Music festival offers free beer for cyclists

The organisers of what is claimed to be Britain's greenest music festival are levying a green tax on festivalgoers arriving in cars and encouraging cyclists by offering beer.

The 3rd annual WOOD festival will be held at Braziers Park, near Wallingford, Oxfordshire on 21-23rd May 2010 and, apart from three wooden stages, will have all its electricity provided by solar panels, chip-fat driven generators and bicycle power.
According to the Oxford Mail, organisers of the festival are trying to encourage as many people as possible to leave their cars behind and cycle to the festival site. They are offering the incentive of a pint on arrival for those who take the greener option.

Organiser Drew Brammer said: “It is part of Wood’s green philosophy to try to encourage people to cycle as much as possible.

“We did it last year and a few people came along, but we are hoping to get a real throng this time.”

About 20 people joined two guided rides from Oxford to the festival last year – which left the city on the Friday evening and Saturday morning.

This time, there will be one ride, leaving Oxford Cycle Workshop in Magdalen Road, on Friday, May 21, at 4pm.

As well as giving everyone a free pint of local lager, cider, or real ale on arrival, organisers are offering to carry cyclists’ tents, provisions and festival kit in a van – a move they hope will convince more people to take up the challenge and ride the 20-mile route.

Mr Brammer is planning to join the riders.

He said: “It will probably take about two hours to get there so people probably need a reasonable level of fitness. But we will have people guiding the parade of bikes, at the front and back of the column.

“I think I will just be grateful for the free pint of lager at the end. That will be my goal for getting there.”

Cyclist Dan Harris, who will be leading the ride, said: “We want people to enjoy it as much as possible.

“We have also worked out a route for people not so keen on cycling the full length.

“They can hop on a train and ride from Goring station – although they’ll have to look after themselves on that one.”

He added: “I’m a massive fan of Wood. Like all things new, it has taken a while to find its feet, but last year there was such a buzz.”

Bands playing at this year’s festival include folk group The Unthanks, Peggy Sue, Cate le Bon, Frank Turner, Tuung, Fionn Regan and Martin Simpson.