People all over Great Britain are being urged to get on their bikes, in an attempt to help save the environment.

An example of these people are those living in Nottingham, who have been asked to use their 2 wheels instead of their normal four, as the yearly Greenweeks campaign sets itself into gear this week.

Three weeks of events and awareness-raising schemes will be held from May 23rd to June 14th, with local people aiming to reduce their carbon footprint.

A number of organised bike rides will be held, run by Transition West Bridgford, which aimS to inspire people to take up cycling.

Karina Wells, from the organisation, said: "Cycling ticks a lot of boxes - it is healthy, it is very easy, it's not too expensive to get a bike and you can make quite long distances in a short time."

New technology leads to new environmental standards

The urge to get bike riding, comes after the new commuter friendly bike was unveiled. The Go Cycle, A folding city bike, is a fully-functioning, pre-production prototype that is ready to go on sale in the UK for £1,100.

Every element of the bike has been designed to urge more people to buy it and use it instead of a car, especially when commuting to work every day.

The chain is fully enclosed and requires no maintenance. The battery is inconspicuous and easy to remove for charging, while the frame and wheels are made from light weight magnesium.

The bike is no slow rider either, as it can reach speeds of up to 15mph and its distance can reach 10 miles on battery power alone. When it reaches the journey destination, it can be easily be disassembled without the need for tools.

A spokesperson from the Environmental Transport Association (ETA), said: "The Go Cycle is a beautifully-designed, practical and affordable electric vehicle - a perfect alternative to cars and public transport for commuters."

Bike thefts

With many members of the public already opting for cycle use, and this number expected to rise as more people become aware of environmental issues, bike theft is predicted to become more common placed.

As a result, people have been urged to purchase bike insurance, especially as the warm weather can encourage bike crime. This is due to the fact that more people using their bikes and leaving their sheds or cycles unlocked.

Therefore, in an attempt to reduce cycle thefts, a designer has come up with the perfect anti-bike theft device, to keep two wheels with its rightful owner.

Dominic Hargreaves, a student at the Royal College of Art came up with his design for a bike storage hoist, after having three bikes stolen.

The bike cradle can be fitted to any wall and is attached to a powered hoist which lowers to the ground by remote control.

The front wheel is placed into a cradle and locked in position. The hoist then pulls the bike 2.5 metres up the wall - safely out of the thief's reach. There are plans for an industrial version to be used outside tube and rail stations.

A spokesperson for the Environmental Transport Association (ETA) said: "This beautifully simple idea also solves the problem of finding space for bike storage in urban areas."