Get on your bike to show politicians you want Space for Cycling in London

The London Cycling Campaign is holding a 'Space for Cycling' Big Ride on Saturday 17 May 2014 to show politicians in the run up to the local elections that people want streets that are safe and inviting for everyone to cycle.

The mass participation event starts in Park Lane, with crowds gathering from 11am for a midday start, and from 1pm there'll be a rally on the Embankment with guest speakers.

There’ll be a car free route taking in Hyde Park Corner, Parliament Square, Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square - and it’s billed as a family friendly ride with experienced ride marshals.

En route, the Big Ride will also meet with the London Tweed Run, which has LCC as its charity partner. 

Guided rides will help bring people from outer London locations to the Park Lane start point. Maps of feeder rides are available here.

Participants are encouraged to wear bright colours, fun costumes, and to bring flags and banners, or buy a Space for Cycling T-shirt to wear.

In 2012, LCC organised a similar Big Ride the weekend before the mayoral election, which inspired the Pedal on Parliament rides in Scotland.

On the eve of the 2012 Big Ride, Boris Johnson became the last of the five main mayoral candidates to pledge his support to the three key demands of its Love London, Go Dutch campaign. Perhaps more pertinently, it came 24 hours after his chief rival, Ken Livingstone, had himself backed the campaign.

The Space For Cycling campaign includes measures such as:

• lowering vehicle speeds
• removing through motor traffic on minor/residential streets
• installing physically protected space for cycling on main roads
• opening up our green areas for cycling
• creating safe cycle routes to schools
• improving London's town centres to make them easier to visit by bike