Mayor of London's Skyride
Encyclopedia
The Mayor of London's Sky Ride (generally trademarked and referred as Skyride) is a major cycling
event in London, England, aimed at cyclists of every age and ability. Originally inaugurated in 2007 as the London Freewheel, it was renamed in 2009 as the Mayor of London's Skyride following a multi-year sponsorship deal between Sky Sports
and the Mayor of London
, and again as Mayor of London's Sky Ride in 2010.
In 2009 a smaller, local event in outer London was added; this took place in Hounslow
on Sunday August 9. For 2010, a total of three rides on streets free of motor traffic
were announced in January, with the locations being confirmed later as the city centre, Ealing
and Redbridge
.
Since at least 50,000 were estimated to have taken part in both 2007 and 2008, the central route for 2009 was extended to increase capacity. The route passes some of London's most famous landmarks along Victoria Embankment
, and the 2009 ride was expanded to include a new loop through the City of London
. The number taking part in the main ride peaked at 80,000 in 2010.
grew by 83 per cent from 2000 to 2007. It is estimated that 40 per cent of Londoners have access to a bike, but only five per cent use one regularly.
The Mayor of London
and Transport for London
increased investment in cycling from just £5.5 million in 2000 to £36 million in 2007/08. This money is being spent on improved cycle parking facilities, education and training, events and cycle promotion. 500 km of the London Cycle Network Plus - a network of signed routes for cyclists across the capital - had been completed by 2007. Transport for London
has installed 10,000 cycling parking spaces across the capital in the past two years.
The London Freewheel was the brainchild of David Love, vice-chair of London Cycling Campaign
, inspired by riding in the Cape Argus Cycle Race
in 2001. TFL promoted it with the goal of giving more people a chance to discover cycling as both fun and efficient.
The inaugural 'Hovis London Freewheel' was developed by the Mayor of London
and Transport for London
(TfL) to encourage and increase cycling participation, and promote cycling as a form of transport within London. The event was launched at City Hall on 26 June 2007 by the Mayor, Ken Livingstone
, Konnie Huq
and Tim Dewey, Marketing Director for the event's sponsor Hovis
. Hovis contributed £300,000 out of the total £600,000 raised in commercial sponsorship and support.
The event took place on Sunday 23 September 2007. In 2007, a 14 km route around central London from London Bridge
to St. James's Park was closed to motorised traffic, allowing cyclists to take over the streets and enjoy London's most iconic sights. The route took participants past a number of landmarks including the London Eye
, Victoria Embankment
, Westminster
, Whitehall
, St Paul's Cathedral
, and The Mall. The event was designed for 30,000 cyclists but over 50,000 took part.
As part of the day's cycling experience, there were six ‘Freewheel Hubs' across London where riders gathered to be led by experienced cyclists onto the vehicle-free route. The six borough ‘Freewheel Hubs’ at Gladstone Park
- Brent
, Finsbury Park
- Haringey
, Victoria Park
- Tower Hamlets, Peckham Rye
- Southwark
, Clapham Common
– Wandsworth
, Ravenscourt Park
– Hammersmith and Fulham
, also offered the chance to have bikes checked by experts.
London Freewheelers could also take part in the Freewheel Festival, an event at St. James's Park
open to all participants and visitors. Highlights of the festival included a Hovis picnic, BMX, mountain and trial bike stunts, cycling acrobatics, and bike displays along with children's activities and information on cycling in London.
London Freewheel took place on Sunday 21 September 2008, organised by TfL and the new mayor Boris Johnson
,
and sponsored by Sky Sports
. Sky contributed £100,000 out of the total £780,000 raised in commercial sponsorship and support.
The 2008 event was announced as accommodating 100,000, but this was later scaled back to 45,000. Organisers estimated that 50,000 took part.
A different route, 12 km in length, between the Tower of London
and Buckingham Palace
, was again closed to motor vehicles all day (between 09:30 and 16:30) and open to cycles. Local 'hubs' at the Emirates Stadium
in Islington, Victoria Park, Clapham Common and Ravenscourt Park provided meeting points and guided rides to the event.
boroughs, where he sees most scope for an increase in cycling, to host their own Freewheel events.
The first local event in outer London was held in Hounslow
on Sunday 9 August; about 11,000 cyclists took part. Other Skyride events took place the same month in Manchester
, Glasgow
and Leicester
.
The 2009 Mayor of London's Skyride took place on the 20th September, along a 15 km route including a loop through the City. A record 65,000 took part. 3,500 joined 55 guided feeder rides from the suburbs, organised by the London Cycling Campaign
.
On 7 May, Sky Ride announced the first of its activities for 2010 in London: a series of local rides in May, between 5 and 24 miles in length, some within parks (and therefore motor-traffic-free), others "semi-urban".
On 25 May, Sky Ride announced its programme of City Rides for 2010, with 12 rides in 10 cities, including the Mayor of London's Sky Ride Ealing on 18 July 2010, the Mayor of London's Sky Ride Redbridge on 15 August 2010 and the main Mayor of London's Sky Ride on 5 September 2010.
On 31 August, Kelly Brook
(as "Sky Ride Ambassador") joined Boris Johnson to launch the event.
A new record of 80,000 cyclists took part.
Cycling
Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists...
event in London, England, aimed at cyclists of every age and ability. Originally inaugurated in 2007 as the London Freewheel, it was renamed in 2009 as the Mayor of London's Skyride following a multi-year sponsorship deal between Sky Sports
Sky Sports
Sky Sports is the brand name for a group of sports-oriented television channels operated by the UK and Ireland's main satellite pay-TV company, British Sky Broadcasting. Sky Sports is the dominant subscription television sports brand in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
and the Mayor of London
Mayor of London
The Mayor of London is an elected politician who, along with the London Assembly of 25 members, is accountable for the strategic government of Greater London. Conservative Boris Johnson has held the position since 4 May 2008...
, and again as Mayor of London's Sky Ride in 2010.
In 2009 a smaller, local event in outer London was added; this took place in Hounslow
Hounslow
Hounslow is the principal town in the London Borough of Hounslow. It is a suburban development situated 10.6 miles west south-west of Charing Cross. It forms a post town in the TW postcode area.-Etymology:...
on Sunday August 9. For 2010, a total of three rides on streets free of motor traffic
Traffic
Traffic on roads may consist of pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles, streetcars and other conveyances, either singly or together, while using the public way for purposes of travel...
were announced in January, with the locations being confirmed later as the city centre, Ealing
Ealing
Ealing is a suburban area of west London, England and the administrative centre of the London Borough of Ealing. It is located west of Charing Cross and around from the City of London. It is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan. It was historically a rural village...
and Redbridge
Redbridge
-Places:*London Borough of Redbridge**Redbridge, London, a place in that borough**Redbridge tube station*Redbridge, Kansas City, a neighborhood in South Kansas City, Missouri*Redbridge, Hampshire...
.
Since at least 50,000 were estimated to have taken part in both 2007 and 2008, the central route for 2009 was extended to increase capacity. The route passes some of London's most famous landmarks along Victoria Embankment
Victoria Embankment
The Victoria Embankment is part of the Thames Embankment, a road and river walk along the north bank of the River Thames in London. Victoria Embankment extends from the City of Westminster into the City of London.-Construction:...
, and the 2009 ride was expanded to include a new loop through the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
. The number taking part in the main ride peaked at 80,000 in 2010.
Background
Cycling in LondonCycling in London
Cycling in London has enjoyed a renaissance since the millennium. London's cyclists enjoy a cheaper, and often quicker, way around town than those by public transport or car, and as many trips in London are local, these can easily be done by bike. As London's public transport system is...
grew by 83 per cent from 2000 to 2007. It is estimated that 40 per cent of Londoners have access to a bike, but only five per cent use one regularly.
The Mayor of London
Mayor of London
The Mayor of London is an elected politician who, along with the London Assembly of 25 members, is accountable for the strategic government of Greater London. Conservative Boris Johnson has held the position since 4 May 2008...
and Transport for London
Transport for London
Transport for London is the local government body responsible for most aspects of the transport system in Greater London in England. Its role is to implement the transport strategy and to manage transport services across London...
increased investment in cycling from just £5.5 million in 2000 to £36 million in 2007/08. This money is being spent on improved cycle parking facilities, education and training, events and cycle promotion. 500 km of the London Cycle Network Plus - a network of signed routes for cyclists across the capital - had been completed by 2007. Transport for London
Transport for London
Transport for London is the local government body responsible for most aspects of the transport system in Greater London in England. Its role is to implement the transport strategy and to manage transport services across London...
has installed 10,000 cycling parking spaces across the capital in the past two years.
The London Freewheel was the brainchild of David Love, vice-chair of London Cycling Campaign
London Cycling Campaign
The London Cycling Campaign is an independent membership charity lobbying for better conditions for cyclists in London. Its vision is to make London "a world-class cycling city"...
, inspired by riding in the Cape Argus Cycle Race
Cape Argus Cycle Race
The Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour is an annual cycle race hosted in Cape Town, South Africa, usually 109 km long. It is the first event outside Europe to be included in the International Cycling Union's Golden Bike Series.The race is one of South Africa's three 'largest sporting events' in...
in 2001. TFL promoted it with the goal of giving more people a chance to discover cycling as both fun and efficient.
2007 (The Hovis London Freewheel)
Mayor of London
The Mayor of London is an elected politician who, along with the London Assembly of 25 members, is accountable for the strategic government of Greater London. Conservative Boris Johnson has held the position since 4 May 2008...
and Transport for London
Transport for London
Transport for London is the local government body responsible for most aspects of the transport system in Greater London in England. Its role is to implement the transport strategy and to manage transport services across London...
(TfL) to encourage and increase cycling participation, and promote cycling as a form of transport within London. The event was launched at City Hall on 26 June 2007 by the Mayor, Ken Livingstone
Ken Livingstone
Kenneth Robert "Ken" Livingstone is an English politician who is currently a member of the centrist to centre-left Labour Party...
, Konnie Huq
Konnie Huq
Kanak Asha "Konnie" Huq is a British television presenter, who is best known for being the longest-serving female presenter of Blue Peter, having presented it from 1 December 1997 until 23 January 2008...
and Tim Dewey, Marketing Director for the event's sponsor Hovis
Hovis
Hovis is a UK brand of flour and bread, owned by Premier Foods. The brand, which began in 1886, ended up as part of Rank Hovis McDougall in 1962 after a succession of mergers. RHM, whose bread making division has been known as British Bakeries since 1955, also owns the Mother's Pride and Nimble...
. Hovis contributed £300,000 out of the total £600,000 raised in commercial sponsorship and support.
The event took place on Sunday 23 September 2007. In 2007, a 14 km route around central London from London Bridge
London Bridge
London Bridge is a bridge over the River Thames, connecting the City of London and Southwark, in central London. Situated between Cannon Street Railway Bridge and Tower Bridge, it forms the western end of the Pool of London...
to St. James's Park was closed to motorised traffic, allowing cyclists to take over the streets and enjoy London's most iconic sights. The route took participants past a number of landmarks including the London Eye
London Eye
The London Eye is a tall giant Ferris wheel situated on the banks of the River Thames, in London, England.It is the tallest Ferris wheel in Europe, and the most popular paid tourist attraction in the United Kingdom, visited by over 3.5 million people annually...
, Victoria Embankment
Victoria Embankment
The Victoria Embankment is part of the Thames Embankment, a road and river walk along the north bank of the River Thames in London. Victoria Embankment extends from the City of Westminster into the City of London.-Construction:...
, Westminster
Westminster
Westminster is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, southwest of the City of London and southwest of Charing Cross...
, Whitehall
Whitehall
Whitehall is a road in Westminster, in London, England. It is the main artery running north from Parliament Square, towards Charing Cross at the southern end of Trafalgar Square...
, St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral, London, is a Church of England cathedral and seat of the Bishop of London. Its dedication to Paul the Apostle dates back to the original church on this site, founded in AD 604. St Paul's sits at the top of Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the City of London, and is the mother...
, and The Mall. The event was designed for 30,000 cyclists but over 50,000 took part.
As part of the day's cycling experience, there were six ‘Freewheel Hubs' across London where riders gathered to be led by experienced cyclists onto the vehicle-free route. The six borough ‘Freewheel Hubs’ at Gladstone Park
Gladstone Park, London
Gladstone Park is situated in the Dollis Hill area of north-west London. It is about 35 hectares in area Dollis Hill House is an early Nineteenth-Century farmhouse, located within the northern boundary of the park.-Transport:...
- Brent
London Borough of Brent
In 1801, the civil parishes that form the modern borough had a total population of 2,022. This rose slowly throughout the 19th century, as the district became built up; reaching 5,646 in the middle of the century. When the railways arrived the rate of population growth increased...
, Finsbury Park
Finsbury Park
Finsbury Park is a 46 hectare public park in the London Borough of Haringey. Officially part of the London area of Harringay, it is also adjacent to Stroud Green, the Finsbury Park district and Manor House. It was one of the first of the great London parks laid out in the Victorian...
- Haringey
London Borough of Haringey
The London Borough of Haringey is a London borough, in North London, classified by some definitions as part of Inner London, and by others as part of Outer London. It was created in 1965 by the amalgamation of three former boroughs. It shares borders with six other London boroughs...
, Victoria Park
Victoria Park, East London
Victoria Park is 86.18 hectares of open space that stretches out across part of the East End of London, England bordering parts of Bethnal Green, Hackney, and Bow, such as along Old Ford Road, London E3 and Victoria Park Road E9. The park is entirely within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets...
- Tower Hamlets, Peckham Rye
Peckham Rye
For the rail station of the same name see Peckham Rye Railway StationPeckham Rye is an open space and road in the London Borough of Southwark in London, England....
- Southwark
Southwark
Southwark is a district of south London, England, and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Southwark. Situated east of Charing Cross, it forms one of the oldest parts of London and fronts the River Thames to the north...
, Clapham Common
Clapham Common
Clapham Common is an 89 hectare triangular area of grassland situated in south London, England. It was historically common land for the parishes of Battersea and Clapham, but was converted to parkland under the terms of the Metropolitan Commons Act 1878.43 hectares of the common are within the...
– Wandsworth
Wandsworth
Wandsworth is a district of south London, England, in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It is situated southwest of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-Toponymy:...
, Ravenscourt Park
Ravenscourt Park
This article is about the public park. For the London Underground station of this name see Ravenscourt Park tube station and for the Electoral Division see Ravenscourt Park ...
– Hammersmith and Fulham
London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham
The London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham is a London borough in West London, and forms part of Inner London. Traversed by the east-west main roads of the A4 Great West Road and the A40 Westway, many international corporations have offices in the borough....
, also offered the chance to have bikes checked by experts.
London Freewheelers could also take part in the Freewheel Festival, an event at St. James's Park
St. James's Park
St. James's Park is a 23 hectare park in the City of Westminster, central London - the oldest of the Royal Parks of London. The park lies at the southernmost tip of the St. James's area, which was named after a leper hospital dedicated to St. James the Less.- Geographical location :St. James's...
open to all participants and visitors. Highlights of the festival included a Hovis picnic, BMX, mountain and trial bike stunts, cycling acrobatics, and bike displays along with children's activities and information on cycling in London.
2008 (Sky Sports London Freewheel)
Boris Johnson
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson is a British journalist and Conservative Party politician, who has been the elected Mayor of London since 2008...
,
and sponsored by Sky Sports
Sky Sports
Sky Sports is the brand name for a group of sports-oriented television channels operated by the UK and Ireland's main satellite pay-TV company, British Sky Broadcasting. Sky Sports is the dominant subscription television sports brand in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
. Sky contributed £100,000 out of the total £780,000 raised in commercial sponsorship and support.
The 2008 event was announced as accommodating 100,000, but this was later scaled back to 45,000. Organisers estimated that 50,000 took part.
A different route, 12 km in length, between the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
and Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...
, was again closed to motor vehicles all day (between 09:30 and 16:30) and open to cycles. Local 'hubs' at the Emirates Stadium
Emirates Stadium
Ashburton Grove, currently known as the Emirates Stadium, is a UEFA elite football stadium which is home to Arsenal FC, where they moved from Highbury in 2006. It has an current capacity of 60,361, and there have been rumours of an expansion...
in Islington, Victoria Park, Clapham Common and Ravenscourt Park provided meeting points and guided rides to the event.
2009 (Mayor of London's Skyride)
The Mayor announced in October 2008 that the central route would again be reviewed, considering opportunities for including part of the 2012 road cycling course or the 2009 Tour of Britain route. He also planned to work with outer LondonOuter London
Outer London is the name for the group of London Boroughs that form a ring around Inner London.These were areas that were not part of the County of London and became formally part of Greater London in 1965...
boroughs, where he sees most scope for an increase in cycling, to host their own Freewheel events.
The first local event in outer London was held in Hounslow
Hounslow
Hounslow is the principal town in the London Borough of Hounslow. It is a suburban development situated 10.6 miles west south-west of Charing Cross. It forms a post town in the TW postcode area.-Etymology:...
on Sunday 9 August; about 11,000 cyclists took part. Other Skyride events took place the same month in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
and Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
.
The 2009 Mayor of London's Skyride took place on the 20th September, along a 15 km route including a loop through the City. A record 65,000 took part. 3,500 joined 55 guided feeder rides from the suburbs, organised by the London Cycling Campaign
London Cycling Campaign
The London Cycling Campaign is an independent membership charity lobbying for better conditions for cyclists in London. Its vision is to make London "a world-class cycling city"...
.
2010 (Mayor of London's Sky Ride)
In January 2010, the Mayor and TFL announced plans to increase the motor-traffic-free events to three Sky Rides, including two unnamed outer London boroughs.On 7 May, Sky Ride announced the first of its activities for 2010 in London: a series of local rides in May, between 5 and 24 miles in length, some within parks (and therefore motor-traffic-free), others "semi-urban".
On 25 May, Sky Ride announced its programme of City Rides for 2010, with 12 rides in 10 cities, including the Mayor of London's Sky Ride Ealing on 18 July 2010, the Mayor of London's Sky Ride Redbridge on 15 August 2010 and the main Mayor of London's Sky Ride on 5 September 2010.
On 31 August, Kelly Brook
Kelly Brook
Kelly Brook is an English model, actress, entrepreneur, television presenter and Playboy model.-Early life:...
(as "Sky Ride Ambassador") joined Boris Johnson to launch the event.
A new record of 80,000 cyclists took part.
2011 (Mayor of London's Sky Ride)
Kelly Brook again launched the 2011 event in Central London, with a 7.2 mile route on 4 September. Dull weather contributed to a lower turnout of 55,000 cyclists, which was welcomed by some participants.External links
- Goskyride.com, official website by British Cycling