During the European Mobility week, on September 19th, the Riga Tweed ride, which has already become a tradition, will take place in Riga, which is one of the most elegant and magnificent bicycle events in Latvia. On September 12th and 13th, special charity bicycle workshops will take place at the Youth support Center in Imanta, where children and young people, together with bicycle masters, will learn bicycle repair skills and receive repaired bicycles on their property.
This year's Tweed ride will start at the Botanical Garden of the University of Latvia at Jānis Šteinnhauera Street 2. Preparations for the event are scheduled to begin from noon 14.00, but the parade ride will begin at 16.00 leading participants through the city centre. The ride will conclude in Pārdaugava, Kalnciema quarter, around noon 17. There is an award ceremony for the brightest and most magnificent participants and a musical performance.
Riga residents and city guests are invited to dress in retro style, pack their bikes and enjoy a unique ride on the streets of Riga together. The event aims to promote cycling as a sustainable way of moving around the city. The Riga Tweed ride takes place in cooperation with the Riga City Council within the framework of European Mobility week.
Toms Ērenpreiss, founder of the Latvian old-age bicycle club and author of the Latvian Tweed ride idea, points out: “As the initiator of the Tweed ride movement, I am very pleased with how many participants pay special attention to this bicycle parade visually beautifully dressed up year after year. I am also very pleased that for the fourth year running, Tweed ride has successfully transformed into a charity movement and every year we find children with fewer opportunities to get a good bike”.
Riga Mayor Viesturs Kleinbergs invites you to participate in the trip: “Riga Tweed ride is a great example of how we can create events in the city where movement, joy and being together combine. I participated in it with my daughter last year, and I'm excited to join this ride this year as well. I invite every resident of Riga and city guest to participate, because this event can be enjoyed by both those who sit on a bicycle and those who want to simply enjoy the magnificent atmosphere. It is especially valuable that the Tweed ride is also an opportunity to help others, because in charity cycling workshops children and young people gain not only repaired bicycles, but also new skills and confidence in their abilities.”
In preparation for the Tweed ride, a charity campaign has traditionally been run under the slogan “No childhood without a bike.” This year, charity bicycle workshops will take place on September 12th and 13th in the structural unit of the Riga children's, Youth and family Social support Center “Youth support Center”, where the center's children and young people, together with bicycle masters, will repair bicycles and then receive them on their property.
This year, too, at the end of the Tweed ride, authors of the most outstanding and beautiful costumes will be awarded in various categories. Any bike owner can participate in the ride, regardless of the type of bike, and participation in the event is free of charge.
Participants will have the opportunity to receive a special Tweed ride badge by donating to support children and youth cycling workshops.
There will be temporary traffic restrictions along the route during the course of the tweed ride.
Information prepared by: Tatjana Smirnova, Project Coordinator of the External Communication Department of Riga Municipality, e-mail: TSmirnova11@riga.lv.