Cycle safely in the Isle as Tour de Yorkshire approaches

As cycling fever heightens with the approach of the greatly anticipated Tour de Yorkshire this weekend, North Lincolnshire Council is raising awareness of cycle safety.
North Lincolnshire Council LogoNorth Lincolnshire Council Logo
North Lincolnshire Council Logo

Working with Safer Roads Yorkshire and Humber the council is encouraging cyclists to use the ‘Ride the Routes’ free road safety app: http://bit.ly/cycleyorkshire.

The app was commissioned by Safer Roads Yorkshire and Humber and created by semi-pro cyclist Jamie Sharp, who rides for Feather Cycles Racing, to give tips and advice for people who are thinking of cycling the Tour De Yorkshire and the Yorkshire Grand Depart routes.

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The app isn’t just for these areas though – it is useful for anyone cycling in rural areas.

The routes page features maps and flyover footage, with information videos showing Jamie tackling some of the most challenging sections on his made-to-measure Feather Cycles bike.

Ricky Feather said: “I am absolutely delighted and very proud for my company and Feather Cycles Racing (www.feathercycles.com) to be associated with the app.

“Yorkshire is a world-class destination for sport and leisure cycling. We want as many people as possible to come here and experience the Yorkshire routes for themselves – and do them safely.”

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As well as the app there is an Urban Cycling Guide DVD. This is aimed at adults – particularly those cycling in urban environments. It provides great tips for safe riding in all sorts of situations using filmed rides in various locations.

The Urban Cycling DVD is free. To get a copy, contact Richard Hall, Road Safety Team Manager at the council on 01724 297346 or email [email protected].

There isn’t a better time to pick up your bike and Cycle Yorkshire as Yorkshire and Humber, once again, prepares to welcome cyclists from across the UK and around the world.

Richard Hall, Road Safety Team Manager at North Lincolnshire Council, said: “We have seen more and more people taking up cycling across our region, which is why we are raising awareness of the importance of cycle safety. As a partner of Safer Roads Yorkshire and Humber we have been working closely to promote the Ride the Routes app and the Urban Cycling Guide DVD to provide advice and tips for riding in urban areas.

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“It is a very exciting time for the region with Tour De Yorkshire taking place. I’m sure it will be inspiring lots of people to get on their bikes and discover the great cycling routes in our region. Before you go out cycling take a look at the app for helpful tips to ensure that you are safe.”

According to British Cycling, more than 95,000 people took part in its registered events in the regions toughed by last year’s Tour De France Grand Depart. That was in a year when total participation across all British Cycling’s recreational programmes increased by 64 per cent.

Some of the world’s top cyclists will be in the county again for the inaugural Tour De Yorkshire, a new, international ASO race that takes place over three stages from Friday May 1 to Sunday May 3 2015.

The race will put Yorkshire back in the cycling spotlight and thousands of riders are expected to converge on the county afterwards to follow the tyre tracks of the professionals.

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The first stage starts in Bridlington and ends in Scarborough. Stage two starts in Selby and ends in York. The third stage starts in Wakefield and comes to an end in Leeds with the final lap.

Ruth Gore, chair of Safer Roads Yorkshire and Humber cycling group, said: “We want people to explore our beautiful county on their bikes but we want them to do so safely.

“Although cycling is very safe – in fact, only around 11 per cent of all road accidents in the Yorkshire and Humber region involve pedal cyclists – we don’t want there to be a rise in the number of crashes involving bikes simply because there are more cyclists on our roads, which we expect to be the case after the Tour De Yorkshire.

“We also appreciate that many of those who do not come from here from outside the county will be completely unfamiliar with the Yorkshire road conditions, landscape and terrain, especially as, unlike during the races; all the roads will be open to other traffic.

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“We hope the free app will help all cyclists plan ahead and get the most out of riding the routes, whichever sections they choose to tackle and wherever they come from. The general advice is also applicable to any rural cycling – not just the Tour routes.”

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