Cyclists of all abilities can sign up to a free initiative which encourages riding for all reasons, be it leisure, commuting or exercise purposes.
Love to Ride is an online platform where anyone aged 13 plus can sign up, log their rides via the website or app, earn points and badges, and gain entry into prize draws. There are also fun challenges set along the way, with the opportunity to share favourite routes and photographs.
The council has signed up as a partner and is encouraging residents to get on their bikes and give cycling a try.
Councillor Paul Kelly, lead member for housing, highways, planning and transport, said: “Cycling is great for your physical and mental wellbeing and is also a more affordable and efficient way to travel. If we make cycling a family activity and get younger children involved, this sets them up for healthier long-term habits and gets them into the great outdoors. Although you have to be 13 to sign up, that doesn’t stop all the family going on rides together.
“There will be improvements to cycling infrastructure across the town in the coming months, with the A4 cycle scheme and Destination Farnham Road creating separate lanes for cyclists, which should make them feel more comfortable and confident taking to Slough’s streets by pedal power.”
There are local leaderboards on the cycling encouragement platform, so you can create a bit of friendly competition, if you like.
Workplaces can sign up and encourage their staff to create a user profile and all users can set goals and view the amount of CO2 saved by their cycling.
To be a user you do not need a fancy watch to log rides. You can log the amount of time cycled and it will convert it into a distance, or if you know, you can log it using the distance travelled and the reason for travel.
Love to Ride is a global organisation dedicated to encouraging and supporting bike riding. Their mission is to inspire and enable more people to enjoy the benefits of riding a bike.
The council will be taking part in Cycle September, encouraging more people to ride during that month, but get a head start now and start logging your rides.
Go to the Love to Ride website to find out more about the Love to Ride initiative, where you will also find videos and learning on different cycling topics.