Brent’s first Kidical Mass
Brent has its first Kidical Mass on Saturday 15th September, on Carlton Vale. This was on the same day Kidical MASSive, a global event, which is when many other cities around the world celebrate that kids are traffic too.
As family cycling using child seats, cargo bikes, tandems and lots of variations has really taken off in London, families in Brent wanted to share the fun and raise awareness.
This movement drew its name from the global ‘Critical Mass’ monthly urban bike ride phenomenon. It is to draw attention to the thousands of families who already cycle in London for every day trips and to show transport planners and politicians that roads need to also be designed for smaller riders and family journeys. Cities that plan for family cycling are more liveable, sustainable, profitable, and fun!
A Kidical Mass is a legal, safe and fun bike ride for kids, kids at heart, and their families created by cycling advocate and local Safe Routes to Schools programme manager Shane Rhodes who led the first ride held in April 2008 in Eugene, Oregon (US). It has now spread to over a dozen communities throughout North America and across the world. And once a year, a global co-ordinated bike ride – hence MASSive- takes place on the same day across the world.
Recently, London has been enjoying in some places, the type of high-quality cycling provision needed to support and enable cycling for all. Brent has Carlton Vale, the only semi-protected cycle way in the borough and at Brent Cyclists, we are working hard to support more to cycle and to enable people of all abilities to cycle. Even, if it’s a good start, some of the children cycling felt safer on the pavement which once again prove the theory that any infrastructure should undergo the ‘8 year old’ test. Children cycling to school, should they choose to, are entitled to a safe journey on an infrastructure they feel safe on.
Kidical Mass rides are regularly planned throughout the year in London, coordinated by parents who share information about them on this Facegroup group. They usually take place around big dates in the calendar such as Christmas or Easter, which give an excuse to all participants to decorate their cycles and add fun to already highly enjoyable family rides.
