Roads between Hyde Park and the Thames will be closed this Saturday to host the London Cycling Campaign's 'Big Ride' — part on the ongoing campaign for Dutch-style cycling infrastructure in London.
This fully marshalled family-friendly bike ride takes place just days before the mayoral election, and the LCC are urging as many as possible to join on bike or by foot. The ride is aimed at all levels, and with a generous two hours for the 4 mile journey will be suitable for kids. You're encouraged to wear red and white and bring something to make some noise.
It's quite a coup for the LCC to have secured road closures for this event — the only chance to cycle traffic-free in London without anyone trying to give you a yellow vest emblazoned with the logo of a satellite TV network. The ride meets on Park Lane at 11am, and will pass many of London's most famous landmarks — Hyde Park Corner, Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square and Parliament Square — before ending on the Victoria Embankment at 2pm. Feeder rides will set off from all over London; check out the map here.
If it's anything like the Tour Du Danger last year, this will be great fun — giving you the opportunity to massively confuse tourists and see how weirdly quiet London will be when the oil runs out.
The super-long-range forecast — which is never right — says it's going to rain, so the weather should be good! We'll be there with bells on.
In other cycling news: the Addison Lee anger continues, with hundreds of cyclists and cabbies confirmed to attend a protest outside the firm's Euston offices tonight at 6pm. Details on the Facebook event here, and also a petition running with more than 2,600 names to demand its licence be revoked.
