National Bike week

Ride more, explore more, and celebrate cycling across Gloucestershire from 9 to 15 June 2026.

From canal paths and market towns to Cotswold lanes and Forest of Dean trails, National Bike Week is a chance for people of all ages and abilities to get on a bike and enjoy the everyday benefits cycling brings.
Whether you ride to work, head out with family at the weekend, or want to build confidence on two wheels, Gloucestershire has the routes, local knowledge and growing infrastructure to help more people cycle safely and more often.

National Bike Week is a week-long celebration that encourages people to choose cycling as a fun, healthy and more sustainable way to travel.

In Gloucestershire, that message is backed up by local cycle maps, route planning support and continued work to improve walking and cycling connections across the county.

This is your invitation to swap short car journeys for bike rides, discover new local routes and experience Gloucestershire at a different pace.
Pedal through the Cotswolds, follow waterside paths near Gloucester and Sharpness, or head into the Forest of Dean for family-friendly trails and off-road adventures.

Ride with Love to Ride

This year, National Bike week we encourage residents, workplaces, schools and community groups to get involved through the Love to Ride platform.

Using Love to Ride, people can sign up for free, log their rides, set personal goals, join friendly challenges and celebrate every journey they make by bike, whether it is a commute, a school run, a leisure ride or a first trip in years. It is a simple way to turn Bike Week into something active, social and measurable across the county.

Love to Ride also gives organisations a practical way to promote participation. Employers, schools and teams can encourage friendly competition, share progress, support new riders and keep the momentum going beyond Bike Week itself.

Local angle

Gloucestershire already has a strong base for cycling storytelling, including downloadable cycle maps, route planning support and the wider Gloucestershire Cycle Spine ambition linking Stroud, Gloucester, Cheltenham and Bishop’s Cleeve.
That local context makes National Bike Week more than a national awareness campaign. It becomes a practical opportunity to encourage active travel, healthier routines and cleaner journeys in the places people live and work every day.

You can also highlight well-known local cycling experiences such as the Forest of Dean Cycle Centre, family-friendly woodland riding, and canal-side or countryside routes that make cycling accessible to beginners as well as experienced riders.

Why take part?

Improve your fitness and wellbeing by building cycling into everyday life.
Cut congestion and lower emissions by replacing short car journeys with bike trips.
Enjoy Gloucestershire’s landscapes in a more active and affordable way, from urban routes to rural trails.
Track your progress and stay motivated by logging your rides on Love to Ride.

Ways to get involved

Cycle to work, school or the shops during National Bike Week and try one extra journey by bike.
Sign up to Love to Ride and log every ride you make during the week.
Plan a family ride using Gloucestershire’s digital cycle maps and local route guides
Join a local group ride or community cycling activity where available.
Explore a new area such as the Forest of Dean, the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal corridor, or scenic Cotswold routes.
Encourage your workplace, school or community group to take part together and see how many journeys can be logged during the week.

Safety message

Ride confidently and responsibly by wearing a helmet, using lights and reflectors where needed, and following the rules of the road.

Promoting safe, respectful cycling helps create a better experience for everyone using Gloucestershire’s roads and shared spaces.