LIGHT RIDER – Let’s Ride The Lights

Last years ‘Ride The Lights’ event

VisitBlackpool partners with British Cycling and HSBC UK for a magical night. It’s the most enchanting bike ride you will ever take – a chance to cycle on a traffic-free promenade beneath the world-famous Blackpool Illuminations.

This year, the free family event promises to be even bigger and better than ever thanks to a new partnership with British Cycling and HSBC UK. As part of the collaboration, the event has been re-christened HSBC UK Let’s Ride the Lights, and is part of a series of high-profile festivals of cycling in major cities and other locations across the country, all taking place throughout the summer.

This year’s event will take place on the evening of Tuesday 28 August when, for one night only, Blackpool Promenade will be closed to traffic and thousands of cyclists will get a sneak preview of the Illuminations ahead of the official Switch-On.

There will also be a whole host of entertainment at the HSBC UK Let’s Ride the Lights hub, located on the Tower Festival Headland opposite The Blackpool Tower.

Blackpool Pleasure Beach will once again be taking part in the event, giving riders the opportunity to cycle through the park where they will be greeted by live music and costume characters.

Cllr Gillian Campbell, Deputy Leader of Blackpool Council, said ‘We are delighted to be partnering with British Cycling and HSBC UK on HSBC UK Let’s Ride the Lights. Ride the Lights is always extremely popular and every year more and more people flock to the Promenade to take part in this annual event.  Our partnership with British Cycling is going to bring another dimension to the event making this even more exciting for this year.’

British Cycling chief executive, Julie Harrington, said ‘Alongside HSBC UK, we are passionate about creating better towns and cities for cycling, which will lead to the fitter, healthier, greener Britain that we all want to see. This year, our HSBC UK Let’s Ride programme has expanded to include existing events which have a great track record of getting friends and families to enjoy cycling together, and we’re thrilled to be partnering with VisitBlackpool as part of that.’

Keep checking www.visitblackpool.com/ridethelights for updates and to find out what else is happening at the event.

For more information on British Cycling’s HSBC UK Let’s Ride events across the country, please go to www.letsride.co.uk.