Library shot from a previous Kidical Mass event in the city.
Cycling families will be taking to the streets of Bath again today Sunday, May 15th to continue their call for cities to be more cycle-friendly.
It’ll be the eighth local outing since the first ‘Kidical Mass’ event was held in Bath in May 2021 – and is part of a weekend of action across the world.
Families taking part should assemble in Orange Grove – by Bath Abbey – ready for an 11 am start.
Here’s the release issued by this pressure group which is demanding safer cycle routes in our cities.
‘Kidical Mass has a vision. That vision is for children and young people to be able to safely and independently travel by bicycle wherever they live. Our motto is “Space for the next generation”. A child-friendly city is a city that’s good for people of all ages. Kidical Mass gives young people a voice and a presence in the public realm. Our cities and streets belong to them too!
14 and 15 May 2022 will see Kidical Mass rides happening all across Europe as families demand child-friendly cities and cycle-friendly cities. This weekend is the time, with over 200 Kidical Masses in 15 countries.
Kidical Mass rides are designed to be inclusive for all ages and abilities. The rides are fun, safe environments for families and friends to cycle together. Kidical Mass rides highlight the need for safe, protected routes that enable children to walk, scoot, wheel and cycle in their neighbourhoods.
Kidical Mass rides give visibility to a better, healthier and lower carbon future for young and old alike. Changing how we travel will only happen if all generations feel safe on foot or by bike.
Across Europe there are over 200 grassroots groups who all see the need for changes in our cities to give children space to enjoy the freedom and safety they deserve.
You don’t have to have a kid to be involved, the rides are inclusive of everyone.’
Cycling is a good exercise, too. Thank you 🌍😊
I hope the cyclists have a great day and cycling for safety also includes safety of pedestrians.…
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That would be children with mums and dads on cycles of all shapes and sizes cycling on the road waving flags and listening to music. Othering them and creating a “cyclists vs pedestrian” narrative is a strange thing to do. If you truly want to make a difference ask your councillor to demand the council builds that safe protected on road cycle infrastructure that enables parents to let their 10 year old daughter cycle to school on her own.
Mr Reynolds, I sincerely hope you and other parents are NOT encouraging children to go “..cycling on the road waving flags and listening to music…”. If children are encouraged to believe that that is acceptable behaviour for cyclists, then whoever is encouraging it is encouraging their premature deaths(no, I don’t believe I’m overstating that). So instead, advise them of the risks, and discourage anything that might take their attention off the road and other road users’ potentially fatal behaviours.
This should not be seen as a Cycling jamboree or a two-wheel recruitment campaign.
Cycling is inherently dangerous, although happily, when properly executed, not illegal. Don’t let those youngsters forget that.
I would suggest you grab your bike and come along. Lots of fun for all the family. Video of the last Kidical Mass here https://twitter.com/SaskiaHeijltjes/status/1521137074237231104
Reblogged this on Walk Ride Bath and commented:
For those unaware Kidical Mass rides are happening all across Europe this weekend. They are enormous fun and are just a really joyful celebration of cycling and everyone is invited. I’ve even taken part in one on one of the eScooters so even if you don’t have a bike you can take part! The ride sets off on Sunday 15th of May at 11am from the Orange Grove, outside the Bath Abbey. Hope to see you there. The weather is looking fantastic!
Good to hear that such events are organised. I hope they amount to more than just protesting.
As a young cub scout, one of the Proficiency Badges I was encouraged to work for was the Cycling Proficiency badge. It was one of the tougher ones to achieve – many didn’t. I guess it was because it was seen as a matter of life and death. It involved a thorough knowledge of relevant passages of The Highway Code, road signs and their meaning, rules, safe and unsafe manoeuvres, the Do’s and Don’ts of on-road behaviour(and off-pavement behaviours), observation & anticipation skills, personal consequences of maverick road users and something called ‘Courtesy’. A police sergeant would visit monthly to instruct, and a knowledge and cycling test would determine who would or wouldn’t receive the badge. Pass/fail rate was 50/50%.
It was rigorous, back then in the early 60’s, cycling was recognised as dangerous.
My point is, rather than protesting about the lack of care other road users afforded we cyclists, we were taught to take personal responsibility for our own safety, anticipate the careless behaviour of others and how to take evasive action. It was a bit ‘Hill St., Blues’ “Let’s be careful out there”.
That doesn’t seem to be the case anymore. Why, I haven’t seen a rear-view mirror attached to a pair of handlebars for years, and bells – whatever happened to them?
The term ‘personal responsibility’ doesn’t seem to be in the young rider’s lexicon any more. Such a shame – because that and ‘the fear of God’ saved many lives back then.