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| Chief Executive Dave Yates & NFDC Leader Cllr Mel Kendal |
With national Bike to Work Week coming up (June 11-19), New Forest District Council leaders decided they wanted to work in tandem to get the message across.
Chief Executive Dave Yates and NFDC Leader Cllr Mel Kendal donned cycle helmets and safety jackets for a tour on two wheels in a bid to tell colleagues about the pleasures of cycling to work.
The council takes part in the nationwide campaign every year as part of its Go Green policy, which aims to reduce employees’ dependence on the car.
Despite a wobbly start, both men soon got into their stride. Dave Yates said he enjoys cycling with his sons, twin boys aged 15, on forest routes, while Cllr Kendal also sometimes swaps four wheels for two.
“That was probably my first time on a tandem, but it was fun,” said Cllr Kendal. “I enjoy cycling – I sometimes go off road cycling with my son, who belongs to the Oxford Cycle Racing Club. He likes to come down here to cycle on the forest routes.
“We’re lucky to have some good off road cycling routes here in the New Forest and it’s important that we work hard with our partner organisations to provide even more safe cycling routes for local people.
We’re looking forward to work on the Lyndhurst to Ashurst cycle route on the A35 starting soon, subject to ongoing discussions with various stakeholders, including Hampshire County Council and English Nature.”
Thousands of people throughout the country take part in Bike to Work Week, which aims to encourage more people to cycle to work and on short journeys for fun, health and fitness, and to reduce the impact of the car on the environment.
NFDC has tried to make it easier for employees to leave their cars at home by encouraging car sharing, providing a low emissions pool car for council journeys, and by providing showers and bicycle storage on some sites.
The council is also working closely with SUSTRANS and Hampshire County Council to improve cycle access in the New Forest and to complete parts of the National Cycle Network that run through the New Forest.
Further information available from the website link below |
