On Sunday 14th of May, families and supporters are invited to join the big family bike ride across the city centre organised by Kidical Mass Manchester.
The family-friendly ride, organised by a group of parents living across the city region, is open to all and starts at Central Library on St Peter’s Square at 11am.
The aim of the ride is to demonstrate the need for safer streets for children and asks city leaders to prioritise making Manchester streets safe for children to cycle, walk, scoot and play.
A stewarded, fun and child-paced route around the city, will take in parts of Deansgate and travel along Oxford Road complete with colour, cheer and a carnival atmosphere.
The ride will end at Whitworth Park with a get together and a ‘bring your own’ picnic for riders to celebrate the first ever Kidical Mass Manchester ride, a chance to get to know each other and share their cycling experiences.
Kidical Mass is part of a global movement and across Europe alone there are over 200 grassroots kidical mass groups organising rides this year. All see the need for changes in our cities to give children space to enjoy the freedom and safety they need and deserve.
Layla Siebert, who has helped to organise the event said:
“We’re really looking forward to people of all abilities and backgrounds joining us on our ride, to highlight the need to prioritise our children’s right to move about safely and happily in our towns and cities. We want all Manchester families to feel inspired and confident to use cycling, walking or wheeling as a main mode of transport. This will only happen if the streets are safe. We have an urgent need for fit-for-purpose cycling and wheeling infrastructure across Greater Manchester. By making our streets safe and enjoyable for kids, we will make them safe and enjoyable for all.”
Pauline Johnston, another organiser added:
“People across Manchester are frustrated at the slow pace of change to transform our local areas into better places to get about by bike, especially as it is increasingly the natural choice for so many in other global cities. We support the recent active travel strategy published by Manchester City Council and welcome focussed efforts to get more bums on bikes and more world class wheeling infrastructure here to support that.”
Supporters of the ride include MCR Bike Hire who have offered a day of free cycling on all of their family cargo bikes for participants or a week’s hire for £50.
Transport for Greater Manchester have welcomed the event and are offering a two hour free ride on the yellow #Beenetwork hire bikes that are dotted across the city.
A limited run of 40 vouchers will be available to collect in person on the morning of the ride. To register interest in either #BeeNetwork Bike Hire scheme or Family Cargo Bike hire, get in touch with Kidical Mass Mcr directly at kidicalmassmcr@gmail.com
Register to join here and check out the latest updates on twitter @KidicalMassMCR
