Pedalling Culture launch

Pedalling Culture project launches in glorious sunshine at Bletchley Park

The new Pedalling Culture project’s launch event saw six bespoke electric cars unveiled for the first time. Commissioned for the fleet at the Electric Vehicle Experience Centre, the models were wrapped in professional artists’ eye-catching designs and are sure to draw attention when out and about on the city’s streets.

What’s more, they will have plenty more places to recharge. Milton Keynes currently has more than 300 electric vehicles charge points across the borough and, over the next 18 months, a minimum of four electric charge points will be added at the city’s cultural destinations as part of MK’s Go Ultra Low programme.

An iconic launch venue

Held at one of MK’s most iconic cultural venues, Bletchley Park, CEO of the Bletchley Park Trust, Iain Standen said: “We’re delighted to be involved in Pedalling Cultures and today marked our commitment to the project with the launch of the first electric vehicle charging point at Bletchley Park. We’re looking forward to seeing and supporting the many activities taking place over the next 18 months which will help to position Milton Keynes as a leading cultural destination.”

Santander hire cycles outside Bletchley Park mansion for Pedalling Culture launch

Cycling to cultural venues made easy

Aims of the Pedalling Culture Project

Pedalling Culture will encourage more people to explore Milton Keynes by walking and cycling its famous Redways. MK Council, using arts and heritage sites as markers, will enhance signage and navigation on the routes. New walking, running and cycling routes will connect some of the city’s most iconic cultural destinations. Cultural wayfinding will also be embedded into the driverless pod programme currently being tested in the city centre.

Melanie Beck, Chief Executive of MK City Centre Management and Chair of Pedalling Culture, said “We are thrilled to be launching Pedalling Culture, which will enable visitors to utilise our abundance of green and sustainabble transport options that connect them with MK’s cultural destinations. We hope that visitors and residents will engage with this fun and varied approach to visiting our wealth of diverse and vibrant culture.”

Find out more

Throughout 2018, the project will be hosting a range of exciting cycling and walking events on Redways as well as partnering with other events and activities. More details are available on the Pedalling Culture website.

Project Background

In 2017 Milton Keynes was successful in securing £300,000 in a bid to put culture at the very centre of its urban landscape. Project partners Milton Keynes Council, Destination MK, MK Gallery, Bletchley Park Trust, MK City Centre Management and the Arts & Heritage Alliance MK have developed an 18-month campaign called Pedalling Cultures, which aims to better connect the city’s cultural venues and spaces to its sustainable transport routes, including over 250 miles of cycling and walking routes.

The initiatives are designed to inspire residents and visitors alike to discover the rich and varied cultural experiences that the city has to offer whilst using sustainable transport in their journeys.

Pedalling Culture is generously supported by the Cultural Destinations Fund, a scheme led by the Arts Council England in partnership with Visit England.