Bridgwater’s first ever Kidical Mass took place yesterday, and what an event it was! There were over 50 participants, plus a dozen or so marshals, and every single one of us came away buzzing with excitement!
We had been nervously watching the forecast in advance of the event, but on the day we were blessed with mostly dry weather. In spite of the grim forecast, it was really uplifting and inspirational to see so many families turn out for the first event of its kind in the town.
Organised alongside the Coronation Fete in Blake Gardens, riders were encouraged to dress up on a royal theme, with many taking the opportunity to decorate themselves and their bikes in red, white and blue, and other paraphernalia.
Riders of all ages were welcomed, from toddlers on balance bikes to the more… er… seasoned among us! And this is part of the reason behind the event – not only is it immensely fun for everyone taking part, but there’s a serious message for policy-makers and planners: We want safer streets for our kids, and for everyone.
In case you don’t know already, Kidical Mass is a global movement where riders of all ages take over the streets on their bikes in a colourful and fun protest to reclaim the road space. “The vision of Kidical Mass is that all children and young people can safely and independently use cycles as a mode of travel. We demand child-friendly, green places where there are many and varied open spaces for play and social interaction between all generations.“
It was such a thrill to take over the roads, from the iconic High Street to the giant Broadway. As we smiled and waved and rang our bells, bystanders were filming us on their phones and waving back, and car drivers were tooting their support!
With such a successful outcome this time, you can be sure Kidical Mass will return to Bridgwater! We want to build a legacy for future generations that includes streets and spaces that are open and friendly to everyone – especially children!
Want to know more? Here’s a selection of articles on why this movement matters:
- UK roads too dangerous for children on bikes, survey finds
- Why we need more School Streets as quickly as possible
- Kids cycling to school shouldn’t be rocket science
- Cars, dog poo, and delivery drivers: why children don’t play out any more
And if you want to get involved…
- Be the first to hear about the next one: sign up for our emails via our Contact page
- Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter
- Visit the Kidical Mass website
- Browse the Kidical Mass UK Facebook group