In conjunction with a forthcoming Channel 4 programme to be aired in the Spring, today will see a day of leaving the car behind and walking or cycling in and around Marlow instead.

Having signed the petition for a Marlow Cycle route which has been handed in to the local council or by being a keen supporter of safer cycling, this Change Gear for a Day is designed to show that the amount of traffic can be reduced by swapping the car for a bike or just simply walking into town. Showing that cycling is an obvious alternative to the car should add support for the need for a cycle route into Marlow.

Today, Saddle Safari in Marlow have a free secure cycle park, a free safety-check, and everyone using the facilities will be entered into a prize draw for a brand new Trek bike.

“The idea is we want to get as many cyclists as we can – hopefully 200 or more – to cycle all together on a route through the town to show support for Marlow’s traffic free day and for safer cycling facilities nationwide.”

“We hope a large number of cyclists will show the powers that be that there is a real demand for more cycle provision, it will be a lot of fun and will be televised by Channel 4.”

The idea is you pick up the procession wherever is more local for you but if you can start at the beginning all the better. Check out the website www.changegearforaday.com for more details and a route map.

We’ve got this from the organisers;

“Well, lets get this straight from the start. This isn’t an anti-car crusade. We just want one day when everyone gets out of their cars for the day then go forward from there to get people not to use their cars on one day each week.”

“In theory that should mean a 20% reduction which is the exact effect you get during the school holidays.”

“We would like to change the default thought of using the car for those small journeys into and around the town.”

“Marlow’s traffic has outgrown its roads.’ Around a 1,000 cars use Marlow High Street during rush hour and we would like to prevent Marlow simply grinding to a halt by finding out what could be achieved without structural changes, without council decisions, without new roads and without permanently changing the face of historic Marlow.”