Gloucestershire County Council is inviting residents to mark the official opening of the new A435 Cheltenham to Bishop's Cleeve Cycleway at a free drop‑in celebration on Friday 22 May 2026, from 1pm to 6pm, at Cheltenham Tigers Rugby Club on Southam Lane.

Attendees will be able to try the new route by bike or use the new footway for walking and wheeling. The event will also share details about the scheme and wider active travel opportunities across the county, including the launch of the Cycle Your Patch campaign.

On the day there will be information displays and hands‑on demonstrations featuring e‑bikes, adaptive bikes, e‑scooters and cargo bikes, along with bicycle maintenance advice and a pedal‑powered smoothie bike. Staff will be on hand to discuss active travel, transport planning and public health.

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People are encouraged to arrive by walking, cycling or public transport where possible. The venue is well served by buses, with a stop directly outside, and while there is on‑site parking, visitors are asked to consider more sustainable travel options.

The A435 cycleway connects the Honeybourne Line and the A435 Evesham Road in Cheltenham with the GE roundabout on the southern edge of Bishop's Cleeve. It forms part of the council's commitment to enabling safer, healthier, more sustainable and more accessible journeys, including cycling, walking and wheeling.

Cllr Roger Whyborn, Cabinet Member for Sustainable Transport and Strategic Highways, said: "This new cycleway is an important improvement for people travelling between Cheltenham and Bishop’s Cleeve and it’s great to be able to officially open it with the community.

"By creating safer, more accessible routes like this, we're helping to make walking, wheeling and cycling a realistic choice for everyday journeys, as well as supporting healthier lifestyles and more sustainable travel across the county. I’d encourage people to come along, enjoy the route and find out more about the range of active travel opportunities available in Gloucestershire."

The project has been predominantly funded by the UK Government through Active Travel funding administered by the Department for Transport, supplemented by district council Community Infrastructure Levy funding and Section 106 developer contributions.