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Families flock to London's Cycle SuperhighwaysGirl holding hands with dad on cycle superhighway.jpg

Families flock to London's Cycle Superhighways

Making the case for protected bike routes - heartwarming images of kids cycling safely through Central London from yesterday's Kidical Mass event...
by Laura Laker
Mon, Jun 27, 2016 16:19
7

Need some cheering up?

We have just the thing - some heart-warming images of families with children as young as five enjoying Central London’s new protected bike lanes – showing anyone can cycle when it's safe.

The photos were taken by cycle campaigner, doctor and parent, Ruth-Anna Macqueen, at yesterday’s Kidical Mass, a family-focused mass ride to promote safe cycling for families.

Yesterday, around 50 people took part in the ride, half of whom were kids, riding right through the heart of Central London, separated from lorries and buses.

Kidical Massive: global bike ride for...you guessed it

Macqueen told road.cc: “This was totally different to any other led ride I've organised – it was so relaxed and enjoyable!

"The children absolutely loved the freedom of the cycle tracks and not having to be shouted instructions at every few minutes - in contrast to the un-protected routes we took to get there. Kids as young as five were able to ride the whole length from Shadwell to St James's Park. One five year old managed to ride all the way from Walthamstow and back again!"

Kids cycled across Parliament Square, something that few parents would have braved even a few months ago.

This toddler led the family, despite tired legs…

Kids on bikes cycled safely separately from lorries

Macqueen says there are people from Belgium, Denmark, the Czech Republic and Romania in this image alone.

She said: “It was also brilliant to have families who originate from countries all over the world coming together - including many from countries in mainland Europe where protected lanes are commonplace."

This one is our favourite – the father and daughter riding hand in hand.

A close second is this guy roller skiing…

There's something you don't see every day.

We think you’d struggle to find a better argument for physically separated, protected bike infrastructure than these images.

Kidical Mass
London
Cycle Superhighways
Laura Laker

Laura Laker is a freelance journalist with more than a decade’s experience covering cycling, walking and wheeling (and other means of transport). Beginning her career with road.cc, Laura has also written for national and specialist titles of all stripes. One part of the popular Streets Ahead podcast, she sometimes appears as a talking head on TV and radio, and in real life at conferences and festivals. She is also the author of Potholes and Pavements: a Bumpy Ride on Britain’s National Cycle Network.

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7 comments

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kitsunegari | 8 years ago
0 likes

Wondeful.

If only the rest of the country had this sort of money spent on its cycling infrastructure.

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DaveE128 replied to kitsunegari | 8 years ago
0 likes
kitsunegari wrote:

Wondeful.

If only the rest of the country had this sort of money spent on its cycling infrastructure.

I really don't think that money is the main obstacle for many parts of the country. My county council seems to go out of it's way to NOT install fit-for-purpose cycling infrastructure. They'll happily install something that no-one will want to use, even at quite considerable cost, but never anything of even vaguely decent design quality. 2

Avatar
DaveE128 | 8 years ago
3 likes

Good stuff! 1

Looks like they didn't get the memo from the loonies that these "elitist" things are only for "young white males"! lol

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Jimnm | 8 years ago
2 likes

This should eliminate road rage in this area.

Great stuff and long overdue!

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StuInNorway | 8 years ago
1 like

The roller-skis are a common sight across here in Norway, but they are a pain to pass on an uphill section as they send their legs side to side and stick their poles out at all sorts of "spoke catching" angles.  Great to see the superhighways being well used . .  as it'll REALLY irritate all the people claiming they are normally empty.

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Mungecrundle | 8 years ago
7 likes

So not only does poor old Sir Bob Geldof have to put up with scummy unfamous people getting about quicker than him, but their grubby children are now taking some exercise in plain sight.

Won't somebody think of the celebrities!

Avatar
Manchestercyclist | 8 years ago
5 likes

Wonderful stuff, I only hope Manchester has this in my lifetime

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