Brighton and Hove mayor Pete West called on more people to join him riding round the Brighton and Lewes Downs Biosphere later this month.
The mayor plugged the charity ride to fellow councillors at a meeting of Brighton and Hove City Council at Brighton Town Hall yesterday (Thursday 6 April).
Councillor West is aiming to raise money for the 27 mayoral charities by cycling round the UN-designated biosphere on Sunday 23 April, starting at 9am.
The 50-mile route starts and ends on Hove Lawns with riders going via Lewes, Ditchling, Hurstpierpoint and Shoreham.
The mayor said: “I’m really excited to be involved in this event. It will not only highlight our wonderful biosphere but also help raise funds for the 27 charities who do such good work locally.
“Supporters and friends of these charities will enjoy a lovely scenic ride and learn a bit more about the natural treasures around Sussex.
“I’m known as they cycling mayor and this will be a great way to encourage more people to get on their bikes for great causes.”
Riders can choose whether to support any or all of the mayoral charities or they can back an individual charity of their choice.
The mayor said: “This ride is a medium-distance ride and most reasonably fit adults should be able to complete it.
“It does contain hills but as it is largely skirting around the edges of the Downs it avoids the worst of them. There are no Devil’s Dykes or Ditchling Beacons on the route.”
Registration is £20 to cover event costs including refreshments. One of the refreshment stops will be at the Sussex Wildlife Trust’s site at Woods Mill, near Henfield
Anyone who can’t take part but who would like to support the mayor can sponsor him here.
Friends of Brighton and Hove Hospitals is the lead charity for this event.
For more details and register, click here.
What actually is a biosphere? What happens inside a biosphere that doesn’t happen outside? What is the benefit of cycling around a biosphere? Will there be any safety training for those travelling on a 50 mile ride around the roads of Sussex? Will roads be closed to protect the first time cyclists they seem to want to attract?
Sounds to me like a very dangerous idea based around some strange ecological construct. Is this what is means to be a mayor?
I was thinking that myself; I remember a few years ago when the incapable and incompetent Green Council wanted to bid £75K of tax-payers money for Brighton to become a ‘One People and Planet Biosphere Diversity City’. Every Green I have spoken to has been EXTREMELY reticent to explain to me exactly what this is…
Yes – I’m surprised that all the usual Green Party disciples haven’t come to the support of cycling-mad Pete and the Biosphere – perhaps the whole thing is too embarrassing.