Paul Osborne, Sustrans Regional Director, Yorkshire and the Humber, on why Sustrans is supporting the Ghost Peloton …
Sustrans’ vision is to create places where people come first, where you feel safe enough to walk and cycle at your own pace, where you can feel confident and happy. Creating that sense of happiness, or fun, is central to our ethos. Whether we are working in schools, communities or with the media, our most powerful message is the invitation to join in and have fun.
Over the years Sustrans has invited many artists and engineers to leave their mark on the National Cycle Network – the country’s largest collection of outdoor public art. Their work includes sculpted mileposts (many of which are now being painted yellow in honour of Le Tour); land art such as the Lambton Worm; and the most fantastic bridges now reconnecting communities in York, Bradford, Cardiff and Glasgow. So it’s only natural that we should use art to support Yorkshire’s first cultural festival in the lead up to the Grand Depart on 5th July.
The Ghost Peloton will be an awe-inspiring spectacle of light, movement, dance and cycling. It’s a unique collaboration of choreography, technology and cycling skills. It’s a celebration of the urban and rural landscape through which the Peloton passes. It’s a statement of what it means to volunteer, to train and to perform. And it’s a bold and brave invitation for the audience to open their eyes and take a step into the unknown.
If you’re lucky enough to have a ticket for the 16/17 May, you will soon be able to say ‘I was there’. If not, look out for the film and the pictures set to fill the social media ether. And if you’re not yet a cyclist, look out for the fantastic safe cycle route improvements such as City Connect planned as part of the legacy of the Grand Depart.
Like the creators of the Ghost Peloton, who started this from nothing, take this opportunity to give cycling a go.
City Connect will be giving away 10 pairs of Ghost Peloton tickets on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday next week. All you need to do to be in with a chance is like and share their Facebook page, like and re-tweet their twitter page or sign up to use cyclecityconnect then keep an eye out for them mentioning you next week. 10 pairs each day!