Robin Tucker, Chair of Oxfordshire Cycling Network gets ready to enjoy Bike Week.

Bike Week 2023, 5-11 June, is the 100th edition of the annual celebration of all things cycling.

There are few places better to cycle than Oxfordshire, and cycling groups will be putting on special rides and events across the county.

To celebrate, Oxfordshire Cycling Network and the Coalition for Healthy Streets and Active Travel are launching a series of family-friendly routes in different towns across the county, and an Oxford Online Cycle Map.

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The family friendly rides are routes picked to be the most accessible, welcoming and safe that we can find, drawing on the expertise of local cycling groups, to give the whole family the chance to enjoy cycling together. “These are routes where you could take a five- or six-year-old to learn to cycle, and people of all abilities can enjoy a gentle ride”, said Cathy Gaulter of Thame Green Living, who was a contributor for the Phoenix Trail route description.

All of these routes are free of motor traffic, although some have road crossings. Most have some point of interest on the ride, and a café or some other form of refreshment nearby. They are accessible for a large local population, and we note railway stations or car parking near the start for those coming from further away.

We would like to see every town, and every part of Oxford, develop at least one route where children and people of all abilities can enjoy cycling and develop their skills in safety. The Faringdon Cycle Park is a great example of how popular dedicated facilities can be, but they can also form part of routes such as National Cycle Network Route 5, heading east of Abingdon.

Oxford Mail:

The Oxford Online Cycle Map has been put together by local residents and showcases connecting cycle routes across the city which are suitable for novice cyclists and people who want to find a walking route away from traffic.

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Councillor Emily Kerr, who helped design the map, said “They won’t always be the most direct, but they should be the quietest. It’s on Google Maps so it can be used on your phone. We’ve split routes into car-free, low-car and walking-only; and have added a separate layer including crossings. We’ve aimed to make sure schools and other destinations are connected up, and where there are a number of options, we’ve just chosen the best one so the map doesn’t get too crowded.”

“It’s a great tool for planning a commute, a journey to the shops, or visiting a friend”, said Alison Hill of Cyclox. “We’ve aimed to make sure schools and other destinations are connected up, and where there are a number of options, we’ve just chosen the best one, so the map doesn’t get too crowded.”

Oxfordshire is a great place to be cycling. Recent data from Sport England’s Active Lives survey showed that cycling in Oxfordshire had increased from a post-Covid dip and in the year to November 2022, 44% of adults, 260,000, cycled, about 300,000 including children. In Oxford, the second highest area for cycling in the country, after Cambridge, 59% of adults cycled. Only 68% of Oxford households have a car, and while the two numbers are not directly comparable, their closeness makes it clear how important cycling is to the city’s economy and transport system.

With these extra ideas to help find your way, it’s a great opportunity to get on your cycles, with your children or friends, and enjoy the ride.

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The family friendly routes can be found at: cyclingukoxfordshire.org/family-friendly

The Oxford Online Cycle Map is at: cyclingukoxfordshire.org/Oxford-map

To find other rides and events check out your local cycling group. Many of them are listed on the Cycling UK Oxfordshire website.

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About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning. 

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