Manchester has launched a bid to become the European Capital of Cycling for 2024, and we’d be the first city to hold the title.
On the week that the nationally-renowned cycling tournament, the Tour of Britain, begins and makes its way through the region, Manchester City Council has announced that it has has formally submitted a bid on behalf of the city of Manchester to become the official ACES European Capital of Cycling for 2024.
The bid comes as the city gears up to welcome a delegation from ACES Europe this month, who will meet with city partners and set out ambitions to become “a great cycling city”.
According to the Council, Manchester’s bid for the 2024 title is the “culmination of years of work”, which has seen “a hugely ambitious expansion of cycling” – both in Manchester as well as the entire Greater Manchester region.
Councillors believe it could also spark an “even greater transport revolution” that could get “many more Mancunians into the saddle” in the future.
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Today, Manchester welcomes the delegates from @AcesEurope, who will decide the winning bid to become European Capital of Cycling 2024.
“By building on this accolade, we want Manchester to be in a position where we are in an even better position to bid for future funding, and to continue to grow Manchester as an international city of cycling,” Manchester City Council said as it launched the bid.
Even without the news of this bid, September is already being considered an “incredibly exciting” month for Manchester’s cycling community.
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On top of all the action in the Tour of Britain, the National Cycling Centre is also set to reopen to the public this month following a two-year renovation project – with the Council saying this long-awaited return will ensure that “the heart and home of British Cycling can continue its incredible work for the decades to come”.
Council leader Bev Craig has called the bid a “watershed moment” for the city.
Manchester has launched a bid to become Europe’s first-ever Capital of Cycling / Credit: TfGM
Earlier this year, the Council made what it called a “significant statement” on how important cycling would be in the future of Manchester, and revealed that by the end of 2028, it hopes cycling as a mode of transport in the city centre would be doubled so that it’s essentially the “default choice for making short journeys”.
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Ultimately, the Council wants to promote cycling so that it go towards the target of becoming a zero-carbon city by 2038.
“We’re incredibly proud to have been in a position to make this bid,” Cllr Bev Craig admints.
“Cycling is at the heart of our transport strategy for the next five years, and with the impetus this accolade would bring, I am confident we will be able to truly make Manchester a great cycling city.
“We are determined, alongside our valued partners in the city, to capitalise on what becoming the Capital of Cycling would mean and to ensure that we can create a lasting legacy.”
Featured Image – TfGM
News
Arrest made after 14-year-old boy found in critical condition on Market Street
Daisy Jackson
An arrest has been made after a teenage boy was found unresponsive on Market Street in Manchester city centre.
Detectives believe that the boy, 14, was approached by seven males who stole a designer jacket from him.
Following the altercation, he went into cardiac arrest and was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
Thankfully, the teenager is continuing to recover well.
Detectives from Manchester City Centre Criminal Investigation Department confirmed that an 18-year-old male was arrested yesterday, Thursday 20 February.
He has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and remains in police custody.
Detective Inspector Mark Astbury of GMP’s City Centre Criminal Investigation Department, said: “We hope the victim can continue his recovery following what must have been a terrifying ordeal for him.
“Officers are fully investigating all aspects of this shocking incident that has left a man with serious injuries in hospital.
“Our work doesn’t stop here, we are continuing to investigate this incident and information from the public plays an incredibly important role in our investigations and I ask that the community keep talking to us and keep sharing their concerns with us so our teams can act.”
If you have any information, contact GMP 101 or 0161 856 4305 quoting log 2854 of 16/2/25.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials
Emily Sergeant
Trials are currently underway to see if comedy could be an alternative to antidepressants as a way to reduce NHS costs.
UK tech company Craic Health has secured important funding for its ‘comedy on prescription’ project that’s aimed at helping the Government work with the comedy industry, communities, and organisations on comedy-based social prescriptions in the hope that they can solve financial struggles within the NHS.
The groundbreaking scheme uses stand-up shows and workshops to help people who are isolated, lonely, and vulnerable.
Craic believes comedy is an ‘untapped opportunity’ to improve health and wellbeing, and has a goal to make comedy easier to access, so that it can help communities experience its mental health and social benefits.
To achieve this, the company has started trialling Comedy-on-Prescription experiences in the UK – starting in London, with the potential for expansion – which includes things like curated comedy panel game show events and workshops, and general stand-up comedy shows at some of the capital’s world-famous venues.
Comedy is being prescribed instead of antidepressants as part of UK trials / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
“Mental health issues like loneliness, isolation, and stress are more common than ever,” the company explains.
“So much so that it’s projected that by 2030, mental health problems, particularly depression, will be the leading cause of mortality and morbidity globally, [but] in this challenging world, comedy stands out as a universal language that breaks barriers.
“Research shows that comedy and laughter have powerful effects – they bring people together, create positive connections, and make life more enjoyable.”
Craic Health says that social prescribing, of which Comedy-on-Prescription is a part of, is all about inclusivity, which makes it making it suitable for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.
Its focus is on personalised support, tailored to individual needs and preferences.
Emily Sergeant -
4th September 2023 
