Kidical Mass Exeter is holding its first bike ride and picnic on Sunday 15 May as part of a global campaign for safe cycling routes for children, young people and families.
The ride will set off from Belmont Park at 11am and take a leisurely turn through the city’s streets, returning for a picnic in the park after a gentle 45-minute ride.
The two mile route has been chosen for its safety and suitability for riders of all ages, abilities and levels of experience, disabled and able-bodied alike.
It runs the length of Sidwell Street and continues along the High Street before turning into St Leonards then returning to Belmont Park. The riders will stay together as a group and proceed slowly throughout.
Everyone is welcome to join the ride whether or not they have children. Participants are invited to wear colourful clothes, pack a picnic and bring family and friends.
Exeter’s first Kidical Mass event has been put together by parents and residents with the support of Exeter Cycling Campaign and other Kidical Mass groups across the UK.
Lead organiser Vipul Patel, who also helped launch Kidical Mass in Bath last year, said: “It’s a celebration of independent, happy and healthy travel options for everyone, regardless of age, ability, ethnicity, or gender”.
The event is intended to demonstrate that besides being fun, streets that keep children and cyclists safe work for everyone.
It is designed to create a safe environment for families and friends to cycle together while highlighting the need for cycling routes that enable children and young people to travel safely and independently wherever they live.
It also aims to promote a healthier, lower carbon future in which active travel modes are the norm.
Kidical Mass in Bath, June 2021. Photo: Jamie Bellinger.
The first Kidical Mass took place in 2008 in Eugene, Oregon, and has since become a worldwide celebration of cycling with events taking place around the globe.
Sunday’s Exeter ride is part of a weekend of Kidical Mass activity in cities across Europe, where there are now more than 200 Kidical Mass groups in cities including Berlin, Paris, Brussels and Barcelona.
UK rides are planned in Bristol, Bath, London, Reading, Derby, Tyneside, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Inverness.
Events will also take place in the US, Ecuador, Peru and Uganda.
A Kidical Mass weekend event in September last year attracted 25,000 participants in more than 130 cities.
Kidical Mass Exeter is at 11am on Sunday 15 May 2022. Visit the Kidical Mass Exeter website to find out more and get involved.
