Cycling campaigners raise money for Reading demo
An online petition has smashed its target
Last updated 5th Sep 2024
Campaigners - calling for safer cycling routes for children - have smashed their crowdfunding target.
They were trying to raise just over £2,500 to get insurance so they could hold more protest events nationwide - like the one planned in Reading this weekend.
Kat Heath, from Reading, started the online appeal so every 'Kidical Mass' event nationwide would be covered, saying: "It highlights that so many towns don't have safe routes for kids to travel along.
"One of the hardest things from all the Kidical Mass events that I've been involved in is just finding a route that you can take kids on."
She says the events aim to remind planners that cycling infrastructure should be at the heart of new housing estates and transport plans, adding: "Councils don't always think about that - or planners don't. We're raising awareness of design thinking with children in mind - but it's not just children, it's also other vulnerable road users."
Serious
in reply a spokesperson for Reading Borough Council said:
"The Council shares many of the aims of Kidical Mass and applaud the work they do in providing children, young people and families opportunities to join fun and free led mass cycles, which in turn may give them greater confidence to travel by bicycle around Reading. Earlier this year the Council awarded Kidical Mass Reading a grant to help continue with its work, including to provide bike lights, bells and reflector kits to distribute to improve the safety of cyclists in Reading. The Council is also grateful for the input it receives from members of Kidical Mass on its transport and cycling projects through the various forums, working groups and consultations we run.
"The Kidical Mass bike ride on Sunday is taking place as part of the Reading Cycle Festival, a celebration of all things cycling, of which the Council is a sponsor. The event, in Christchurch Meadow from 11am-4pm, will include a ride through the Reading Station underpass organised by Kidical Mass, which was recently upgraded by the Council and is now officially open to cyclists for the first time.
"The Council is serious about encouraging cycling in Reading by improving the infrastructure for cyclists and providing free bike training and maintenance workshops, but we also have a responsibility to balance the needs of all users of the town’s busy road network."
The crowdfunder can be found here
The next Kidical Mass ride in Reading is on Sunday, September 8