AN OLYMPIC Gold medalist is backing Chester Zoo’s bid to get more people cycling this summer.
The zoo is rewarding all those who arrive by bicycle with 15 per cent off the price of admission in its attempt to get its visitors to go green.
Cyclist Chris Boardman, who famously took Britain’s opening gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona games, said: “The zoo is making a real effort to encourage people to get healthy, go green and cycle in to see the animals over the summer. So I hope as many people as possible start pedalling and take advantage of the offers.”
Highlighting the financial, physical and environmental benefits of cycling, the winner of three stages of the Tour de France added: “Cycling more often makes sense for so many reasons.
“It is good for your wallet. Bicycles require no road tax, no MOT, no insurance, no licensing, no breakdown recovery services and above all, no fuel bills.
“It’s good for you physically – in fact, cyclists enjoy a fitness level equal to that of a person 10 years younger.
“And it’s good for your world, because making a bicycle requires only a fraction of the materials and energy needed to make a car and once they’re up and running, they produce absolutely no pollution at all.”
The zoo is now preparing for what it hopes will be an influx of cyclists.
Kim Halliday, green travel officer at Chester Zoo, said: “We have cycle racks in place at our entrances and have colour-coded maps, to enable people to plan the best and safest cycle-route for them, available for download on our website. All this is designed to make it really easy for people to choose to cycle to us.”
For more information or to download a voucher, go to www. chesterzoo.org/plan-your-visit/how-to-get-here/bike