To celebrate World Bicycle Day (3 June) and the start of Bike Week (5 June), three local charitable groups are encouraging more Kingston residents to cycle into summer with the borough's first fun, family-friendly ride.

Organised by the Kingston Cycling Campaign (KCC) with the support of local groups Full Cycle and Kingston Hive, the free and family-friendly ride will take place on Sunday 4 June.

Those attending on the day will meet in central Kingston and set off from the pavilion in Fairfield Park at 11am with the aim of the project to help build confidence levels amongst all ages and abilities by taking in quiet roads and cycle routes. It also hopes to encourage locals to see the be benefits of opting for two wheels as a sustainable mode of transport in and around the borough.

Jon Fray, Coordinator of Kingston Cycling Campaign told Nub News: "As the local Kingston group of the London Cycling Campaign, we're here to promote safe cycling in the borough and speak up for everyone on bikes - children as well as adults.

"We're therefore excited to be introducing a new series of family-friendly fun bike rides to our ride programme, and hope residents who sign up and join in the fun will be inspired to explore Kingston on two wheels and take advantage of the new and improving cycling infrastructure across the borough."

The community-led event hopes to encourage locals to see the be benefits of opting for two wheels as a sustainable mode of transport in and around the borough (Credit: KCC)

With two leisurely loop options (4.5/ 7.5 miles), the route will be an easy-paced outing in a figure of eight, taking in a mix of the borough's quieter roads, bike lanes and low traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) and giving people the option to stop after 4.5 miles or continue for the full 7.5 mile route, depending on how each rider is feeling on the day.

The group will proceed at a gentle pace on bike-friendly routes along the riverside (via Portsmouth Road), through Surbiton, towards Berrylands and back to Fairfield. For those keen to keep pedalling, the longer route will continue down the Albert Road LTN towards North Kingston and Latchmere Recreation Ground, and back via the Lower Ham Road LTN, using the Kingston Station bike path to return to Fairfield.

The route will also pass by both Full Cycle Community Project and Kingston Hive's workshops.

For more information on KCC's Fun Bike Ride, and to register your interest now, visit the link HERE.