Devizes event will get you on your bike (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Devizes event will get you on your bike

10:00am Sunday 19th August 2012 in News

A big event to encourage local people to leave their cars at home and take to two wheels is being organised for the centre of Devizes in October.

The bike fest, taking place in the Market Place on Saturday, October 6, is being organised by Cycle Devizes, an organisation set up by Devizes Community Area Partnership’s transport group.

It is being supported by Claire Perry MP, Coun Laura Mayes, town mayor Kelvin Nash, director of public health Maggie Rae and the chairman of DCAP, Tony Sedgwick.

Those attending will be able to take part in a number of activities, including a trail around the proposed cycle route that is currently in consultation. There will also be a number of bike stunt groups showing off their skills and stalls will offer advice on getting started on cycling, bike maintenance, healthy food and outdoor clothing.

It is being sponsored by NHS Wiltshire and Devizes Area Board.

Kate Freeman, chairman of the DCAP transport group, said: “The problems of traffic congestion are well known and could be alleviated if more people left their cars at home.

“More worrying are the figures that one in five of Wiltshire children are obese or overweight. In Devizes this rises to a third. “How many parents take their children to school in the mornings? Perhaps if they cycled they would be fitter – and traffic lighter.”