- Vote in the European Parliament Elections on 4 June
- Council to fly flag for armed forces
- Rape alarms available from police and Council
- Organic garden opens its gates
- Poetry, comedy and literature at libraries festival this summer
- Music and nature at the Stables Gallery
- Views wanted on policies to guide future growth of borough
- Council team takes up the bike challenge
- Walk the Thames
- New Mayor reopens Teddington Library
- Free parking in Richmond upon Thames on Monday
- Personal alarms available from police and Council
- Learning the Kunskapsskolan way
- New affordable homes to be built
- Council seeks new co-sponsor for Shene
- Your vote could help Orleans House Gallery win the £100,000 Art Fund prize
- By the light of the moon
- Making parks even better
- Get Fit in Castlenau Recreation Ground
- Football Club scores with Council
- Employee Awards for Power Candidates
- CPZ review
- Eat al fresco in Church Street
- Olympic gold medallist trains Richmond rowers
- Join in the fun at Heathfield Street Party on 16 May
- Meeting of young minds to become annual event
- Council supports IDAHO
- It’s stitching, but not as we know it
- How can we cut carbon footprint?
- Supper with Shakespeare
- Free adult learning taster sessions in borough’s libraries 9-15 May
- Kick off the summer with the Power Employment flower show
- Outdoor swimming pool opens for summer
- Standards Committee member wanted by Council
- Find out about Council services at Richmond Fair
- Comment on Shopfront Design Guide
- Your say wanted on how extensions are decided
- Pupils get ready to grow their own
- Volunteers are supporting community
- Borough smashes tree planting target
- Exclusively Richmond
Release Date: 28/05/2009
Council team takes up the bike challenge
Keen bike riders at Richmond Council are getting their helmets out and pumping up their tyres as they prepare for the annual London-wide Workplace Cycle Challenge.
And the Council is encouraging other businesses in the borough to take part to raise awareness of cycling as an environmentally friendly way of getting to work.
The challenge, which takes place during June aims to raise awareness about the ease of cycling and its health benefits among workers across London. Participants have to register at http://cyclechallenge.tfl.gov.uk and then record the number of miles they cycle each day.
Andrew Darvill, Richmond Council’s Assistant Director of Environment said: “We are absolutely clear that taking care of the environment and combating the effects of global warming must start at the local level, through leading by example.”
“Over the next few years our Smarter Travel team will be running events to give information about various travel options to reduce transport-related carbon emissions.
“The Council is one of the biggest employers in the area and it’s important we help our own staff to understand how cycling can improve health and cut carbon emissions as well as taking that message to the community.”
Any work place that employs more than five people can enter and prizes are available for the team with the most 'new' cyclists, ‘most miles covered’ and ‘best organisational performance’ along with weekly prize draws for local cycle shop vouchers. There will also be a trophy for the overall winning team.
Last June, people taking part in the cycle challenge in Richmond commuted almost 10,000 miles by bicycle.
Ben Plowden, Director of TfL’s Smarter Travel Unit said: “Cycling is enjoying a real renaissance in London, but many people aren’t sure how to go about getting started. The London Workplace Cycle Challenge is a great way to introduce people to commuting by bike, with school friends and workmates supporting and competing against each other on their daily, pedal powered commutes.”
View the full press release