Families rally together at 1000 Lakeside campus to celebrate return of Pedal Portsmouth

TAKING in the scenic 1000 Lakeside North Harbour campus, hundreds of cyclists joined together to mark the Pedal Portsmouth festival.
The Wells family from PortsmouthThe Wells family from Portsmouth
The Wells family from Portsmouth

Families cruised on their bikes around a 3km traffic-free course across the business park and enjoyed games promoting cycling and the importance of road safety.

Participants got underway after the deputy Lord Mayor of Portsmouth, Councillor Ken Ellcome, used a horn at the start line to officially welcome the event.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

People were able to come and go throughout the day to take on the route at their own pace.

Activity hubs were set up, where children could ride over a ramp courtesy of Southsea Skatepark.

People were also able to get into a HGV lorry to raise awareness of how difficult it is to see cyclists on the road when you are high up.

Lee Laurence, 43, came along with his daughter Chloe, 12.

Lee, of Hilsea, said: ‘We are here just to get out; kids nowadays are unfortunately stuck on their iPhones and computers, so it’s great to get out and about and see what’s out there.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

‘I come around here quite a bit and I use it as a nice cycle route.

‘When I was growing up I was always out on my bike; it’s a dying breed.’

Neil Hoare, 48, enjoyed riding his bike with wife Kerry, 43, and their son Edward, seven.

Neil, of Port Solent, said: ‘I enjoy cycling and it’s a safe area for the kids where there are no cars or any other traffic.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

‘Unfortunately Portsmouth has some of the most polluted roads in the country. Portsmouth isn’t great when it comes to obesity as well, so it’s good that events like this are happening.’

Cllr Ellcome praised the event, supported by British Cycling.

He said: ‘This is the second Pedal Portsmouth, the first was last year on the seafront. It was a great success with more than 1,000 people turning up.

‘This year we are here in the north of the city, it’s traffic free, and hopefully it will encourage people who have never had the confidence to cycle off road.’

Related topics: