Sustrans have launched this summer’s Pedal On UK – a UK-wide cycle tour celebrating the extension of walking and cycling routes.

Pedal On UK starts its three week journey at the Olympic Park in London on Friday 16th August. Backed as part of the Big Lottery Fund’s Spirit of 2012 campaign to ensure a lasting legacy from the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Pedal On UK will see a core team of volunteers called ‘The Ride’ passing through over 30 communities – along many of the newly-opened walking and cycling routes on the National Cycle Network.

‘The Ride’ will end on Saturday 7th September by crossing Glasgow’s finally completed ‘Bridge to Nowhere’ which was begun by Glasgow City Council in the 1960’s. The bridge will be completed by the Council and Sustrans for July this year.

TV Presenter Lorraine Kelly is backing the initiative, saying, “A year ago the UK was gripped with Olympic fever as the torch relay made its journey through our towns and cities. One year later, I am thrilled to support Sustrans’ Pedal On UK cycling event which aims to keep this spirit thriving in communities across the country.

“I had the pleasure of representing Sustrans in the Big Lottery Fund’s People’s £50 Million contest in a bid for funding to extend the National Cycle Network into the heart of UK communities. I am now delighted to support Pedal On UK. …this fantastic event will give everyone the opportunity to explore their local areas, enjoy these cycling and walking routes and have some fun together.”

Pedal On UK will arrive in these areas via the new walking and cycling routes on the following dates:

• LONDON: Friday 16th August
• SOUTH EAST: Sunday 18th August – Monday 19th August
• WALES: Wednesday 21st August – Thursday 22nd August
• SOUTH WEST: Saturday 24th August – Monday 26th August
• MIDLANDS: Wednesday 28th August – Friday 30th August
• NORTH WEST AND YORKSHIRE: Saturday 31st August – Monday 2nd September
• NORTHERN IRELAND: Friday 30th August – Saturday 31st August
• NORTH EAST AND SCOTLAND: Wednesday 4th September – Saturday 7th September

For more details see the Sustrans website.

On some parts of the tour, celebrities, Olympic and Paralympic Games Makers, community groups, schools, volunteers will get the chance to cycle with ‘The Ride’ as it passes through their area. The bike rides will raise awareness of these new routes and the benefits they bring to local people and the environment.

Celebration events and festivals will also be held, raising awareness of the impact of cycling on issues such as obesity, improving access for cyclists and pedestrians as well as encouraging people to take up volunteering activities.

To get involved in Pedal On UK when it comes to your area, please visit www.pedalonuk.org to register your interest.

The other three UK-Wide projects Big Lottery Fund is backing are Get Set to Make a Change; Join In and Britain’s Personal Best. This £5.3 million funding has been released in the run up to the Big Lottery Fund’s £40 million endowment of the ‘Spirit of 2012’ Trust formed late last year.