Campaigning for safer cycling

Carpenters Arms,

Clydach, West Glamorgan

'On yer bike seems to be a popular phrase at the Carpenter Arms in Clydach, West Glamorgan. Four years ago, hosts Richie Saunders and partner Jill Davies led a campaign for the construction of a safe cycle route from the village into Swansea. In June 2002, the plan came to fruition when 150 cyclists rode 14 miles to the city and back to the Punch outlet for a barbecue and live music. Three years on, the number of cyclists has doubled and the pub holds two events each June as part of National Bike Week, along with an Easter bike ride and the annual 'Wobble Run up Gellionnen mountain at Christmas.

Jill says: 'Everyone takes part, aged from four to 74, and we collect money at the end for the local St John's Ambulance because they act as stewards at the event. Next year we plan to charge a small entry fee to help raise more money for them.

This year Richie voluntarily organised and staffed the beer tent at the Pontardawe International Music Festival. Customers from the Carpenters swapped one side of the bar for the other and volunteered their pint-pulling services among them a local dentist and a window cleaner. Carpenters' staff gave up their time to train them, and more than 20,000 people passed through the bar over the weekend. Richie took along several real ales from local breweries and sold all of them a total of 5,760 pints, give or take a few spills. The pub also plays host to a psychic fair and collectors' societies, and Jill says there are always Camra (Campaign for Real Ale) members in the bar.