News and Features from Cycle Heaven, York

Beauty and the Bike

10.12.09 Last night I attended the premiere of Beauty and the Bike - a documentary that explores why teenage girls in the UK don't cycle. Based on a project oragnised by the Darlington Cycle Campaign, it follows the experiences of a group of teenage girls when they conduct an exchange visit with girls of similar age in Bremen Germany. What emerges is a indictment of the frankly pathetic state of cycle infrastructure in the UK when compared with Germany; how political short sightedness and lousy planning limits the freedom of movement that our children enjoy and how the private car has been allowed to blight our towns and cities. More inspiring is the girls themselves and their desire to carry on cycling, despite the obstacles, once they've got the bug. It's a 55 minute documentary and you can see an 8 minute short on You Tube and buy it from us ( £15). There is also a beautifully photgraphed book (£14) - both available instore.

For more on those who made it: http://www.bikebeauty.org/

For more about the Dalington Cycle Campaign and their project:  http://www.velodarlo.org/2009/09/14/velodarlo-to-darlovelo/

03.03.10 View a Tyne Tees news report here: http://www.itv.com/tynetees/beauty-and-the-bike16715/

Photo: Phil Dixon