Families flock to London's Cycle Superhighways

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.

Cycled along the East-West cycle highway from Monument to Parliament Square today with my 10yo - an absolute joy. pic.twitter.com/3OB5uv2uLL

— Stuart Clarke (@StuartClarkeUK) June 26, 2016

East London contingent on our way home #KidicalMass pic.twitter.com/hLc6w91Zag

— Ruth-Anna (@bikesandbabies) June 26, 2016

This toddler led the family, despite tired legs…

Few tired legs approaching Parliament Square! #KidicalMass pic.twitter.com/vE7s5j25Ip

— Ruth-Anna (@bikesandbabies) June 26, 2016

Kids on bikes cycled safely separately from lorries

Massive terrifying truck with trailer passes a load of kids on bikes and nobody is even a tiny bit stressed pic.twitter.com/K2FtY00qxe

— Ruth-Anna (@bikesandbabies) June 26, 2016

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 is my city. Almost as many languages as there were families. All of them fabulous. pic.twitter.com/TcwmIPQykx

— Ruth-Anna (@bikesandbabies) June 26, 2016

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

#space4holdinghandswithDad pic.twitter.com/mPfzzF48rN

— Ruth-Anna (@bikesandbabies) June 26, 2016

A close second is this guy roller skiing…

Awesome things we saw today: this man ski-ing on roller skis along Embankment pic.twitter.com/kTvhwSfQEC

— Ruth-Anna (@bikesandbabies) June 26, 2016

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.