On Sunday 22 September, over 200 Brighton & Hove children, parents and friends came together on bikes to call for better streets for cycling, as part of the global, biannual Kidical Mass campaign. The family-friendly protest on World Car Free Day aims to make the city a safer, more enjoyable place for everyone to ride.
“This was our third Kidical Mass event, with many families showing up again to say that our city is not yet safe enough to cycle. We need more action from the Council, such as committing to build protected bike lanes along Lewes Road past the Level, or extending the existing seafront lane – which currently terminates at Hove Lawns – to the new skatepark”, said Anna Bourne from Bricycles, one of the Kidical Mass organisers.
Samer Bagaeen, Independent councillor for Westdene & Hove Park Ward said: “Council and communities should together lead on creating car-free spaces. Together, listening, they can deliver meaningful change. We do not want just one day of celebration and then a return to business as usual.”
The four feeder rides across the city (Black Rock, The Level, Hove Park and Wish Park) were greeted at the Peace Statue by Drum & Blaze samba band, to get them on their way. The ride then looped around the city, finishing at Blazing Saddles bike dance show in front of St Peter’s church.
Dozens of volunteer marshalls guided riders young and old through the city streets.
Nick Sayers, local artist and bike ride promoter, said: “It’s been fantastic to see how popular the new Hove seafront bike, skate and scooter park is with children. But to get there families have to cycle along a bike lane painted on the pavement. The Council needs to commit to extending the protected bicycle lane all along the seafront road.”
Addressing the crowd at the Peace Statue, Duncan Blinkhorn from Brighton Bike Hub said “This city has some excellent cycle lanes, but we desperately need them to be more joined up. I’m sure we are all looking forward to work finally starting on developing the route from Valley Gardens to the sea, which will enable families to safely access the seafront by bike.”
He also invited participants to express support for Red Routes (strict no-stopping zones for motor vehicles) along Lewes and London Roads, which, he said, have made them much safer for people to cycle.
Kidical Mass Brighton & Hove is organised by local campaign groups Bricycles, Brighton Bike Hub, Brighton Multicultural Women’s Cycle Club (The BMWs), Clean Air for Brighton & Hove, Brighton Active Travel and Old Shoreham Road (OSR) Bike Train, with funding from Cycling UK as part of the Big Bike Revival.
The next Kidical Mass ride will be in April 2025. Follow or join Bricycles to keep updated on their campaigns, and help make Brighton & Hove better for everyone!
