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Why cycle?
Useful cycling links
Tour de France
Frequently asked questions
Road closures
Events
Find out more about events on the day, the Tour de France route and much more in this special information leaflet available  here (1.03MB, pdf document).
 This summer, Bexley will have the privilege of hosting the World's largest annual sports event as London and Kent play host to le Grand Départ of the Tour de France.
The Tour de France is the World's best-known cycling event and has provided entertainment and inspiration for generations since it started over a hundred years ago. The last time the Tour visited Britain, an estimated 3 million people took to the streets to cheer on the riders.
On Saturday 7th July Central London will experience the exciting spectacle of the 8km Prologue. Beginning on Whitehall in front of Trafalgar Square, riders will compete in a fast and furious time trial that will take them past some of London's most iconic sites. Riders will race past Downing Street towards the Houses of Parliament, before taking a right past Westminster Abbey and up to Buckingham Palace, then pass through the middle of Wellington Arch and into Hyde Park. With a loop of the famous Serpentine complete, riders will pass back around Hyde Park Corner and along Constitution Hill, before ending up on The Mall with Buckingham Palace as their backdrop.
 Prologue Route
On Sunday 8th July, Stage 1 of the Tour will see all of the riders start together in the Peleton (French for group or herd) in a race from London to Canterbury. It is on this day that Bexley will be welcoming this world-renowned sporting event, as riders pass through Greenwich and Woolwich, before entering Bexley in the north of the borough. Travelling along Woolwich Road, Erith Road and Fraser Road, before bearing onto Queens Road, merging into South Road and Northend Road before leaving the borough via Thames Road.
Stage 1 Route
The Tour de France offers a fantastic opportunity for Bexley to showcase itself on the biggest stage of all, as well as giving the chance for people to witness the beginning of what proves to be an amazing feat of endurance year after year.
Bexley Council is already working closely with both local cycle groups and shops, as well as regional and national cycling campaigns and Transport for London who are leading on le Grand Départ in Britain. Together we are working to ensure that you will get the best possible experience from the Tour de France coming through Bexley. This not only includes developing a package of events in the lead up and over the Tour, but also the promotion of cycling in general, helping people to find out how, where and why people can get involved.
Also, in association with the British Cycling Federation, Tour organisers are looking for volunteer route marshals to be positioned along the length of Stage 1. For more information on volunteering for the event please visit www.tourdefrancelondon.com
Frequently Asked Questions about the Tour de France
Tour de France - road closures
On the 8 July many of the roads in the north of the borough will be affected by the arrival of the Tour de France.
Road closures will come into effect from 6am on the 8 July. Roads should be opened for use from 12pm on the day.
Emergency services will be able to gain access to the area during this time. There will be some controlled pedestrian access along the route.
Transport for London - road closure details
Transport for London has produced leaflets with important road closure and transport information.
- Road closure information is available here (1.8MB, pdf document).
- Details of changes to bus services in the north of the borough are available here (204KB, pdf document
- Details of London travel information on the day are available here (2.06MB, pdf document).
Residents and businesses with any concerns should call the Transport for London helpline on 020 7222 1234 or email tdf@tfl.gov.uk
Detailed map of the route and areas that will be affected on the day
Tour de France route though Bexley
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What is Bexley doing for the Tour?
Bexley Council has been working with a whole range of local and regional partners to ensure that the borough's residents can gain the maximum benefit from the first leg of the Tour being staged in London.
Together with local cycle clubs, cycle shops, schools, libraries and venues along the route, we have developed a programme of events that we hope will give everyone the chance to experience this globally recognised race, as well as leaving a lasting legacy for cycling in the borough. Find out more about the events planned so far.
Date |
Event |
Location |
5, 6, 7 July |
Continental Market |
Bexleyheath Town Centre |
7 & 8 July, all day |
Erith Leisure Centre Open Day
At the Leisure Centre, on both Saturday and Sunday there is an open day with free activities throughout the day, including soft play sessions and a barbeque on Sunday. |
Erith Leisure Centre, DA7 3AT |
8 July |
Tour de France comes to Bexley!! |
8 July |
French Market plus music |
Erith Town Centre |
8 July 8am onwards |
Greenwich and Bexley Cottage Hospice - Providing refreshments for spectators plus promotion of the Hospice's fund raising cycle ride in October. For more information about this call 020 8312 2244
|
Bostall Heath |
8 July 8am onwards |
The Eardley Arms Pub will be opening early especially for the Tour de France. There will be some light breakfast refreshments on offer plus a barbeque later in the morning.
|
44 Woolwich Road, Belvedere, DA17 5EN |
8 July 9am - 12pm |
Red Flag BBQ
'Nisa' supermarket opposite the Nordenfelt Pub on the corner of Erith Road and Fraser Road are planning a BBQ and light snacks for people wishing to view the race from the only red flag point in London. A handy stop off point between events at Trinity and Erith Town Centre.
|
'Nisa' supermarket opposite the Nordenfelt Pub on the corner of Erith Road and Fraser Road |
8 July
9am - 12pm |
Belvedere Splashpark Celebrations
Largest wet play park in the UK, right on the Tour de France route, will be open for FREE all day. It will offer children the chance to paddle in a lagoon surrounding a desert island equipped with water sprinklers, showers, bubble jets and sprays. There will be treasure hunts and Tour de France decorations.
|
Belvedere Splashpark - junction of Woolwich Road and Heron Hill, DA17 |
8 July
9am - 1pm |
All Saints Church Festival
Cafe-style worship plus music and refreshments |
All Saints Church, Nuxley Road, DA17 |
8 July
9am - 1pm |
Trinity School mini-festival
Cycling roadshow and bike try-out sessions with Go-Ride Bexley and British Cycling. Large, art installations will be installed outside the school including a 'Cycle Tree' and large-scale cyclist made from scrap bikes. The school are also looking at providing refreshments and musical entertainment.
|
Trinity School |
8 July
9am - 1pm |
Christ Church mini-festival
Local festival run by members of Christ Church and Erith Town Forum providing entertainment and refreshments.
|
Christ Church, Victoria Road, DA8 |
8 July |
Erith Town Centre mini-festival
A French market will line Pier Road in Erith from early morning so that people can get into the Tour de France 'feel'. There will also be a jazz band providing music, as well as some 'mix and mingle' entertainment by the local theatre group.
|
Erith Town Centre (Pier Road) |
For more information on any of the above events call the Leisure Team on 020 8294 6961 or email leisureservices@bexley.gov.uk
Keep a look out for regular updates to the Tour de France events list.
Please note – Many of these events have been developed in partnership with a range of agencies are subject to change
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Go-Ride Bexley |
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Why cycle?
- Cycling is good for you, good for the environment, it's fast, it's convenient, it gives you freedom and independence and is reliable
- It is one of the easiest ways to keep fit and 20 minutes of gentle cycling can burn up to 100 calories
- Cycling beats queues, and in cities it is often twice as quick as driving and it's also free to park!
- Cycling is perfect for travelling short distances in urban areas - often the most congested routes
- Cycling is the least polluting way of travelling after walking
- And, of course, cycling can be a lot of fun too.
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Find out more:
Local Cycle Clubs
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Local Cycle Shops
Whites Cycle Centre
124 Erith Road
Bexleyheath
Kent, DA7 6BU
 01322 558331
Sidcup Cycle Centre
142-146 Station Road
Sidcup
Kent, DA15 7AB
020 8300 8113
www.sidcupcycles.co.uk
Action Bikes
265 The Broadway
Bexleyheath
Kent, DA6 8ET
020 8304 6596
Welling Cycles
69 Bellegrove Road
Welling
Kent, DA16 3PG
Wheelies Cycle Centre
239 Bexley Road
Erith
Kent, DA8 3EX
01322 338625
Halfords Superstore & Bikehut
Unit 2 Heath Lane
Princes Road
Dartford, DA1 2QA
01322 277515
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Useful Cycling Links
Tour de France London
Telling you all about this year's Tour de France, when it is coming to London and how you can get involved.
www.tourdefrancelondon.com
Everyday Cycling
Gives you a whole host of information about cycling and how to get involved
www.everydaycycling.com
British Cycling Federation
The National Governing Body for cycling in Britain
www.britishcycling.org.uk
Bike for All
Everything you wanted to know about cycling but were afraid to ask.
www.bikeforall.net
Bikeability
Cycling proficiency for the 21st century designed to give children the skills and confidence to cycle safely.
www.bikeability.org.uk
Bike Budi
Simple and free Bike Budi matches people with others cycling the same way so they can ride together
www.bikebudi.com
Cyclist's Touring Club
The UK's National Cyclists' Organisation that seeks to protect and promote the rights of cyclists
www.ctc.org.uk
Good Going
Travel awareness campaign for London promoting the use of healthy and environmentally friendly travel options
www.goodgoing.co.uk
Sustrans
Helping people travel in ways that benefit their health and environment as well as building new cycle routes. Maps also available from website
www.sustrans.org.uk
The Tricycle Association
Catering for tricyclists, organising racing, touring and social activities
www.tricycleassociation.org.uk
Transport for London Cycle Routes
Cycling routes and guides for the whole of London
www.tfl.gov.uk/cycles/routes
Cycling awareness in Bexley
Information about cycling safely in Bexley
www.bexley.gov.uk/cycling
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