Cycling treasure hunt in Norwich cancelled due to bogus police call

February’s edition of a cycling treasure hunt that has been regularly held in Norwich since being established in 2010 has been cancelled following a bogus call from someone claiming to be a police officer.

Norwich AlleyCats, organisers of the event, were told by the caller that it was considered a road race and as a result it was against the law, reports Eveningnews24.co.uk.

However, a traffic management officer for Norfolk Constabulary told the news outlet that no such call had been made by police.

The officer said: “Norfolk Constabulary has no power to prohibit an event unless it causes obstruction to the free flow of traffic.”

Organisers have been advised to contact police for advice regarding similar events in the future, but the one scheduled for 1 February has already been cancelled.

Gareth Lewis, one of the organisers, commented: “The treasure hunt is a social activity where participants plan their own routes on public highways; it has never been a race.”

Despite the name of the group that organises the event being Norwich Alleycats, the treasure hunt has little in common with the type of flat-out alleycat racing in places such as New York City as filmed by Lucas Brunelle.

Mr Lewis has blogged about organising Norwich AlleyCats on the website Instructables.com, where he says its “casual, social approach is proving very popular with cyclists from all walks of life, and all age groups.

“I am very proud of the fact that entrants into the Norwich AlleyCats have ranged from 16-67 years of age, even a couple in their mid 20s riding a tandem and towing a toddler behind them in a child carrying trailer, and a young disabled lady undertaking the route and tasks in her electric assist wheelchair,” he continues.

“Entrants have turned up on Fixies, Single Speeds, MTBs, Shoppers, Dutch, Hybrids, Commuters, Folders, Roadies, Tricross, Tandems, Recumbents, Tadpole Trikes, and even the world famous Bicycle designer Mike Burrows on one of his small wheeled mono fork racing bikes,” he adds.