATE Level 2; b) supporting a new initiative to promote cycling to school.

A few days after the meeting, the two requests were included in the Council’s Delivery Plan for the year ahead.

This follows a successful Redways Relaunch campaign of 2017 which won a pledge from Cllr Marland as Council Leader to make 50 specific improvements to the redways around five schools. In the end, the Council made 253 improvements.

Cyclists rally for CMK Egg Hunt 6.4.23

On 6th April, 35 cyclists rallied for Mayor’s Cycling Awards at The Old Bus Station and an Egg Hunt ride through CMK.

Logo designed by Tim Layden, photos by Jane Russell of JAR Photography.

Following free Dr Bike services from Cycle Saviours and a Bunny Hop contest for a £25 prize won by teenager Dominic H,

MK’s Deputy Mayor & Mayoress presented awards for cycling achievements in the MK Business Cycling Challenge and the MK Schools Cycling Challenge and to Adam Sciberras of MK Development Partnership for his participation in the Better Points reward scheme.

While the awards were being presented, free hot snacks were provided by Namji’s Restaurant in Xscape.

MC Richard Allman of MK Bikeability introduced Cllr Jennifer Wilson-Marklew, City Council Cabinet Member for Climate Action and Sustainability, who gave a short speech about why cycling is important to the Council’s plans to promote active travel.

She talked about the health and sustainability benefits of cycling. “We must get people out of their cars,” she said. “We must make it easier for people to use cycle routes or any new infrastructure we build to allow them to get to places they need to go” (see video from Paul Lane).

Julie Dawes & Lutin Smuts of The Parks Trust talked about the launch of its new 30 Mile Cycle Challenge.

Richard Allman briefed riders on the Cycling Egg Hunt challenge through CMK to Campbell Park Light Pyramid. This involved cycling to collect mystery numbers along Midsummer Boulevard.

Six teams contested the challenge.

The challege was won by a four-person team including the winner of last year’s Cycle Egg Hunt, Miles Gray (pictured second from left below, with Elaine Wales second from right).

A large chocolate Easter egg prize was presented by Elaine Wales of John Lewis,

with additional chocolate eggs donated by Liz Tribe of ICAEW.

Finally three contestants took part in the Pyramid Leap challenge, a timed competition to cycle down the pyramid hill, around the nearest tree and back to the top.

This contest was won by Tam Sheikh of Trek Bikes, who received a £25 prize.

Free bike vouchers for the Cycle Egg Hunt were made available by nextbike “We want to be part of the MK community,” said nextbike’s Leigh Richards, “really want to be engaged with it.”

Nextbike enables a user friendly service that supports cities in creating sustainable and integrated travel solutions.

The next big ride through CMK will be on Thursday 13th July (see calendar for details). All welcome.

Barleyhurst and Two Mile Ash proceed through first Bikeability Olympics heat

On a cold Friday afternoon, 13 students from Barleyhurst and Two Mile Ash primary schools competed in the first heat of Bikeability Olympics 2023 (won by Giles Brook last year – see story).

Both schools proceeded through to the finals which we be held on 7th July (see details).

The highest scoring individual winners (full results below) were:

  • 1st place – Reshan Mohanathas, Two Mile Ash
  • 2nd place – Sophie Christie, Barleyhurst
  • 3rd place – Kaydi Mcmanus, Barleyhurst.

Presenting the certificates, Cllr Emily Darlington, MK City Council Cabinet Member for Adults, Housing and Healthy Communities, said: “It’s good for Milton Keynes to have young people cycling and these contestants show a good example to us all.”

Joe Passmore, Deputy Headteacher of Barleyhurst Primary School, ,said: “Despite the wind and rain, pupils completed the various cycling challenges with enthusiasm and enjoyment. It was fantastic to see their team spirit as they cheered each other on to be the best that they could be. A lovely afternoon.” 

Jake Saville, Head of PE & Enrichment Coordinator at Two Mile Ash School, said: “The children had a great time taking on the five challenges which tested their cycling skills and knowledge. The Bikeability instructors provided the children with lots of support, encouragement and most importantly made sure they enjoyed themselves! It was a wonderful event and we look forward to being involved again in the future.”

Richard Allman, Bikeability Instructor who organised the Obstacle Course event, said: “It was great to see how the children had developed & improved their riding skills since completing the Level 2 course.”

Full results

  • Bike Detectives
    • 1st place – Zakariya Khan, Barleyhurst
    • 2nd place – Ryan Knotts, Barleyhurst
    • 3rd place – Sophie Christie, Barleyhurst
  • Obstacle Course
    • 1st place – Zakariya Khan, Barleyhurst
    • 2nd place – Kaydi Mcmanus, Barleyhurst
    • 3rd place – Reshan Mohanathas, Two Mile Ash
  • Relay Race
    • 1st place – Freddie Booth, Two Mile Ash
    • 2nd place – Michaela Searrott, Two Mile Ash
    • 3rd place – Reshan Mohanathas, Two Mile Ash
  • Slow Race
    • 1st place – Michaela Searrott, Two Mile Ash
    • 2nd place – Dylan Glynn, Two Mile Ash
    • 3rd place – Reshan Mohanathas, Two Mile Ash
  • Road Ride
    • 1st place – Kaydi Mcmanus, Barleyhurst
    • 2nd place – Sophie Christie, Barleyhurst
    • 3rd place – Amber Russell, Two Mile Ash

MAYOR’S CYCLING AWARDS BREAKFAST 16.3.23 AGENDA

Inviting leaders of MK’s businesses and education organisations, this event celebrated the achievements of participants in the MK Business Cycling Challenge and the MK Schools Cycling Challenge (awards below).

This event was held in MK Community Foundation, Margaret Powell House, 417 Midsummer Blvd, Milton Keynes, MK9 3BN – also on zoom link https://cuk.zoom.us/j/3863655749. (See photo story of last Mayor’s Cycling Breakfast hosted by Network Rail 10.11.22.)

Draft agenda (names in italics unconfirmed):

  • 8am – Arrival, coffee and pastries
  • 8.15 – Inspiring videos including film about cycling in MK by MK Grid Spinners
  • 8.30 – Start – Welcome from Ian Revell, MK Community Foundation and Chair Deborah Cooper, MK Cycle Forum;
  • 8.35 – Introduction from Cllr Jennifer Wilson-Marklew, Cabinet Member for Climate Action and Sustainability, MK City Council – Why cycling is good for MK
  • 8.40 – Recent & future MK cycling events: video of Cycling Santas 22.12.22 and CMK Egg Hunt ride 6.4.23 – Ian Revell, MK Community Foundation
  • 8.45 – Mayor’s awards – presented by Mayor Amanda Marlow
    • Top Cycling School (most students in travel survey) – Walton High
    • Top Cycling School (most bicycles at school one day), 1st = – Shenley Brook End School & The Hazeley Academy
    • Top Cycling School (most bicycles at school one day), 3rd Place – Lord Grey Academy
    • Top Cycling Company (most bicycles on site one day), 1st Place – Niftylift
    • Top Cycling Company (most bicycles on site one day), 2nd Place – Sainsbury’s Argos
    • Top Cycling Company (most bicycles on site one day), 3rd Place – Gemini Rail Services
    • Top Cycling Company (biggest increase in bicycles since December) – Volkswagen Financial Services
  • 8.50 – Results of MK Schools Travel Survey, Dec 2022 – Tom Bulman, with reflections from Cllr Zoe Nolan, Cabinet Member for Children & Families, and Cllr Emily Darlington, Cabinet Member for Adults, Housing and Healthy Communities.
  • 9.05 – Launch of Bikeability Olympics 2023 (including video of Bikeability Olympics 2022) and update on MK Council cycle initiatives including Better Points – Dave Lewis & Raeesa Chowdhury, MK Council Bikeability
  • 9.15 – Building of Cycling CitizensMK alliance – Clive Faine, MK Cycle Forum; Malcolm Davies, Trek Bikes
  • 9.25 – Thanks and next steps, including follow-on meeting for potential members of Cycling CitizensMK alliance, CMK Cycle Egg Hunt 6.4.23 and City Celebration Cycle Ride 13.7.22 – Deborah Cooper & Michael Pattinson of PWC.
  • 9.30 – End
  • 9.35 – Celebration photo of all participants (outside with bicycles)
  • 10.00 – Meeting of potential members of dues-paying Cycling CitizensMK alliance, including next steps following MK Cycle City Vision meeting 2.2.23. This will be hosted by PWC at Exchange House, Midsummer Boulevard, MK9 2DF.
  • 11.00 – End of meeting

Parking: TBC

For further information, contact Tom Bulman, 07962 838685, cyclingmk@citizensuk.org, or Raeesa Chowdhury, raeesa.chowdhury@milton-keynes.gov.uk.

City leaders welcome report on cycling to school

Leaders from MK business, Council and voluntary organisations reacted positively to the findings of a large-scale survey of students’ travel behaviours and attitudes.

The survey of 2500 secondary school students showed 12% of Year 7 students cycle to school while 50% are driven. And of those living within a 15-minute cycle ride, nearly 40% are driven.

The report recommends action from schools and MK City Council to promote cycling to school in order to achieve personal health & wellbeing and net-zero carbon goals.

Cllr Emily Darlington, Cabinet Member for Adults, Housing and Healthy Communities, said: “If we could get more people cycling for leisure, exercise and transport, we could transform the mental health of people in this city.”

Cllr Zoe Nolan, Cabinet Member for Children & Families, said: “Imagine the difference we could make if we could get 1000 more Year 7 students cycling to school rather than being driven. Promoting cycling from the earliest age is so important. Talking to parents about how their children can cycle safely to school is vital. I am certain we can increase the 12% who are currently cycling.”

The event also celebrated the achievements of participants in the 2022-23 Business Cycling Challenge and the Schools Cycling Challenge. Mayor Amanda Marlow presented the following awards:

  • Top Cycling Company (most cycles on site one day) – Niftylift
  • Top Cycling Company (biggest increase in cycles on site since December) – Volkswagen Financial Services
  • Top Cycling School (most students in travel survey) – Walton High
  • Top Cycling School (most bicycles at school one day), 3rd Place – Lord Grey Academy

Ian Revell, CEO of MK Community Foundation, talked to the video of Cycling Santas 22.12.22 and outlined plans for the CMK Egg Hunt ride 6.4.23, inviting all join.

Bikeability Instructor Dave Lewis outlined plans for the launch of Bikeability Olympics 2023 (to video of Bikeability Olympics 2022).

Jacqueline Fairclough of MK City Council’s Transport Planning team announced the launch of Better Points 2023, the app which enables MK residents to accumulate points for goods and services or charity donations simply by walking, cycling or using public transport.

Finally Clive Faine of MK Cycle Forum and Malcolm Davies of Trek Bikes talked about the need to follow up the report, and the MK Cycle City Vision meeting at Trek Bikes on 2.2.23, and plan next steps towards building a sustainable alliance of business and voluntary organisations to help the Council increase cycling.

Michael Pattinson, Director of Mobility at PWC, explained there would be a follow-on meeting for potential alliance members across the road at PWC. At this meeting, it was agreed that a prospectus would be drawn up for potential members to consider and respond to within the next month.

Fishermead shopkeepers pledge to support 50th birthday celebration

(Pictures by Sagar Kharecha.)

On 27th January six shopkeepers in Fishermead met at Frank Howe Court and agreed to work together to organise a celebration of the estate’s 50th birthday this summer.

The meeting was organised by Ruth Legh-Smith, a resident of Frank Howe Court, and attended by Cllr Terry Baines, Chair of Campbell Park Parish Council and fellow councillors Martin Petchey and Zamzam Osman; also Pavle Trajkovski, Pastor of Fishermead Seventh Day Adventist Church.

The shops were represented as follows:

  • Nana K of Xtrim Hair & Beauty
  • Benson of Freestyle Salon
  • Nuzral of XLN Take Away
  • MD Acam of Sabeeh Mini Market
  • Gloria of Testimony Ghana Food
  • Ali Asghar of Evergreen Foods.

A follow up meeting of the shopkeepers will be held in three months time, when plans for the Fishermead Is 50 celebrations are further advanced.

Cycle City 2050 – vision meeting 2.2.23

On 2nd February, 20 leaders from MK’s private, public and voluntary sectors met to plan a vision for substantially increased cycling in the city. The meeting, organised by Cycling CitizensMK, was hosted by Trek Bikes in Tilbrook. Organisations represented included MK City Council, MK Community Foundation, MK Christian Foundation/Cycle Saviours, MK Cycle Forum, MK Development Partnership, Network Rail, Next Bike/Santander, PWC, The Open University, Red Bull Racing and Volkswagen Group.

The meeting was opened by Deborah Cooper and Phil Murphy of MK Cycle Forum, who talked about the importance of cycling to personal health and explained the meeting aimed to complement MK City Council’s current efforts to promote cycling.

Cllr Jenny Wilson-Marklew, Cabinet Member for Climate Action and Sustainability, said cycling was one of the Council’s carbon-neutrality priorities, MK’s Redways needed investment and she would share the work of this meeting with her team. Jacqueline Fairclough, Travel Planning Officer for the Council, said her colleagues were focused on improving the Redway infrastructure and delivering Bikeability training, encouraging leisure cycling as a stage in the process towards increased utility cycling trips.

Dr. Jonathan Flower, former MK resident (pictured above with his family of six on a cycle in the late 90s) and now researcher at the Centre for Transport & Society at University of West England, showed examples of best practice from elsewhere in UK – especially Bristol, where cycle usage is high despite the hills – and talked about the obstacles facing cycling planners in MK, where cycle usage is low at 3-4% of modal share (see presentation).

This was followed by a Chris Boardman video about Kesgrave secondary school in Ipswich, where 9 out of 10 students walk or cycle to school.

Then Trek Bikes’ Malcolm Davies presented on how MK can use a rating of cycling infrastructure through People For Bikes as a basis for setting and monitoring cycling improvement targets (see presentation). Can MK get to 10% of cycling modal share by 2030? James Heslop, Head of Strategy at Network Rail, talked about their business drivers for promoting cycling, emphasising the benefits to employees’ health and wellbeing (see presentation), and the importance of good cycle parking.

Tom Bulman of Cycling CitizensMK then shared initial findings from a large-scale MK schools travel survey created by Tim Coffey, Science teacher at Ousedale School, showing that 5,000 MK secondary school students are being driven to school across distances that could be cycled in less than 15 minutes (see presentation).

Small groups discussed and fed back on four questions:

  • What should the goals be for active travel in MK, what should success look like? 
  • What should be the next steps?
  • Who else needs to be here?
  • Who could fund the development?

Ian Revell, CEO of MK Community Foundation, talked about next steps and the importance of secure funding for a continuation of the Cycling Citizens MK project. Tom Bulman recommended a bold vision of MK becoming the UK’s lead cycle city by 2050 in step with the Council’s existing carbon-negative target, a disciplined analysis of each Council Cabinet member’s interests, and a process of Community Organising to build relational power through an alliance of diverse, dues-paying institutions. Ian suggested creating an endowment fund to enable this approach long term.

It was agreed to set up a follow-on meeting in March/April to consider firm plans for such an alliance, with the aim of launching it in June/July. It was also agreed that developing relationships with officers at the Department of Transport and Active Travel England, and developing with them a data-driven approach in the context of their own goals, was vital. The main goal of this group, suggested Michael Pattinson of PWC, should be to make it easier for MK City Council to make good decisions about cycling.

And Malcolm later sent this thread of inspiration from Waltham Forest.

Cycling Santas bring joy to city centre

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,

(photo by Sagar Kharecha)

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

(photo by Sagar Kharecha)

and distributed flyers promoting cycling to shoppers,

then circled outside MK Theatre

(photo by Sagar Kharecha)

and around MK Rose

Cycling Santas circling the MK Rose (filmed by Iain Talbot)

before the final stretch

(photo by Sagar Kharecha)

to the Light Pyramid for a final hohoho

(photo by Sagar Kharecha)

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

(photo by Sagar Kharecha)

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.

MK’s Network Rail and John Lewis improve cycle parking

Network Rail, one of MK’s largest companies, recently installed bicycle parking racks for visitors outside the main entrance (pictured above). This followed a small action by Cycling CitizensMK to draw the attention of Network Rail’s Workplace Manager, Steve Bassington.

“For years I’ve been frustrated as a visitor to Network Rail, having to lock my bike to a short railing outside the front of the building because there were no bike racks,” said Tom Bulman of Cycling CitizensMK. “All it took was an email to Network Rail asking for a meeting and a walk outside to show Mr. Bassington the problem. Within weeks the racks were installed.”

Meanwhile at John Lewis, Community Liaison Coordinator Elaine Wales also scored a win for cycling, securing bike racks for John Lewis partners (workers) at the CMK store.

“I had previously been in contact with centre:mk shopping management, MyMiltonKeynes Business Improvement District and MK Council, asking about bike racks,” said Elaine, “because our partners had said they do not like to cycle to work as there was nowhere safe to store their bicycles. But they did not have any immediate plans to build a secure bike shed for centre:mk employees.

“Undeterred, I spoke to our Head of Branch, David Donovan, who said why don’t we turn our Partner Entrance area on the ground floor into a makeshift bike shed and add bike racks to it? We have now done exactly that and our partners can now store their bikes securely and in a warm, dry environment.” (Picture below.)

Women enjoy Learn To Ride on Saturday morning

On the morning of Saturday 12th November six women joined a Learn To Ride course provided by MK Council and led by Bikeability trainers Nicky and Maria. The location was Hollin Lane in Stacey Bushes, home of Cycle Saviours who loaned the bikes.

“It was helpful and very enjoyable,” said Kurshida Mirza of Truby’s Garden Tea Room. “When we can we do more?”

A series of five further sessions is being planned for Spring 2023. If you are interested to attend, contact Tom Bulman, cyclingmk@citizensuk.org, tel 07962 838685.

Mayor’s Cycling & Sustainability Awards, Autumn 2022

Following the 50-Day Workplace Challenger recorded by the Better Points app the first phase of MK Schools Cycling Challenge 2022-23, MK Mayor Amanda Marlow presented the awards at a breakfast hosted by Network Rail on 10th November.

35 people attended from 19 MK business, education and voluntary organisations interested in increasing the number of people cycling to work and school in MK.

The presentation began with a film about cycling in MK produced by MK Grid Spinners and was then introduced by Deborah Cooper of MK Cycle Forum; Jo Lewington, Chief Environment & Sustainability Officer of Network Rail; Cllr Zoe Nolan, Cabinet member for Children and Families, MK Council, and Ian Revell, CEO of MK Community Foundation.

Cllr Zoe Nolan

Mayor Amanda Marlow said “encouraging children and young people to cycle is important for their wellbeing” and presented the following awards:

  • Top Cycling School (most bicycles at school one day) – 1st place, Walton High (227), collected by Chris Brittain
  • Top Cycling School (most bicycles at one school per 100 pupils) – 1st place, Watling Academy (10.71), collected by Jo Barford
  • Top Cycling Company (most cycling activities & miles cycled) – 1st place, Gemini Rail Services (285 & 3793) – collected by David Smith, Free Dr. Bike Repair Day prize donated to Watling Academy
  • Top Cycling Company (most cycling activities & miles cycled) – 2nd place, The Open University (208 & 1074) – collected by Jodi Houghton
  • Top Cycling Company (most cycling activities per employee) – ICAEW (35.2) – collected by Liz Tribe
  • Top Cycling Individual (most cycling activities) – 1st place, Ann Kiceluk, World Vision (93) – prize Cycling Helmet (from Cycling CitizensMK)
  • Top Cycling Individual (most cycling activities) – 2nd place, Alan Dewick, Gemini Rail Services (87) – prize £50 voucher (from Better Points)
  • Top Cycling Individual (most cycling activities) – 3rd place, David Smith, Gemini Rail Services (71) – prize T-shirt/tote bag (from MK Council)
  • Winning Walker (most walking activities) – 1st place, Steve Porritt, Gemini Rail Services (221) – prize Bone conducting headphones (from MK Council)
  • Winning Walker (most walking activities) – 2nd place, Charlie Byron, Gemini Rail Services (112) – prize T-shirt/tote bag (from MK Council)
  • C02 Saver (most CO2 saved from walking and sustainable journey modes) – 1st place, Steve Porritt, Gemini Rail Services (265) – prize £50 voucher (from Better Points)
  • C02 Saver (most CO2 saved from walking and sustainable journey modes) – 2nd place, Alan Dewick, Gemini Rail Services (179) – prize T-shirt/tote bag (from MK Council)
  • Most Sustainable Traveler (most sustainable bus journeys – bus, train, MK connect, eScooter, Car Club Journey) – 1st place – Maham Khan, Network Rail (38) – prize £50 voucher (from Better Points)
  • Most Sustainable Traveler (most sustainable bus journeys – bus, train, MK connect, eScooter, Car Club Journey) – 2nd place – Ian Turvey, World Vision (17) – prize T-shirt/tote bag (from MK Council)
  • Top Better Points Company (most engagements per person) – Gemini Rail Services – donation of £200 to Willen Hospice (from Better Points).

“Taking part in competitions like this improves morale in our workplace,” said David Smith of Gemini Rail Services.

Richard Allman, Bikeability Instructor with MK Council, announced the launch of Bikeability Olympics 2023 for primary schools (including video of Bikeability Olympics 2022) and Raeesa Chowdhury of MK Council Transport Planning team gave an update on current initiatives.

Primary school pupil in action at Bikeability Olylmpics 2022

Clive Faine of Abbeygate Development and MK Cycle Forum talked about the importance of continued support for Cycling CitizensMK’s behaviour change agenda, and Malcolm Davies talked about Trek Bikes’ rationale for supporting it.

Then all participants went outside for a photo to celebrate Network Rail’s recent instalment of visitor cycle racks resulting from Cycling CitizensMK’s agitation.

It was announced that this year’s Cycling Santas ride would be on 15th December leaving The Old Bus Station at 6pm, all welcome.

After the photo call, 10 participants attended a ‘How To Promote Cycling In My Institution’ workshop sharing best practice of businesses and schools and agreed a series of follow up actions.

(Thanks to Lisa Hathway of GGS UK for standing in at short notice to take photos of the award winners!)

Fishermead citizens appeal to High Sheriff for big 50th

On Friday 18th November, 50 Fishermead residents will meet with Debbie Brock, the High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire, in a special assembly to celebrate the estate and make plans for its 50th anniversary in 2023. They will present a petition of 500 signatures asking for a royal visit.

In 1973, the first house was built in Fishermead. Today there are 1,400 households and a proudly diverse community. One thing residents are not proud of is Fishermead’s reputation, which they think is unfairly negative.

“Fishermead is still an estate regarded by outsiders as dangerous and a hopeless case,” said resident Thomas O’Brien. “A royal visit could help dispel these prejudices by highlighting the range of people who make this a rich community, and the individuals and organisations who help knit our community together.”

“This is a fantastic place to live,” said another resident. “We have friendly shops, different faith groups, a primary school which Ofsted rates as good, lots of green space and a kids’ play area right in the middle of the estate. I am glad we moved here.”

“I’d like to play with Princess Charlotte at the pirate park,” said the child of a petition signatory.

Also attended by MK Mayor Amanda Marlow and local ward Councillor Donna Fuller, the assembly will celebrate Fishermead’s young and old residents, with videos from Willows First School children, displays of break-dancing and football skills from MK Galacticos FC, food from different countries and testimonies of what Fishermead was like in the early days. Children from Jubilee Wood Primary School will sing ‘Count On Me’ while the number of petition signatures is finally counted, then present it to the High Sheriff and ask “what do we need to do to get a royal visit next year?”.

Leaders from a variety of Fishermead institutions – Mosque, Trinity Church, Frank Howe Court, Pebbles Nursery, Salvation Army, Samaritans, Seventh Day Adventist Church and The Coop store – will be listening and planning together over coming months a celebration for Fishermead’s 50th birthday which will show the best of Fishermead and make residents feel proud.

The assembly will also be attended by members of Campbell Park Parish Council and Milton Keynes Council.

The organising team is appealing to Fishermead residents to do two things to help the campaign for a royal visit:

  1. add your signature to the petition (450 signatures so far). You can do this outside The Coop store most afternoons from 3pm.
  2. attend the assembly at Fishermead Trinity Centre on Friday 18th November, 6.30-8pm. Sign up at tinyurl.com/fish2023.

Local resident Ruth Legh-Smith of Frank Howe Court said: “The more Fishermead people we have in the room next Friday, the more it’ll show the High Sheriff how much we care.”

For further information, contact leaders David Hart davidhartchristian@gmail.com, Pavle Trajkovski ptrajkovski@secadventist.org.uk, or Community Organiser Tom Bulman, fishermead@citizensuk.org, tel 07962 838685.

(Picture shows Averil Aplin (left) with daughter Miyahn, who’ll be singing at the assembly, and campaigner Ruth Legh-Smith, as she collects signatures outside The Coop convenience store.)

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Watling Academy students cycling to school

Watling Academy is MK’s leading school for the proportion of its students who cycle to school. One in nine students make the journey from home to school by bicycle.

This is the result of a recent survey of all MK secondary schools based on counting the number of bicycles on school premises. Kents Hill Park School and Oakgrove School came a close second and third – see results.

“I cycle to school because if helps me stay fit and healthy,” said Meghan, Year 9 student at Watling Academy. “Once you get into it, it’s part of your daily routine.”

“My parents don’t like using the car,” said Ethan, another student. “My parents don’t like using the car and I live close, so why wouldn’t I?”

“With our school focus on sustainability and being part of the MK community, I’m proud to see so many Watling Academy students on their bikes or walking to school,” said Headteacher Ian Bacon. “I want the headache of where exactly to build another set of bike sheds for our staff and students, we have only just had more installed over the summer and now they are almost full too!”

The results of the schools cycle count raise questions about the different factors affecting cycling at different schools, including access and facilities. But more and more schools are encouraging their students to cycle, and the Cycling CitizensMK project is helping them share best practice.

Watling Academy and other top cycling schools will receive awards at the Mayor’s Cycling Breakfast, hosted by Network Rail, on 10th November.

Pictured above, Watling Academy Headteacher Ian Bacon flanked by students Ethan (left) and Meghan (right).

Fishermead residents petition to reduce car speeds

Following a serious car accident and a series of near misses involving children, more than 500 residents of Fishermead have signed a petition demanding slower car speeds.

“My 12-year-old niece was killed in a car accident and my own kids have had their own near misses,” said Sophie Richens (photo below). “For the climate we need our kids walking to school, but only if it’s safe from speeding cars.”

Sophie is one of a fast-growing group of Fishermead residents campaigning for car speeds to be reduced to 20mph on the estate.

David Hart, one of the campaign leaders and a resident of Fishermead for more than 30 years (pictured below), said: “The design of the estate streets mean that in many places cars travel inches away from children on the pavement.  Research shows that a 20mph speed limit would mean a sevenfold reduction in the change of serious injury compared to 30mph. We just need a majority of residents to sign the petition.”

One Saturday, following a short training including a briefing from the Police on safe door-knocking techniques, campaigners visited more than two hundred houses and flats to gather signatures for the petition.  Campaigners also stood outside the Co-Op collecting signatures.

A group of campaigners sets off to collect signatures.

The petition was submitted to MK Council on 31st August and is now in process of consideration.  Campaigners are confident the Council will agree to implement a new 20mph zone across Fishermead during 2023, coinciding with Fishermead’s 50th birthday celebrations.

If you haven’t added your name to the petition and would like to, you can do so online by clicking tinyurl.com/20mph4us.

Tom Bulman, Community Organiser for a project to build the power of Fishermead Citizens, funded by MK Community Foundation, said: “We hope this campaign will bring the community together to make a difference on Fishermead. Most residents feel proud of their estate and want to feel safe. This will make them feel safer.”

MK new kid on block for cycling

120 people from across Milton Keynes gathered for a short cycle ride through the city centre to celebrate MK’s new city status and recent increases in cycling to school and work in MK delivered by Cycling CitizensMK. See:

“I always thought Cambridge was the cycling capital of our region,” said ITV News reporter Matt Hudson, “but there’s a new kid on the block. The city of Milton Keynes wants to be the place which has the most people using pedal power.”

The ride was organised by Cycling CitizensMK, a project funded by MK Council. The riders included MK Councillors, business and school leaders, primary school pupils, teenagers and vintage bicyclists in their 70s. See film produced by Real Solid Media.

10-year-old Luca Galeanu, who recently helped Bradwell Village School win MK’s (and UK’s) first Bikeability Olympics competition between primary schools, said: “Cycling is important because I learn new things and make new friends, plus it keeps you healthy.”

Teenager Charlotte of MK Youth Cabinet said: “I really enjoy cycling with my friends, I just find it’s an easy way to get around.”

“Cycling is a Council priority,” said Cllr Mick Legg, Deputy Mayor of Milton Keynes (below), who presented the Mayor’s Cycling Awards. “It goes to our cycling strategy and our target to halve our carbon emissions by 2030. We’ve long been a supporter of cycling. We’ve got over 300 miles of redway network.”

“For us it’s a real win-win,” said Richard Scott of Volkswagen Financial Services (above), winner of the award for large company with the highest number of cycle trips per employee. “Cycling is good for our colleagues’ health, not only physical but also mental health. Our group cycle rides in the evenings help camaraderie, bring colleagues together.”

“Cycling Citizens MK has given us motivation to get out and about in MK,” said Liz Tribe, Senior Employer Training and CPD Support Executive at the Institute of Chartered Accountants, winner of the Top Large Companies (average trips per employee) award.

The Mayor’s Cycling Awards presentation took place on Thursday 14th July at The Old Bus Station (schedule), following a Vintage Bicycle Competition (see bikes) and Bunny Hop and Wheelie stunt contests (see trailer) – award winners listed below. MC for the presentation was Ian Revell, CEO of MK Community Foundation.

MK Council’s Highways department received a Special Thanks award, presented by Dylan Murray, Deputy Member of Youth Parliament MK South, and collected by Andy Dickinson, Client Services Manager of MK Highways. “Without your hard work maintaining our roads and redways,” said Ian Revell, “none of us would be able to cycle in MK.”

Andy Dickinson receives Special Thanks award and garland designed by local artist Philippa Tipper.

The awards were preceded by a short performance from MK champion break dancer Kevin Kallon and hot snacks from Namji’s Restaurant were served during the awards presentation.

Breakdancer Kevin Kallon

Former Mayor Cllr Mohammed Khan told the riders how proud he had been to see city status achieved during his time as MK Mayor and how important cycling was to MK’s vision of itself as a city.

The riders set off for the short ride to Campbell Park shortly after 6pm.

The ride proceeded up Midsummer Boulevard.

And arrived at the Light Pyramid in Campbell Park for a final celebration.

The award winners (photos below)

  • Category 1: MK’s Top Large Companies (average trips per employee):
    • 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):
    • 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 schools:
    • Gold Award: Giles Brook School
    • Silver Award: Bradwell Village School
    • Bronze Award: Oxley Park School
  • Category 4: Contest Awards organised by Cycle Saviours and Iain Talbot
    • Stunt Contest Gold Award (£100 cash prize): Brandon
    • Stunt Contest Silver Award (£50 cash prize): Tim
    • Stunt Contest Bronze Award (£50 Madison voucher): Alex
    • Vintage Bicycle Gold Award (£50 Madison voucher): Allan
    • Vintage Bicycle Silver Award (£10 John Lewis voucher): Barry
    • Vintage Bicycle Competition Bronze Award (£10 John Lewis voucher): Steve
  • Category 4: Special Award
    • MK Council Head of Highways – Thank you for providing our roads and redways. Collected by Andy Dickinson, Client Services Manager.

The contests

Bunny Hop

Vintage Bicycles

Iain Talbot (front) and Chris Bridgman

Award winners

Business winners

Secondary schools winner

Paula Lawson, Headteacher of The Radcliffe School

Primary Schools (Bikeability Olympics)

Vintage Bicycle contest winners

Stunt contest winners

All winners

Special thanks to MK Development Partnership for permitting use of the area outside The Old Bus Station and Ringway Infrastructure Services for providing cones and tape to mark the area off for safety.

See how MKFM Radio trailed the event.

For more information, contact:

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

Photos by Jane Russell Photography.

Film: click here to see Thomas Gray’s fantastic new film about cycling in MK, Grid Spinners.

Future rides. Cycling enthusiasts meet for a short ride through CMK every Thursday 5.30pm. Just show up at The Old Bus Station.

Primary pupils compete in MK’s first Bikeability Olympics

To celebrate MK as a cycling city, children from nine MK primary schools showed off their cycling skills in MK’s first ever Bikeability Olympics competition.  Events included an Obstacle Course, Relay Race, Slow Race and Road Ride testing Bikeability skills. See:

Obstacle Course

This was the culmination of a year in which 3,000 pupils have been trained to achieve Bikeability levels 1 and 2 in 40 primary schools.  The event was the first of its kind – with branding permission from The Bikeability Trust – and a celebration of MK’s promotion of cycling as clean, low-cost and healthy way to get to travel around the city.

The winning school was Giles Brook Primary School, whose team of five contestants achieved two Golds and one Bronze medal.  Bradwell Village took second place, with pupil Luca Galeanu achieving the highest individual medal tally of all contestants, and Oxley Park came third (individual medalists listed below).

Winners Giles Brook School with Jo Lewington of Network Rail

Jo Lewington, Chief Environment and Sustainability Officer of Network Rail, who presented the medals, said: “We are always looking for new ways to promote sustainability.  We’re delighted to have Network Rail staff playing their part as volunteer marshals at this Bikeability Olympics event.”

Volunteer marshals from Network Rail with Thank You trophy

Councillor Lauren Townsend, Cabinet Member for Public Realm who attended Bikeability Olympics, said: “This is a great way to encourage children to cycle more.  We know it’s good for health and can save money as well as saving the environment.  It’s impressive that we have so many young people cycling safely to school.  MK Council is proud to have the ambitious goal of becoming the UK’s leading city for cycling infrastructure”.

Teacher Luke Bartishel from Orchard Academy primary school said: “Our school has purchased enough bicycles for all our pupils to do Bikeability training.  The Bikeability Olympics was an amazing event, a great idea, and the kids loved it.”

Slow Race

Bikeability Instructor Nicky Newlands, who has trained many children this year, said: “It’s wonderful to see how much the cyclists have improved and now competing together.  I hope to see many more next year, please talk to your school.”

Pump Relay Race

Dave Lewis, the Bikeability Instructor who led the ‘Quadrathon’ Road Ride through Loughton, said: “What an amazing afternoon. The students on the road ride were all fantastic, and as an instructor it’s such a proud moment to reconnect with former students.” 

Daniel Mullins, Operations Director of Ringway Infrastructure Services, said: “This is a fantastic event and we’re delighted to be supporting the event by lending some traffic management equipment to help mark out the various contest areas and help the children to cycle safely while competing.”

Martin Swift of Cycle Saviours, who created the unique Bikeability Olympics trophies, said: “Cycle Saviours is proud to have supported this event, helping younger children enjoy the fresh air and exercise.”

Luca Galeanu of Bradwell Village School, Victor Ludorum

Jonathan Stone, Manager of Trek Bikes’ new store at Campbell Wharf, which lent bicycles for the Bike Detectives contest, said:  “We want more people in MK to cycle.  It is great to be involved in the local community and we are always on the lookout for opportunities to help with local cycling events and initiatives to get more bums on bikes!”

MK Deputy-Mayor Mick Legg presented certificates to the school winners of Bikeability Olympics at the Mayor’s Cycling Awards and City Status Cycle Ride the following week.

Click here to see how MKFM promoted it.

In post-event feedback, parents and teachers scored 4.8/5.0 ‘the likelihood I would recommend the event to someone else’ and 4.7/5.0 ‘my feeling that the event would encourage the young people involved to cycle more often’.

The medalists

Photo galleries. All photos by Jane Russell Photography

The contests

The winners

MK celebrates city status with cycle ride through city centre

120 people from across Milton Keynes gathered for a short cycle ride through the city centre to celebrate MK’s new city status and recent increases in cycling to school and work through Cycling CitizensMK. See:

“I always thought Cambridge was the cycling capital of our region,” said ITV News reporter Matt Hudson, “but there’s a new kid on the block. The city of Milton Keynes wants to be the place which has the most people using pedal power.”

The ride was organised by Cycling CitizensMK, a project funded by MK Council. The riders included MK Councillors, business and school leaders, primary school pupils, teenagers and vintage bicyclists in their 70s. See film produced by Real Solid Media.

10-year-old Luca Galeanu, who recently helped Bradwell Village School win MK’s (and UK’s) first Bikeability Olympics competition between primary schools, said: “Cycling is important because I learn new things and make new friends, plus it keeps you healthy.”

Teenager Charlotte of MK Youth Cabinet said: “I really enjoy cycling with my friends, I just find it’s an easy way to get around.”

“Cycling is a Council priority,” said Cllr Mick Legg, Deputy Mayor of Milton Keynes (below), who presented the Mayor’s Cycling Awards. “It goes to our cycling strategy and our target to halve our carbon emissions by 2030. We’ve long been a supporter of cycling. We’ve got over 300 miles of redway network.”

“For us it’s a real win-win,” said Richard Scott of Volkswagen Financial Services (above), winner of the award for large company with the highest number of cycle trips per employee. “Cycling is good for our colleagues’ health, not only physical but also mental health. Our group cycle rides in the evenings help camaraderie, bring colleagues together.”

The Mayor’s Cycling Awards presentation took place on Thursday 14th July at The Old Bus Station (schedule), following a Vintage Bicycle Competition (see bikes) and Bunny Hop and Wheelie stunt contests (see trailer) – award winners listed below. MC for the presentation was Ian Revell, CEO of MK Community Foundation.

MK Council’s Highways department received a Special Thanks award, presented by Dylan Murray, Deputy Member of Youth Parliament MK South, and collected by Andy Dickinson, Client Services Manager of MK Highways. “Without your hard work maintaining our roads and redways,” said Ian Revell, “none of us would be able to cycle in MK.”

Andy Dickinson receives Special Thanks award and garland designed by local artist Philippa Tipper.

The awards were preceded by a short performance from MK champion break dancer Kevin Kallon and hot snacks from Namji’s Restaurant were served during the awards presentation.

Breakdancer Kevin Kallon

Former Mayor Cllr Mohammed Khan told the riders how proud he had been to see city status achieved during his time as MK Mayor and how important cycling was to MK’s vision of itself as a city.

The riders set off for the short ride to Campbell Park shortly after 6pm.

The ride proceeded up Midsummer Boulevard.

And arrived at the Light Pyramid in Campbell Park for a final celebration.

The award winners (photos below)

  • Category 1: MK’s Top Large Companies (average trips per employee):
    • 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):
    • 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 schools:
    • Gold Award: Giles Brook School
    • Silver Award: Bradwell Village School
    • Bronze Award: Oxley Park School
  • Category 4: Contest Awards organised by Cycle Saviours and Iain Talbot
    • Stunt Contest Gold Award (£100 cash prize): Brandon
    • Stunt Contest Silver Award (£50 cash prize): Tim
    • Stunt Contest Bronze Award (£50 Madison voucher): Alex
    • Vintage Bicycle Gold Award (£50 Madison voucher): Allan
    • Vintage Bicycle Silver Award (£10 John Lewis voucher): Barry
    • Vintage Bicycle Competition Bronze Award (£10 John Lewis voucher): Steve
  • Category 4: Special Award
    • MK Council Head of Highways – Thank you for providing our roads and redways. Collected by Andy Dickinson, Client Services Manager.

The contests

Bunny Hop

Vintage Bicycles

Iain Talbot (front) and Chris Bridgman

Award winners

Business winners

Secondary schools winner

Paula Lawson, Headteacher of The Radcliffe School

Primary Schools (Bikeability Olympics)

Vintage Bicycle contest winners

Stunt contest winners

All winners

Special thanks to MK Development Partnership for permitting use of the area outside The Old Bus Station and Ringway Infrastructure Services for providing cones and tape to mark the area off for safety.

See how MKFM Radio trailed the event.

For more information, contact:

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

Photos by Jane Russell Photography.

Film: click here to see Thomas Gray’s fantastic new film about cycling in MK, Grid Spinners.

Future rides. Cycling enthusiasts meet for a short ride through CMK every Thursday 5.30pm. Just show up at The Old Bus Station.

Learning from Fishermead Community Walk

Nine leaders from Fishermead institutions took part in a Community Walk to find out from one another how they see life and times in Fishermead.

The group stopped off at the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Pebbles Nursery (pictured above), the playing field, Campbell Park Parish Council office (main picture), Frank Howe Court and the Chinese Overseas Christian Mission, to hear from leaders at each institution what they do and why, what they see and what they think about it.

Mike Kelly, Director of Samaritans MK, said: “I was really impressed by the strong sense of community support within Fishermead and the range of work being undertaken by the voluntary and other sectors in support of local residents.”

One of the issues discussed during the walk was car speeds. Walkers observed one particularly hazardous pedestrian/cycle crossing at the junction of Pentewan Gate and Child’s Way (pictured below), which is unmarked.

The Community Walk will be continued on Friday 15th July at 10am. If you’re interested to join, please contact Ruth Legh-Smith.

Onwards and Upwards for Climate Campaign

Last September at the Citizens:MK Climate Assembly, the Bishop of Oxford agreed to our request for a meeting to discuss Climate Income (‘the fast and fair way to tackle the climate emergency’) and whether he might use his position in the House of Lords to promote the idea.

He has a very full schedule, so December was the first available date… and then just beforehand, he suffered a nasty bout of Covid. Finally, on 25th April this yea, the meeting took place.

The omens were promising: he had already raised the question of Climate Income in the Lords as a result of the assembly; he had put aside two hours to meet us; and he was bringing two advisors!  All the more reason for the representatives of the campaign team – pictured – to prepare carefully.  We agreed our roles: Catherine would convene, we scripted our contributions, and built a break for 1-2-l conversations into a plan that included reporting back to each other on developments in our climate work since September. We were precise about the two things we would ask for from him.

So what happened?  Lauren presented our first ‘ask’: we wanted to cite him as a supporter of Climate Income and of our campaign, as we took it national through the Citizens network. Would he consent to this?  The reply was immediate – yes indeed, and without the conditions one might have expected (e.g., that statements needed to be cleared through his office in advance).

Then our second ‘ask’: would he invite us to the Lords to a meeting, whether formal or informal, as he thought best, to help increase understanding and support for Climate Income among parliamentarians?

Again he replied positively, though not unconditionally.  Characteristically thoughtful, he said he needed time to consider when and how the meeting could best be ‘anchored’ in the processes of the Lords (and its Climate and Environment committee in particular – of which he is a member).  Then he gave us an important and unexpected bonus  – direct access to his two advisors (both of whom were clearly willing, thoughtful, and very well informed on Parliamentary processes as well as climate issues).

It had been an intense two hours including some lively exchanges around how to bring the need for rising carbon prices into the policy process and public debate.  We left feeling tired but elated – and certainly more powerful. We had strengthened and extended our relationships into the political establishment. We had an important ally for what we see as our next steps – both locally, and working across the Citizens UK network to spread this word and bring other chapters on board, turning it into a national campaign.   All that is needed is lots more hard work! – if you might like to be involved, please get in touch.

Mayor celebrates cycling with egg hunt through city centre

MK Mayor Mohammed Khan presented awards to businesses and schools for their achievements in the Ride Anywhere 21st-27th March competitions. The Radcliffe School, The Open University and Volkswagen Financial Services topped the leader boards (see full results for businesses and schools).

In video clip above, Mayor Khan prepares for awards presentation

Following free Dr Bike services from Cycle Saviours, and an introduction by MK Community Foundation CEO Ian Revell at 5pm, the rally of 20 cyclists heard from Paula Lawson, Headteacher of The Radcliffe School, about how the school has substantially increased student cycling among students in recent months. Then the awards were presented by Mayor Khan (pictures of winners, with thanks to Adekunle Odunewu of Realsolid Media, and listing below).

Then there was an Easter Egg Treasure Hunt on bicycles (devised by Vernon Young and Vankata Krishnan), which involved cyclists following clues to collect mystery letters en route to the Light Pyramid in Campbell Park (on Midsummer and Silbury Boulevards) to make two magic words, revealed as ‘BETTER POINTS’. This was to celebrate MK Council’s launch of the new Better Points app which rewards MK residents’ sustainable travel choices. The overall winner of the large chocolate Easter egg, donated by John Lewis, was Miles Gray, aged 11.

  • School Cycling awards
  • Top Cycling School (students and staff) – most trips, 1st place – The Radcliffe School (279 trips) – collected by Paula Lawson, Headteacher and Top Encourager (6 new riders encouraged)
  • Top Cycling School (students and staff) – most trips, 2nd place – Ousedale School (28 trips)
  • Top Cycling School (students and staff) – most trips, 3rd place – Lord Grey School (19 trips)
  • Top Student Rider (most miles), 1st place  – Arthur Williams, The Radcliffe School (218 miles)
  • Top Staff Rider (most trips) – Steve Truan, The Radcliffe School (24 trips)
  • Top Staff Rider (most miles) – Jason Falkner, The Radcliffe School (209 miles)
  • Other awards: Top Student Rider (most miles), 2nd place – Jude Chamberlain, Ousedale School (118 miles); Top Student Rider (most miles) 3rd Place – Luke Marshall, Shenley Brook End School (113 miles).
  • Business Cycling awards
  • Open University – 1st most riders (41), trips (158) and miles (2099) – collected by Jodi Houghton
  • Volkswagen Financial Services (VWFS) – 2nd highest average trips per employee, 2nd most miles (842) and 3rd most trips (49) – collected by Mel Welburn
  • Other awards: ICAEW – highest average trips per employee; Network Rail – 2nd most trips (52); Gemini Rail Services – 3rd highest average trips per employee; Top Riders (most trips):  Christopher Charles, Network Rail (13); Elizabeth Tribe (9);  David Smith, Gemini Rail Services (8); Top Riders (most miles):  Chris Binch, Cranfield University (187); Andy Sutton, The Open University (183);  David Black, Volkswagen Financial Services (167).

The next cycle rally in Station Square will be at 3.3-6pm on Thursday 30th June 2022.

Mayor celebrates MK citizens cycling more this winter

According to data from online platform Love To Ride, MK residents have bicycled more this winter than last winter. Results from two ‘Winter Wheelers‘ competitions promoted by Cycling CitizensMK, funded by MK Council with prizes from John Lewis and Trek Bikes, show a total of 1,500 rides covering nearly 14,000 miles between 1st-25th December.

Among the top 15 large companies participating, there were overall increases (compared with last year) in the number of riders (up 15% to 124), the number of cycle trips (up 43% to 817) and the number of miles cycled (up 10% to 9,761). The leading cycling companies were ICAEW, The Open University, Gemini Rail Services, Network Rail and Volkswagen Financial Services.

Among the top five schools, 65 riders made 791 cycle trips covering 4,083 miles, The leading schools were The Radcliffe, Ousedale and Watling Academy.

“We’re absolutely thrilled to be out in front on cycling,” said Paula Lawson, Headteacher of The Radcliffe School. “Students and staff have really enjoyed participating in the competition. We’re proud to be contributing environmental and health benefits simply by cycling.”

Awards will be presented by MK Mayor Mohammed Khan at a celebration Bicycling Breakfast on 17th February hosted by Willen Hospice. (Mayor Khan testing his winter cycling skills on Station Square (cycle courtesy of Cycle Saviours.)

Similar competitions for businesses and for schools will commence in March.

For more information see www.citizensmk.org.uk/campaigns/cycling-citizensmk.

Lynx lays on cabling for Fishermead Community Centre

(Pictured above: Connor O’Dell, Bertie Canavan and Lee Mould of Lynx Networks)

Fishermead Trinity Community Centre now has fast speed connection to the internet and is a step closer to its vision of providing an internet cafe for local residents. Technicians from Bletchley-based Lynx Networks Plc laid the cables as an in-kind donation to the Centre agreed between Lynx MD Alan Bullen and Trinity Centre trustee Heinz Elbers.

“Business is a little light for us this mid-winter and we’re pleased to put our spare resources to a good cause,” said Alan Bullen. “We can see the value of providing an internet cafe here.”

Alan Bullen, MD, Lynx Networks

“It’s a huge boost to our vision,” said Heinz Elbers. “i couldn’t believe it when I explained the problem and Alan just said yes we can help. This is a good news story for business and community working together.

Heinz Elbers, Trinity Centre trustee

“With many thanks to Lynx Networks for the network cabling installation and the partnership with Vodafone to provide their Gigafast fibre-optic connection we can now offer the perfect location for computer-based training courses, as well as the ad-hoc zoom call, after-school clubs for online homework or even network games. As opposed to an often poor and unstable wi-fi connection, all halls can now provide a gigabit network connection. This is part one of a wider story as the cabling outside the office is the first big step towards our Digital Inclusion pilot project. ”

This win follows the summer launch of the internet cafe campaign, when MK Mayor Khan presented 35 laptops donated by Veritas Digital (see story).

Centre trustee Don Mahon said: “It’s been really hard up to now because the only reliable connection was in the office, so we could only help one or two users at a time. Now we can get internet anywhere in the Centre, even in the hall here where we hold church services on Sundays.”

Lee Wootton, lead cabler for Lynx, said: “it took us longer than we initially expected, getting around the brick and glass in the building. But at Lynx we pride ourselves on sticking to our word, and it’s been enjoyable to deliver this. it’s good for us to do good.”

Pictured above (left to right): Lee Wootton, Barry Stone (Lynx), Don Mahon.

Cycling Santas bring cheer to CMK

Following big increases in cycling through campaigns earlier this year (Bike Month June and Cycling September), Cycling CitizensMK has been running two Winter Wheelers competitions in December, one for businesses and one for schools.

To celebrate MK’s winter cycling, there was a rally of 34 Cycling Santas in Station Square (video above), the biggest number ever seen in MK and a step towards the world record – maybe an official attempt next year!

Following free Dr Bike services from Cycle Saviours 4-5pm, the Mayor gave un update on the Winter Wheelers competition results so far (businesses and schools) and prizes were drawn from a ‘Santas Giveaway’ (prizes donated by Trek Bikes, Rutland Cycling, John Lewis, and MK Council).

Mayor Khan shows his trick cycling skills (click link below for more photos by Jane Russell).

Then the cycling santas rode up Midsummer Boulevard to Campbell Park, around the Light Pyramid and back, with a stopover to entertain the crowd outside MK Theatre.

“Everybody knows Santa has a sledge and reindeer, but not everyone knows Santa has a bicycle,” said Ian Revell of MK Community Foundation. “Cheerfully stopping people in their tracks, it was a great way to promote cycling!”

“It was great fun,” said cyclist Naveed Ahmed (left of Mayor in picture below). “I wish I had encouraged more people to come.”

Click to see more amazing pictures in MK Citizen news story.

Business leaders meet to promote employee cycling

On 25th November, 18 people attended MK’s first Business Cycling Breakfast to promote employee cycling and a cycling competition for businesses during Winter Wheelers 1st-25th December. The event was hosted by Willen Hospice in CMK.

After an introduction by chair Deborah Cooper of MK Cycle Forum, Tony Nelson, Principal of The Hazeley Academy, talked about his school’s ambition to see 90% of students walking or cycling to school.

Jonathan Stone of Trek Bikes talked about using a heated clothes rack as a practical alternative to the more expensive installation of showers.

Richard Scott, chair of the Employee Forum at Volkswagen Financial Services explained how his team had undertaken an exercise of postcode mapping to discover that 230 of its 1200 staff lived less than 8 minutes away from work by bicycle. He talked about VWFS had registered with Cycle to Work schemes, relaxed staff dress codes, helped inexperienced cyclists practice riding in the company car park and lent e-bikes for journeys to business meetings.

Leigh Richards of Nextbike said “mobility as a human right” and explained how Nextbike offers cycle use across MK at £5 per day and supports Cycle Day At Work initiatives.

Martin Swift of Cycle Saviours talked about how to reduce bicycle waste, saying “there’s no such thing as a write-off bike” and old bikes are welcome at Cycle Saviours’ education-funded refurbishment operation in Stacey Bushes.

Ellie Williamson of MK Council talked about various support services offered by the Council, including Bikeability Training, Sustainable Travel grants, quarterly cycling competitions and the Gear Change unit on Witan Gate. Colleague Raeesa Chowdury outlined details of the Winter Wheelers competition 1st-25th December.

MK Mayor Mohammed Khan talked about the Council’s vision of a healthy and low-carbon community and Ian Revell, CEO of MK Community Foundation, encouraged attendees to join and bring other cyclists to the Cycling Santas MK world record attempt on 16th December.

Finally Phil Murphy and Clive Faine of MK Cycle Forum expressed their positive outlook on the future of cycling in MK.

Following a post-event evaluation, organisers agreed to run a similar event, inviting other business leaders, in three months.

Deborah Cooper said: “This meeting highlighted what a lot of valuable work is going on to encourage people to use the great infrastructure we already have in the borough. There is a lot more to do to improve infrastructure we have, to ensure new developments make cycling easy, and to ensure even more people are encouraged to travel sustainably.”

CYCLING SANTAS ARE COMING

Following big increases in cycling during Bike Month June and Cycling September, Cycling CitizensMK is running two more competitions in December, one for businesses and one for schools, and an attempt to assemble the biggest number of Cycling Santas ever seen in MK (an unofficial attempt at the world record!) on Station Square at 5pm on Thursday 16th December. All are welcome to join.

Free Santa costumes for 40 people who are registered with Winter Wheelers and first in line from 4.30pm.

Following free Dr Bike services from Cycle Saviours 4-5pm, the Mayor will give un update on the Winter Wheelers competition results so far (businesses and schools) and prizes will be drawn from a ‘Santas Giveaway’ (prizes donated by Trek Bikes, Rutland Cycling, John Lewis, MK Council and others).

Cyclists are advised to check weather forecast before setting off and dress suitably warm and bright (with waterproofs in case of rain). Front and rear cycle lights must be used.

Agenda

  • 5pm – Welcome from Ian Revell, MK Community Foundation CEO, & Father Christmas
  • 5.05 – MK Mayor Mohammed Khan speaks about why cycling is important to Milton Keynes, then presents update on results of business and schools competitions so far
  • 5.10 – Santas Giveaway prize draw – Father Christmas
  • 5.30 – Briefing on cycle route and Risk Assessment – Tom Bulman
  • 5.35 – Group photo and formation of cycle groups for the ride
  • 5.40 – Short guided ride through CMK to Campbell Park Light Pyramid, including filming in Grafton Street underpass and at illuminated frame opposite MK Gallery, and back
  • 6.15 – Return to Station Square & video interviews

Cycle safety & risk assessment

For the CMK Cycleround ride, guide riders (wearing pink hi-viz vests) will lead cycle groups of approximately 25 riders, maintaining a suitable speed to keep the group together, and will take front position at red traffic light stops. Riders must follow the Highway Code at all times. All riders above the age of 12 are individually responsible for their safety and any injuries through unsafe cycling. Teachers will attend in a personal capacity and hold no responsibility for the safety of students cycling. See risk assessment.

(Instructions to Guide Riders.)

Covid restrictions: Current government advice will be followed.

Competition registration: To take part in the competitions, register with Love To Ride.

For more information, contact Tom Bulman, cyclingmk@citizensuk.org, tel 07962 838685.

Fishermead residents help clear walking route to school

Residents from Frank Howe Court and leaders of the new Fishermead Community Alliance joined school staff and pupils on Saturday morning to clear bushes and weeds from the walkway between Porthleven Place and Willows First School.

“It was fantastic to get the help of residents on a weekend,” said headteacher Jo Orbell. “The children who came that way on Monday morning were amazed how wide the walkway felt without the litter and overgrown bushes.”

Huge win for Citizens:MK Climate Campaign – Bishop of Oxford Steven Croft pitches Carbon Fee and Dividend to House of Lords

The Citizens ACE team (Action on the Climate Emergency) have had a great win this week.  We have been working on getting support for an exciting redistributive approach to carbon pricing called Carbon Fee and Dividend.  In this model a charge is levied on fossil fuels at source, and these “carbon fees” are used to fund a “climate dividend” which is given equally and directly to all adults in the UK.

At a recent event run in honour of Bishop Steven Croft’s visit to Milton Keynes for a series of climate meetings, we pitched him the idea.  The Bishop sits on the House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee, and we asked that he might be vocal about the model in that forum.  He promised to look into it, and was clearly impressed by it because on 11th October 2021 he pitched it to the House:

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=233438862151709

We hope this will be the start of a powerful relationship with Bishop Steven to work together on a national approach to climate work.

MK cyclists pedal 38,000 miles for Mayor’s Cycle September awards

During ‘Cycle September’, MK businesses and schools rode 38,046 miles with 317 riders going out for 3,123 rides (a 170% increase since June). 25 cyclists rallied in Station Square for an awards presentation with MK Mayor Mohammed Khan for the MK Businesses and MK Schools competitions organised by Cycling CitizensMK (see winners and photos below).

Following free Dr Bike services from Cycle Saviours 4-5pm, and tasty hot snacks from Namji, certificates were awarded to institutions and prizes to individuals (sponsored by Trek Bikes, John Lewis and Cycle Saviours) cycling most during September.

Then cyclists participated in a short CMK Cycleround ride through CMK to Campbell Park Light Pyramid and back.

“One of my aims as Mayor is to help MK in its bid for city status,” said Mayor Khan.  “We all know we must develop greener daily habits, and cycling to work and school is something more of us can do.”

Elaine Wales, Community Liaison Coordinator for prize sponsor John Lewis, said: “Congratulations to the winners and well done to everyone who took part in the competition. John Lewis and Partners are once again proud to support Cycling CitizensMK”

Business Cycling Competition Awards

Top Company – most trips, 1st placeThe Open University711
Top Company – most trips, 2nd placeVolkswagen Financial Services (VWFS) – Milton Keynes410
Top Company – most trips, 3rd placeNetwork Rail – Milton Keynes201
Top Company – increase in riders since Sept 2020ICAEW – Milton Keynes10
Top Rider – most trips, 1st place (prize: Trek cycle helmet)Phill Elvidge, Red Bull Technology54
Top Rider – most trips, 2nd placeMarina Cantarutti, The Open University50
Top Rider – most trips, 3rd placeOliwia Maszczynska, Network Rail41
Top Rider – most miles (prize Basic Bike Repair service)Chris Binch, Cranfield University764
Top Encourager (prize: John Lewis voucher)John Wilkinson, VWFS8

Schools Cycling Competition Awards

Top Cycling School (students and staff) – most trips, 1st placeThe Radcliffe School227
Top Cycling School (students and staff) – most trips, 2nd placeOusedale School212
Top Cycling School (students and staff) – most trips, 3rd placeWatling Academy203
Top Student Rider – most trips, 1st place (prize: Trek cycle helmet)Thomas Young, Watling Academy87
Top Student Rider – most trips, 2nd placeKeerthikan Jasydaran, Ousedale School38
Top Student Rider – most trips, 3rd placeAlex Mccarthy, St. Paul’s Catholic School30
Top Student Rider – most miles (prize: Trek cycle helmet)Elliott Pemberton, Ousedale School413
Top Staff Rider – most trips, 1st place (prize: Trek cycle helmet)Steve Truan, The Radcliffe School63
Top Staff Rider – most trips, 2nd placeTim Layden, Lord Grey Academy34
Top Staff Rider – most trips, 3rd placeDominic Keogh, Ousedale School26
Top Staff Rider – most miles (prize: Basic Bike Repair service)Steve Truan, The Radcliffe School539
Top Cycling School (staff) – average trips per staff memberOrchard Academy1.30
Top EncouragerJason Falkner, The Radcliffe School14

This event followed a similar awards rally for Bike Month in June.

Cyclists rally to Mayor and Council Leader

More than 30 cyclists rallied in Station Square and rode through Central Milton Keynes with Milton Keynes Mayor Mohammed Khan and Council Leader Peter Marland. This was to celebrate the success of June Bike Month, in which CitizensMK members cycled 10,808 miles and MK school students and staff cycled 4,365 miles

Following free Dr Bike services from Cycle Saviours, and tasty hot snacks from Namji, certificates were awarded to institutions and prizes to individuals (sponsored by Trek Bikes and John Lewis) cycling most during June (see gallery below).

Ian Revell, CEO of MK Community Foundation, called on cyclists to meet again every Thursday 5pm at Station Square to celebrate cycling in MK and help MK become a cycle city. All welcome to join.

(Special thanks to MK Council officer Ellie Williamson and Hazeley School student Sasha Snell for helping to organise this event.)

Join weekly Cyclists Unite ride through CMK , Thursdays 5.30pm

Meet others for a friendly and fun cycle ride from Station Square to Campbell Park Light Pyramid. The on-road ride leaves Station Square every Thursday at 5.30pm.

Sometimes there are special guests – see former Mayor Khan and Council Leader Marland in action and schools and businesses in other actions.

The first year from 1st April 2021…

Cllr Alex Walker, Leader of MK Conservative Group, joined CMK Cycle Round on 17.6.21 and said: “We all need to start taking this more seriously and I congratulate Citizens MK for this campaign to kickstart a renewed effort to boost cycling in the city.”

Bike month – Members and Schools cycle-off!

As part of a project with MK Council, Citizens:mk members and schools are competing to cycle most times and most miles in June Bike Month. See the leader boards:

Prizes will be awarded by MK Mayor Khan in Station Square at 5pm on Thursday 1st July.

Can you contribute a ride or two of your own to help your organisation’s cycle group? It’s easy. Just register here and then join your group.

If you have any questions, contact info@citizensmk.org.uk, tel 07962 838685.

(Pictured above: Ms Jo-Anne Hoarty, Headteacher of St. Paul’s Catholic School.)

Citizens win pledges from PCC candidates and party leaders

212 citizens from 30 civil society institutions attended the Thames Valley Citizens Accountability Assembly on 29th April.

29 leaders from 15 institutions presented five campaigns with specific asks of Police & Crime Commissioner candidates, and leaders of the main political parties in Milton Keynes Council, ahead of elections on 6th May.

These powerholders made pledges for:

  • Acton on misogyny
  • Digital inclusion
  • Action on climate change
  • Deaths registration services
  • Police and young people.

See asks and pledges, with links to video recording, and summary of pledges by candidate.

Southwood Primary school pupils talked about their environment (see Stacey and Eliza videos) and the Rt Rev Bishop Olivia of Reading spoke powerfully about how the Diocese of Oxford, main sponsor of Thames Valley Citizens, is taking action on climate change (min 52-54).

The assembly ended with a Ramadan blessing from Imam Ahmed Hilal.

“The content of the evening was brilliant, really engaging,” said Linda Kirk of MK Anglican Deanery. “The testimonies were convincing and the children’s were amazing…I felt proud to be part of it.”

“This was my first Citizens Assembly and it was incredibly inspiring and powerful,” said Emma Humphreys of The Oxford Academy. “I am just starting my journey with Citizens UK and this was a fantastic opportunity to see it in action.”

Following the election, leaders of Thames Valley Citizens will hold powerholders to account for their pledges.

Orchard Top of Cycling CitizensMK league table

Orchard Academy primary school has taken top spot in a new league table of CitizensMK members and partner organisations. At 21st March, three weeks into MK Council’s Ride It Out promotion month, Orchard has four of its staff in the top 7 riders who have cycled most miles.

One is Michelle Carter (pictured above), who for several years has been involved in promoting cycling among young children. As well as teaching full time, and having four children of her own at home, Michelle set up her own company, Biker Tots, to teach children from as young as two to cycle.

Jonathan Wilson, Deputy Headteacher at Orchard Academy (pictured below), is also in the top 7 riders of Cycling CitizensMK.

“I just love getting outdoors,” he said. “One good thing about lockdown has been seeing more families out on their bikes.

“At Orchard we want to get back to training our pupils to cycle as soon as possible. There’s so much to enjoy about being indoors rather than just computer gaming at home.”

Vicar Gill busy on a bike

Rev Gill Barrow-Jones, of St. George’s and Holy Trinity Churches in Wolverton, has been getting around on her bicycle. 22 trips in the last 18 days, as part of MK Council’s Ride It Out promotion in March (see her stats)!

“I cycle for lots of reasons,” she says. “Sometimes cycle It’s because I am late on the school run and it gets me there quickly! Other times because it’s a great way to get around in my parish. Whilst cycling I can see loads of people and stop to chat quite easily and hear what is going on in Wolverton.

“I did 8 miles last weekend delivering Mothering Sunday posies. Loved it!

“I like to cycle because it keeps me fit (especially with the gym and swimming pool closed). It’s good to get out and get active.

“I also cycle because it is good for the environment. God asks us to care for the world and turning on the car engine creates a lot of CO2. Getting on a bike is good for everyone.

“I especially like to cycle with my kids. It is such good fun and gets them off electronic devices for a while too!

“I’d love more people to cycle. The Redways in Milton Keynes make it super easy. Go get your bike out!”

Click here to see MK Mayor Cllr Geary on why he cycles.

Click here to find out about Ride It Out in March.

Click here join our Cycling CitizensMK club.

Muslim leaders want better bereavement services

18 Muslim leaders from 8 mosques heard testimony from three people who have recently experienced trauma through lack of death registration services at the weekend. Now they are researching the Council’s interest and planning action.

According to Islamic law (shariah), the body should be buried as soon as possible from the time of death, which means that funeral planning and preparations begin immediately (including administrative & religious obligations). Burial is usually within 24 hours of death to protect the living from any sanitary issues and to honour the dead. Not burying the dead in the prescribed time carries a religious dilemma about whether the person was righteous. The Prophet of Islam clearly commands Muslims to hasten the burial:

“Hasten (the burial), if he is righteous, you are hastening him to good. If not, then it is evil you are removing from your necks.” [Bukhari]

At the moment the MK Muslim community is struggling to fulfil this religious commandment for weekends as there are no provisions or policy from the MK Council for out of hours registrations or burials.

To join the action team, contact Salim Msallam.

MK leaders get on their bikes to ‘Ride It Out’

It is not often that a Bishop, Headteacher, Lawyer, Mayor and Police Chief, all decide to cycle on the same day.  But the days are getting longer, an end to Covid restrictions is in sight, and MK leaders are choosing to Ride It Out.

On Monday 1st March, 20 leaders of faith, education and business organisations, rode their bikes to promote a month of Ride It Out cycling in a partnership between MK Council and Citizens:mk.

See gallery of riders.

“I may be more of a walker than a cyclist,” said Cllr Peter Marland, Leader of MK Council, “but it is vital we move to more sustainable modes of transport and I look forward to getting out more on my bike in March.”

“It’s a no brainer,” said Rt Rev Dr Alan Wilson, Bishop of Buckingham.  “I listen to children a lot during my visits to schools, and I know how important it is to them to see us doing what we can to reduce climate change.”

“This past year has been difficult for our pupils,” said Jo-Anne Hoarty, Headteacher of St. Paul’s Catholic School.  “Encouraging them to enjoy doing things outdoors is important for their wellbeing.”

“We know how important it is to be physically and mentally fit,” said Rukhsana Malik of MK Muslim Association (pictured).  “Cycling is a relatively cheap, exhilarating and easy way to get healthy while going places.”

“For years my political opponents have been telling me to ‘get on yer bike!’,” said MK Mayor Andrew Geary.  “Well now I’m pleased to be doing it to support this great initiative by Citizens:MK. Cycling is great fun and it’s good for us too!  Why not give it a try even if you haven’t done it for a while?” 

In Ride It Out there will be four themed weeks, each with a different reason to ride and enjoy all the benefits that biking can bring. From the physical and mental benefits through to the fun and adventurous, Ride it Out will help people to get healthier and happier whilst helping the planet too.

You can join Ride It Out by registering at www.lovetoride.net/uk and share your cycling photos and experiences on Twitter: @citizensMK @mkcouncil @lovetoride_ @GetSmarterMK #RideItOutTogether.

Get ready for a long summer of cycling! 

Leaders – get on your bike for ‘Ride It Out’ on Monday 1st March

Please help us show others that cycling is healthy and fun – a good thing for us all to do as we come to the end of Covid lockdown.

Ride a bike on Monday 1st March to help launch MK Council’s Ride It Out challenge, take a photo and say what was good about it for you:

  • either on Twitter @citizensMK @mkcouncil @lovetoride_ @GetSmarterMK #RideItOutTogether
  • or in an email to tom.bulman@citizensuk.org for our website.

This is not about pretending you’re a regular or committed cyclist (if you aren’t one), just that you think it’s a good thing to do at least sometimes.

See leaders participating.

See gallery of riders participating so far.

CAN CITIZENS:MK MEMBERS CYCLE MORE THAN ANY OTHER MK ORGANISATION?

To encourage members of your organisation to participate in Ride It Out in the month of March, please do the following:

That way we can see and celebrate their cycling as individuals, as members of your workplace, and as members and partners of Citizens:mk.

If you have any questions, please contact:

For information about all MK Council’s cycle activities, go to www.getcyclingmk.org.