Follow britishcycling.org.uk on 
Putting Cycling at the heart of START
British Cycling has joined forces with The Prince of Wales to promote cycling as a sustainable means of transport.
Above: The Royal Train, pictured here at Manchester's Science and Industry Museum) will embark on a five day tour of Britain on Monday 6th September. (image: copyright Clarence House)
By becoming the sustainable transport supporter of START, a national initiative set up by The Prince's Charities Foundation to promote and celebrate sustainable living, British Cycling is highlighting the benefits of cycling and encouraging more people to ride to work.
The START progamme will kick off on 6 September when The Prince of Wales will go on a five day tour of Britain, highlighting different ways in which communities and individuals can live more sustainably. The Royal Tour will set off from Glasgow and pass through Britain's main cities before arriving in London on 10 September.
British Cycling is laying on a fun lunchtime led-ride for Glasgow's city centre workers ahead of The Prince's departure from Glasgow Central station. His Royal Highness will also open the ‘Start Cycling Challenge' which will see a group of riders, including Marks and Spencer's Marketing Director Steve Sharp, B&Q's director of Corporate Responsibility Nick Folland along with Dean Downing and Matt Cronshaw from the Rapha Condor team and, follow The bio-fuelled Royal Train all the way to Edinburgh.
To coincide with The Prince's visit to Manchester on 8 September, British Cycling will be treating the city's bicycle commuters to a free healthy breakfast served in Albert Square from 8:30am. Manchester is home of British Cycling and the Great Britain Cycling Team.
Free breakfast for cyclists will also be served in Birmingham's Millennium Point from 8:30am on 9 September when the Royal Tour visits the city. Just two days after the royal visit, Birmingham will close its roads to traffic for Sky Ride, a fun mass participation cycling event organised by British Cycling and Sky.
On the final day of the Royal Tour on 10 September, BMX World Champion Shanaze Reade will join The Prince and delegates at the IBM Summit at Start at Clarence House to show her support for the role of cycling in a more sustainable lifestyle.
Stewart Kellett, Recreation and Partnerships Director, said:
"Cycling is enjoying a boom and with London hosting the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, we have a unique opportunity to turn Britain into a true cycling nation.
"Cycling is a fantastic sport, a fun way to keep fit and we also believe it can be a driver in making the workplace a healthier and happier place. By supporting the START initiative, we are putting cycling on the sustainable map of Britain."
British Cycling's new Workplaces Employer Programme is aimed at helping businesses adopt cycling in the workplace, start work-based clubs and reduce congestion and carbon footprint. The programme is tailored to each company with elements ranging from practical tips and good practice recommendations to staff surveys, training and marketing support.
British Cycling brings a unique blend of resources to its workplace initiatives including the inspiration of the Great Britain Cycling Team, information about routes and trails, cycle training and development opportunities, world-class cycling facilities, cycling club contacts, experience in getting thousands of cycle novices on their bikes through Sky Ride and unparalleled expertise in the sport.
To find out more about British Cycling about its Workplaces Programme, please contact lovecycling@britishcycling.org.uk
For more information on START go here: http://www.startuk.org/
