Lights, camera, interaction on Valentine's Day

Picture shows a red and white tag attached to a bicycle frame
One of the I Love Cycling tags adorning a bicycle frame in Portsmouth
Free lights giveaway all this week to share the love of cycling.
Grab a camera and take a picture to show why you #lovecycling.

Flowers, candlelit dinner, romantic playlist and shiny bike lights?   

They may not be the first thing that signals true love but Valentine’s Day gifts with a difference have been given away to lucky bike riders around the UK today (14 February) thanks to a new initiative to share the nations' love of cycling.  

Cycling UK selected a crack team of cycling cupids and sent them out on a mission to fit free lights to people’s bikes with a message attached encouraging people to celebrate their affection for cycling on social media.  

The lights giveaway began earlier this week but there is no need to be heartbroken if you haven't been lucky enough to get a free set of lights, you can still share why you #lovecycling on social media. You can share your story of why you love your bike, how you met a partner through a mutual love of cycling or tell us about a route you just can't get enough of. 

It’s great to be able to give a gift to cyclists this Valentine’s Day. We want to bring people a lot of happiness and joy.

James Scott, Cycling UK's director of behaviour change and development 

James Scott, Cycling UK's director of behaviour change and development, said: “It’s great to be able to give a gift to cyclists this Valentine’s Day. We want to remind people that cycling is fun and can bring people a lot of happiness and joy.”   

With more stormy weather to many parts of the UK this weekend, Cycling UK’s community teams are in locations from the Shetlands to Portsmouth looking for hardy cyclists to reward.   

The lights come with a loving message asking the recipient to share a picture on social media. The scheme may be light-hearted but aims to remind people of the many advantages of cycling. As well as being beneficial to your health and wellbeing, it’s also good for the environment, helping to reduce pollution and improve air quality.