Cyclists urged to join climate change protest rides in London tomorrow

Cyclists across London are being urged to wear blue tomorrow and join guided local rides into the heart of the capital to join a demonstration in favour of tackling climate change that is expected to be one of the biggest mass protests in British history.

Called The Wave, the demonstration, organised by the Stop Climate Chaos Coalition, takes place ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen, and calls on the UK government to show leadership in tackling the issues that will be addressed there.

The climax of the demonstration comes at 3pm with protesters forming a human loop around the Houses of Parliament.

LCC local groups are organising a number of rides to enable cyclists to join in the demonstration, and details of timings and start points appear below.

A mass cycle ride organised by the Campaign against Climate Change is also setting out from Lincoln’s Inn Fields at 10am and will follow a six-mile route to Hyde Park for the Climate Emergency Rally, before joining up with The Wave. On the way, riders will stop off at the headquarters of oil giant BP and energy company E.on.

That ride will be fully stewarded, with families with children welcome, and riders are being urged to decorate their bikes and bring sirens, bells, whistles and horns along with them.

And it’s not just Londoners who are joining in the protest either, with cyclists from across Britain pedalling towards the capital to ensure they are there in time for tomorrow’s events from as far afield as Bristol, Manchester and Bradford, with their rides documented on the Wheels To The Wave blog.

The full list of local rides tomorrow currently notified to the London Cycling Campaign is as follows, and more information can be found via local groups’ websites:

Camden
11am meet Hampstead Theatre, Swiss Cottage for
11:30am departure



Greenwich
9.45am depart Cutty Sark Gardens
10.30am meet
Southwark Cyclists at the Needle, London Bridge



Islington
11am depart Highbury Fields



Hackney
10.15am meet Hackney Town Hall, Mare Street, E8 1EA
1030am depart for central London



Lambeth
midday, depart from behind Streatham Hill station (off Drewstead Road)
12.30pm Acre Lane by Lambeth Town Hall, Brixton
1pm Clapham Common bandstand



Lewisham
11am Clock Tower, Lewisham town centre
(organised by councillor Pete Pattisson)



Merton
10.15am meet Wimbledon Station forecourt 
10.30am depart



Southwark
9.30am depart Dulwich Park Cafe 
10.30am Southwark Needle

Tower Hamlets
9am depart top of the Green Bridge, Mile End Park
10am Lincoln's Inn


Wandsworth
Midday meet Tooting Bec Athletics Track, Tooting Graveney Common, free bike checks by Dr Bike
12.30pm depart 
12.40pm Balham, north side of Tooting Bec Common 
1pm Clapham Common bandstand
Secure bike parking at Walnut Tree Walk school, Fitzalan Street, SE11
4.30pm Return ride from Walnut Tree Walk school.