Festival held to celebrate Weavers Wheel cycling and walking route launch

The Weavers Wheel cycle fest took place at Witton Park on Saturday.

The festival was a great success with many people turning up to try out the range of free, family-friendly activities, including free bike and helmet hire, led rides and bike doctor surgeries.  Out of those who completed a feedback survey on the day, 95% of respondents felt inspired to cycle more, which is great news.   An amazing 85 smoothies were made on a cycling smoothie maker.

The festival marked the launch of the new Weavers Wheel, a new 26km cycling route encircling Blackburn town centre.

The new Weavers Wheel route has knitted together a number of existing paths and quiet roads to enable cyclists and walkers to explore the local landscape.  Blackburn cyclists Kevin and Victoria Riddehough helped to map out the route after being inspired by the successful Preston Guild Wheel.

The Weavers Wheel features a series of ‘spokes’ into the town centre and ‘spurs’ to neighbouring towns and has been designed to allow flexibility, using all or part of the Wheel to access local employment, education, retail and leisure opportunities.

The Weavers Wheel is a great way to see the local countryside, exercise and travel around the borough in a carbon-neutral way.  The route features artwork inspired by schools, community groups and organisations.

A Weavers Wheel route booklet, detailing 18 different cycling routes for varying abilities, and a free ‘Blackburn Cycling Routes’ smartphone app are available to download from www.connectingeastlancashire.org.uk All the rides feature step by step directions, maps, an overview of what you can look forward to seeing on your journey, as well as places to stop off for refreshments.

Remember that safety is paramount when out and about on a bike and all cyclists should follow the Government’s advice on cycling safety, further information can be found at think.direct.gov.uk/cycling.html

To improve your cycling skills residents of Blackburn with Darwen can access cycle training at Witton Park Cycle centre, contact (01254) 682037 or visit www.refreshbwd.com/service/cyclecentre/ to find out more.  Residents outside of Blackburn with Darwen can contact Go Velo to find out more about their cycle training on (01282) 787386 or visit www.govelo.co.uk

The Weavers Wheel has been funded through the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership’s Local Growth Deal and forms a key part of the East Lancashire Strategic Cycleway which also incorporates the new Valley of Stone cycleway in Rossendale, National Cycle Route 6 (Hyndburn and Rossendale) and the Huncoat Greenway.

Here are  some photos from the festival: