Sky Ride flies into Manchester for its eighth year
THE streets of Manchester will once again be filled with people on two wheels as Sky Ride Manchester returns to the city for the eighth year this Sunday (July 10th).
The 10km route is open from 10am until 4pm and riders can join anytime, anywhere to cycle a small part or all of the route. Thousands of people of all ages and abilities are expected to take advantage of traffic-free streets to take in some of Manchester, Trafford and Salford’s iconic buildings and areas, including Albert Square and the Beetham Tower.
There will also be opportunities to receive advice on cycling in Greater Manchester as well as being able to take part in Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) #JustRide campaign, which hopes to encourage local people to get on their bike and get healthy this summer by sharing photos and experiences throughout the day using the hashtag.
If you don’t fancy cycling around Manchester, you can still take part in a range of activities which is suitable for the whole family, including the ‘Tricks and Tunes’ area where the Extreme Mountain Bike Show performers will be demonstrating their stunts. Refreshments will be available at The Hub in Albert Square where visitors can also take their bike along to have it checked by Halfords experts.
Councillor Chris Paul, cycling champion on the TfGM committee, said: “It’s great to have Sky Ride back in Manchester for the eighth year as it’s always a great day out with people experiencing the freedom of traffic-free streets. It would be wonderful if we had regular car free Sundays in Manchester city centre as New York, Bogota or Reykjavik have, but for now this is a great taste of what’s possible.
“It doesn’t matter how old you are, how old your bike is, or how much time you take to ride the course. For anyone who’s thinking about cycling more, I’d really encourage them to come along and have a chat with the TfGM Cycling team and our partners.”
As Sky Ride takes place on a number of roads in Manchester, Trafford and Salford, drivers are advised to allow for longer journey times. Road closures will start from 6am on Sunday 10 July and roads are expected to reopen from around 5pm.
Follow @GoSkyRide and @OfficialTfGM on Twitter for updates and information throughout the weekend and to find out more information about cycling in the Greater Manchester visit their website here.
