Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

Back to news
news
Campaigning
Leisure
Transport
Kidical Massive: global bike ride for...you guessed itKidical Massive London

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

Hundreds turn out across the world for family-friendly ride to show "kids are traffic too"...
by Laura Laker
Sun, Sep 20, 2015 17:24
4

What could be the world's biggest international family bike ride, Kidical Massive, saw hundreds of families taking to the streets and parks yesterday to highlight that kids are traffic, too.

This year's event, on September 19, was the first international event, with events from Alaska to Lichfield, with five of the nine international rides (outside the US) happening in the UK.

The event started as Kidical Mass in Eugene, Oregon, in April 2008, and later spread across America. The idea is there is safety in numbers, making a safe space for families to get out on bikes together. 

Ruth-Anna MacQueen, one of the organisers of London's Kidical Mass, said the event was such a success they are already planning next year's event.

She said: "We had a fantastic time and the kids loved it. Almost 100 people turned up, and the sun shone. Children ages 4 and up on their own bikes, trailers, tagalongs, front seats, back seats and possibly the largest collection of cargobikes London has seen!

"After refreshments kindly provided by London Green Cycles, we rode around the Outer Circle of Regent's Park and finished by spotting some camels at London Zoo. Then we had a picnic, and the parents and kids has a great time trying each others' bikes! It was such a success, we are already planning the next event.

In Manchester some rather over the top barriers on a cycling and walking path were opened for the 1.5 mile event along the Fallowfield Loop.

The Seattle ride had "221 kids and their adults".

In Washington DC

In Los Angeles...

And as Kidical Massive was on the same day as that well-loved institution of over-the-top accents and eye patches, International Talk like a Pirate day, Piratical themes emerged in Dumfries, Boulder (Colorado), and Santa Monica.

Kidical Mass
global cycling network
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.

Add new comment

4 comments

Avatar
farrell | 9 years ago
0 likes

Actually, having a quick nosey on the Facebook page it appears that there is talk of a Halloween ride.

Avatar
farrell | 9 years ago
0 likes

Disappointed to have missed this in Manchester, I'm hoping there will be another one soon, although I'd imagine the British weather may well see it pushed back deep in to next year.

Avatar
LondonDynaslow | 9 years ago
0 likes

I did this. It was brilliant. The reaction from other Park users was "mixed". There was a little impatience from some people driving their motor vehicles AROUND A PARK and quite a lot of cheers and other encouragement from people on foot. Some of the latter group even stepped back from the pedestrian crossing and waved us through 16

Well done to the organisers and thanks to London cabbies for deciding that this particular PELOTON OF MARAUDING LYCR .. ER .. ROAD TAX DODGING HIPPIES was not a suitable one for driving into.

Avatar
Paul_C | 9 years ago
0 likes

and those over the top barriers went back in place the next day to stop anyone daring to cycle on the track...

Latest Comments