Bicycology, the cycle activism and education collective, recently completed its second major tour, this time covering the South West of England. Starting at Aylesbury on July 14th, the group comprising around 20 cyclists visited a number of cities and towns with its unique and inspiring blend of bike-related activities aimed at promoting cycling and raising awareness of wider environmental and social issues. Travelling by bike without any motorised support, they carried all their equipment with them using panniers, trailers, a tall bike, an Xtracycle extended cycle and a Brox 4 wheeled load-carrying bike.

Setting up in town centres, parks and other public spaces, Bicycology offered a wide range of free activities including Dr Bike cycle checks and maintenance, a renewable energy trailer with pedal- and solar-powered sounds, games and mini-cinema, bike jewellery making, a tandem-pulled soundsystem, street theatre, bike polo, carbon footprint questionnaires, and pedal-powered evening film screenings and discussions.

Bicycology’s route took it through Aylesbury, Oxford, Swindon, Bristol (via floods and torrential rain!), Yeovil, Charmouth and Exeter. The group then retraced its tyre-tracks back to the Big Green Gathering in the Mendip Hills, where they ran a successful bike space in the Appropriate Technology marquee for five days.

The next port of call for the Bicycology collective is the Camp for Climate Action near Heathrow, where they will be providing a bike space and workshops within the camp, engaging in outreach with the local communities, and supporting non-violent direct action against the aviation industry and the government’s insane policy of airport expansion.

Bicycology is an open but focussed community of cyclists run on a non-hierarchical basis through regular meetings that rotate around the country. To find out more visit www.bicycology.org.uk or email  info@bicycology.org.uk