Famous Londoners join Boris’s cycling revolution

Radio One DJ Edith Bowman and X-Factor presenter Dermot O’Leary have teamed up with Transport for London to promote cycling in the Capital.

They are taking part in a series of short films produced by TfL to highlight the pleasures and ease of using a bike to get around London.

From today (20 August) five films, featuring the celebs alongside three typical Londoners, can be seen on the TfL site (where the videos will be prominently featured for three months) and on YouTube, while a sixth film opens in cinemas.

Each film concentrates on a different aspect of Boris’s cycling revolution, such as the Barclays Cycle Hire scheme, or the Barclays Cycle Superhighways, and tells a story around one of the people taking part. The films form part of the Mayor and TfL’s efforts to increase the number of cycle journeys in London.

The cinema film also features the new Bike Song track by producer and DJ Mark Ronson.

Kulveer Ranger, the Mayor's transport adviser, said, “London’s cycling revolution will be televised in the form of these wonderfully-made little films. Cycling is the most civilised way to get around this great city and these films will spread the word and encourage more Londoners to hop on to their trusty metal steeds.”

Edith Bowman said, “The great thing about cycling is the freedom it gives you to quickly get to where you want to go, that is why I was delighted to help TfL spread the word about cycling."

Managing director of Surface Transport at TfL, David Brown, said, “What’s so good about these films is they show real people using bikes and enjoying the freedom cycling brings.

“These films, along with Barclays Cycle Hire and Barclays Cycle Superhighways, will encourage many more Londoners to take to two wheels.”