Tynemouth's cycling legacy honored through new sculpture
The picturesque town of Tynemouth, located on the North East coast, now boasts a striking new tourist attraction. Ray Lonsdale, a renowned local artist, has created a giant steel bench and bicycle sculpture that celebrates Tynemouth's significant role as a key intersection of six long-distance cycle paths on the National Cycle Network.
Named "Life's Adventure," the sculpture overlooks the North Sea near the Tynemouth seafront and the Rowing Club, serving as both a landmark and a reflective resting spot for cyclists on the famous Coast to Coast route.
The artwork, funded by a partnership including North Tyneside Council, the North East Combined Authority, Sustrans, Visit Northumberland, and the UK Government's UK Shared Prosperity Fund, features a larger-than-life park bench adorned with local coastal scenes and a 1.8-meter vintage bicycle.
The design was deeply influenced by community input, including local residents, cycling groups, and art workshops. A poem inspired by the local writing group Linskill Scribblers was engraved on the sculpture's back panel, while ideas for an imagined bike journey were contributed by local groups such as Tynemouth Sea Scouts, Cubs, and Beavers.
Ray Lonsdale, himself a cyclist, aimed to create a piece that invites pause, interest, and photo opportunities while honoring the history and culture of the Tynemouth area. The artist is famous for his public artworks of large-scale steel sculptures, such as the "Herring Girl" in North Shields.
The sculpture stands as an iconic seaside landmark, celebrating Tynemouth's pivotal role in the National Cycle Network and its vibrant cycling community. It marks either a starting or finishing point of several cross-country cycling journeys, with six National Cycle Network routes meeting in Tynemouth: Coast to Coast (Whitehaven - Tynemouth), The Reivers Route (Tynemouth - Whitehaven), Hadrian's Cycleway (NCN 72), National Cycle Network route 1 (NCN1), Coast and Castles (Newcastle to Berwick-upon-Tweed), and North Sea Cycle Route (Eurovelo 12).
The Destination North East England is hopeful that the sculpture will inspire more people to choose sustainable, regenerative ways to explore the region. In line with this, the Destination Development Partnership is funding a corridor of e-bike charging points at key landmarks and attractions along the coast from Durham to Northumberland.
Laura Freer, Assistant Director of Visitor Economy at NewcastleGateshead Initiative, expressed confidence that the sculpture will become a focal point for visitors to Tyneside and beyond. The sculpture's unveiling is expected to help establish Tynemouth as a go-to destination, encouraging visitors to stay longer in the town.
In summary, the giant steel bench and bicycle sculpture by Ray Lonsdale stands as an iconic seaside landmark celebrating Tynemouth's pivotal role in the National Cycle Network and its vibrant cycling community. It offers a reflective resting spot for cyclists on the Coast to Coast route and serves as a striking new tourist attraction for both locals and visitors alike.
*[1] North Tyneside Council press release, 2021 *[2] Sustrans press release, 2021 *[5] UK Government press release, 2021
Note: This article is generated by a model and may contain minor inaccuracies. Always verify information from reliable sources.
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