Over 150 people attended the festival last week. The Cycling Festival was coordinated between Nottingham City Council and the British Cycling community coach and community developer. The aim was to deliver a free cycling event to enable both adults and children to learn and participate in cycling activities on the Harvey Hadden cycling track. The event showcased not only the health and mental wellbeing benefits of cycling, but also the joy and excitement it offers.

There were learn to ride sessions for youngsters and adults with some amazing results and feedback from those who rode for the first time. The community was able to use the cycle track and many people mentioned they had never seen it before nor knew of its existence.

In attendance were the following cycling charities and partners working to improve cycling in the Nottingham area:

• Bikeworks – provided a cycle workshop and Dr Bike.
• RideWise – delivered adult and children learn to ride lessons.
• Sustrans – promoted cycling routes and supervised the spin bike to create unique art works.
• Cycling UK [Nottingham] – promoted their cycling routes and organisation.
• Women in Tandem – provided information and advice to help women take up cycling activities.
• Nottinghamshire Constabulary – provided bike marking and security advice.
• Travel Well – provided their fleet of accessible bikes and highlighted free cycling activities in Nottingham.
• Nottingham Mencap – used the accessible bikes and showcased that cycling is for everyone.

It was very busy with cycling activities taking place throughout the whole of the day. The event had a great community feel and there were lots of happy young people and adults who experienced cycling for the first time.

A parent at the event said: “Thank you for the cycling event today. My little boy (3 years old) really enjoyed the event and made excellent progress on his bike in a really short period of time. These events are fantastic opportunities to encourage children of any age to get cycling.”

Graeme Waters , Community Coach at British Cycling, said: “An amazing day, so many people in attendance including lots of young people learning to ride for the first time and families cycling around the track at Harvey Hadden.”