As part of the global Kidical Mass movement, this event combined a family-friendly cycle ride with a protest, calling for safe streets for everyone. The ride started at the Market Place and finished at Hillworth Park. Cheered on by shoppers and pedestrians, we saw children and parents loving the unusual freedom of cycling in town without fear. This all brightened up an otherwise dull day.….
This ride was organised to coincide with the launch of ‘Street Tag,’ a Wiltshire council initiative to encourage everyone to lead healthier lives by promoting active travel. This is a shared vision of Cycle Friendly Devizes to highlight the urgent need for safer cycling routes in Devizes so that everyone has the opportunity to choose active travel.
Catherine Read, who is the organiser, is also an environmental campaigner with Cycle Friendly Devizes. She said, “Parents are telling me that they want their children to cycle around town and to school, but they worry about the safety of their children with the amount of traffic and close passing. Parents want their children to walk and cycle safely outside and to school, but with the dramatic increase in vehicles and no safe segregated cycle lanes, that’s not currently an option in Devizes.”
“We can improve the situation. Devizes has a local cycling and walking plan, and there are identified routes within the plan that, if actioned, would provide safer cycling for children that parents are calling out for.”
Susan Hayward, who was leading the ride, said, “Every child has a right to feel safe in the town where they live. They should be able to play and ride in their streets, just like we all did when we were young, many years ago. Our Kidical Mass ride today demonstrates that people want to choose the healthy option of cycling in Devizes. It also gives a voice to children and families calling for Devizes to prioritize people over motor vehicles.”
Kidical Mass Devizes calls on our town and county councillors to show bold leadership by supporting safer cycling and making it a priority to protect children. Please turn this vision of streets for people into a reality.
You can find Cycle Friendly Devizes on Facebook and Twitter.
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