New Forest National Park Authority involvement with organised cycling events

The New Forest is a popular destination for many different forms of cycling, ranging from off road cycling for family groups, cycling as part of club, or providing opportunities for disabled young people on ‘all ability’ bikes

Whilst most cyclists explore the New Forest in small groups, the last few years has seen an increase in the popularity of cycle ‘sportive’ events. These are organised cycle events for between 200 and 1200 participants, where riders follow a signed route of between 20 and 100 miles. These events are not races.

Sportive events provide a significant opportunity to communicate national park messages to large volumes of participants, and as such, the National Park Authority has attempted to engage with these events in a number of ways, including:-

• Encouraging participants to stay overnight locally in ‘green leaf’ accredited accommodation, thus increasing their contribution to the local economy.
• Ensuring that the pre event briefing includes reference to responsible cycling, following the highway code, keeping noise to a minimum, not dropping litter, awareness of stock animals etc.
• Having a National Park Authority presence at the event HQ, such as rangers with the mobile unit, to engage with participants and communicate national park messages.
• Assisting with pre-event publicity and ‘endorsing’ events with use of the New Forest National Park ‘supported by’ logo.
• Including National Park Authority information in rider packs e.g. pocket guide.
• Using the events to encourage more cycling by local communities, particularly families and children.
• An open invitation for local residents to feedback any inappropriate behaviour from participants back to the event organisers.
• Introducing a contribution per participant (from the event entry fee) which is returned to the local economy for land management e.g. UK Cycling Events contribute a fee per participant to the Forestry Commission for maintenance of the gravel track network.
• Using local produce at ‘feed stations’ wherever possible.
• Providing a memorable experience which encourages participants to return to the New Forest as visitors in the future.