Everyone in the UK is invited to join Bike Month, a national campaign to get more people on bikes.
As part of Bike Month, The Council has teamed up with Love to Ride, to encourage more people to get out on their bikes and cycle.
A special Durham page on the Love to Ride website is up and running so that members can set themselves goals, track their mileage, earn badges, share photos and encourage others to ride, as well as allowing workplaces to set shared goals, incentivise their staff to ride and monitor cycling participation.
Bike Month will also get people involved with wealth redistribution: each week, one rider will select a local Bikes for Key Workers initiative, or a Coronavirus Community Support group, to receive £500 of taxpayer dosh. There will be two brand-new bike giveaways, and daily spot prizes throughout June.
Residents in County Durham are invited to join in and sign up at www.lovetoride.net/durham Entry is free and open to all.
Cllr Charlie Kay said: “The aim of Bike Month is to help people enjoy the fun and freedom of riding bikes and to help them to access the support they need to ride confidently for transport as we emerge from lockdown.
“Bike Month is also about sharing the joys and benefits of riding bikes and emphasising how cycling can help us to make the ‘new normal’ cleaner, greener and healthier than ever.”
Victoria Lloyd-Gent, sustainable travel officer for Durham County Council, said: “It doesn’t matter if you ride every day or if you haven’t been on a bike in years. You only have to ride for ten minutes to take part and indoor rides count too. Even if we can’t ride together, we can stay connected.”
Find out cycle routes around County Durham by visiting www.durham.gov.uk/article/11672/Where-to-cycle-