Can you believe it? Our little campaign has now been running for five whole years!
In that time, we’ve racked up some impressive achievements, and 2023 was no exception.
In February, we launched our petition to get the speed limit between Bridgwater and Westonzoyland reduced from 60 to 40 mph. Of all the routes in and out of Bridgwater, the A372 is the only one that’s subject to the historic 60 mph national limit, and yet it’s the most narrow and winding of all of them — and the most dangerous. This outlier has been the scene of many a tragic collision over the years, and it makes cycling an absolute no-no for all but the bravest. If we want people to be able to access the town from the surrounding villages, we need to address issues like this.
Our petition gained over 1,000 signatures, and we were over the moon when Cllr Mike Rigby announced that the measures would go ahead! He joined us at our Active Travel Day and delivered the news in person.
In May, we organised Bridgwater’s first ever Kidical Mass. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll know by now that Kidical Mass is a global movement calling for safer streets so children can make their way to school, to their friends’ houses, or simply to play out. And it’s not just for kids – we all need safer places to walk and cycle.
Coinciding with the Coronation and the Kidical Mass Global Action Days, our inaugural event was a huge success – families turned out with their bikes adorned with flags and balloons, we played music and rang our bells as we took over the streets. Drivers and bystanders smiled and waved back at us, and the atmosphere was simply amazing!
But we didn’t stop there! We went on to run another one in September, with an equally impressive turnout. And this time we made the front page of the local press! You can bet we’ll be back with more of these in 2024, so watch this space…
Our second May event was the Active Travel Day, held at the Town Hall. This was the second annual open day, where people can drop in to discuss with us and find out more about what’s happening to support walking, wheeling and cycling in the local area.
Finally this year, we commissioned a survey of attitudes towards cycling in Bridgwater. This important piece of work gave us real insight into the challenges and obstacles facing those of you who would like to cycle more but currently don’t, and it will guide us in our interactions with the local authorities and political leaders.
All of these events and activities are helping push Bridgwater towards a healthier and more sustainable future – one in which our children can play freely in the streets, people can access local services and facilities without having to get in the car every time, and noise and air pollution are drastically reduced. Not to mention fighting climate change!
Thanks to all of you who’ve supported us along the way, whether you’re a seasoned follower or you’ve joined us recently. We really couldn’t do it without your backing.
Alongside the bigger accomplishments, we’ve also been doing our ‘business as usual’ – leading people out on rides, liaising with local leaders, monitoring development plans…
What can you do to help us?
If you like what we do, there’s a lot you can do to help, even if you’re short on time and money.
Like, follow, share…
Simply tell your friends and family about us. The more people know why cycling matters to the future of Bridgwater, the more likely our leaders will be to build the town we want to see.
Simply spreading the word is so vital. Each time you see our posts, please like, comment and share freely!
And of course, good old-fashioned word of mouth still works wonders!
If you want to get a bit more involved, we can always use another pair of hands, so whatever your particular skills, we’ll find a way to make use of them. Just get in touch for an informal chat about how