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Ride

February 2024 Wokingham ride

We had a rather low turnout of ~20 for our ride in Wokingham today β€” maybe because of the yellow warning of rain, issued just before. 🌧️⚠️
In the end, we didn’t have any rain, and this just meant we had more cake at the end. We have photos to prove it! 🍰🍰

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Next rides

Our next rides

Save the dates for our next Kidical Mass events, in Reading and Wokingham. No need to book: just turn up and enjoy a safe, family-friendly, joyful ride with us.

Sat 20th April, 2pm

Rides for the Safe Streets Now action day:

Sat 18th May, 12pm in Reading

Ride in the Reading Campus, for the University of Reading community festival.
Location and time to be announced.

Sun 23rd June, 10am in Wokingham

Ride for the Wokingham Bikeathon, from Cantley Park

Sun 7th July, 2pm in Reading

Summer ride β˜€οΈ β€” start from the Palmer Park

Sat 10th August, 2pm in Wokingham

Circular ride from Elms Fields Playground.

Sun 8 Sep, 12pm in Reading

Circular ride from the Reading Cycling Festival in Christchurch Meadows

Sun 20th October, 2pm, Halloween rides πŸŽƒ
Sun 1st December, 2pm in Reading

Christmas ride πŸŽ… β€” circular ride from the Thames Lido

Sun 15th December, 2pm in Wokingham

Christmas ride πŸŽ… β€” circular ride from Elms Fields Playground.

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Ride

February 2024 ride

Slightly wet ride today, with about 35 people, and a new route that brought us on Blake’s Wharf through Filbert Street, which many of us discovered today! Hot chocolate was de rigueur at the end.

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Ride

January 2024 ride

We had a lovely, sunny ride away from traffic today, on the campus of the University of Reading, enjoyed by 50 people. We also had our Annual General Meeting there, but there will be more on that later.
Check the pictures!

Also, for the people asking: the hot chocolate at the end of the ride was Twinings Swiss, and it is indeed very nice β˜•

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People

The people behind KM β€” Jeroen

What is your current family bike setup?

We are a family of three: two parents and a 9 year old.Β  We have a fairly basic bike setup: boring hybrid bikes for mum and dad and a much cooler mountain bike for our beloved son. To transport groceries and other items we use low-cost, low-tech solutions such as panniers or a crate tied to a bike rack. To transport heavier or larger objects I have a flatbed trailer.

When our son was smaller we shared a bike, using various versions of Yepp bike seats. At first he was seated at the front of the bike, on the stem of the handlebars, then moving to the rear before graduating to his own balance bike (his first bike was an actual BMW convertible, btw).

How does cycling fit into your life?

Cycling has always been my primary mode of transport, in all of the 6 different countries I’ve lived in. We’ve never owned a car and so many beautiful moments in my life are inextricably linked with cycling. Cycling to Sydney’s scenic Bronte beach or Copenhagen’s fantastic indoor and outdoor playgrounds with my son are some of my most precious memories.

I really loved to have my child on my bike with me, either happily chatting about all kinds of things we’d see along the way, or him quietly dozing off with his head resting against my back after a busy day out. I’m very grateful for these wonderful moments that we wouldn’t have had if we’d have been in a car.

Why did you get involved in Kidical Mass?

If you had told me ten years ago that I would get into cycle campaigning, I probably would not have believed you.

Growing up up in Flanders, cycling was such a normal part of every day life that I never gave it much thought. Where I grew up, no family was considered to be a “cycling family”, every family cycled! As a child, I could visit friends and explore my neighbourhood by bike. My bicycle was a very important part in the development of my sense of independence.

Many years later we moved to the UK and even though I’m a very experienced cyclist, I still vividly remember how anxious I was the first time cycling on UK roads. Nevertheless, we still cycle nearly everywhere as a family for many reasons. It keeps us fit, it’s sustainable, and we don’t put others at risk, or pollute the air.

Here, my child isn’t free to cycle independently at all, though. Because of the dangerous UK roads, I constantly need to supervise him. I got involved in Kidical Mass because I want him to have the same freedom I had. I want him to have safe public spaces to explore. I want him to have clean air to breathe and a liveable future climate.

What is your role in Kidical Mass?

I only participated in my first Kidical Mass ride less than a year ago, so I’m a newcomer to the team. I’ve marshalled a few rides, I’m working with other organisers to obtain funding to support Kidical Mass and I’ve helped to spread the word about Kidical Mass by distributing leaflets.

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Ride

December 2023 ride

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Annual General Meeting

A Kidical-Christ-Mass booklet

Here is the booklet that Santa offered to the kids – and a few adults too – during the last ride he shared with us!

We’d also like to announce our first Annual General Meeting, which will happen after our January ride, in Reading, on Sun, 14 Jan 2024 at 15:30 in Park House on the campus. You’re welcome to join us, in which case please book here on Eventbrite so we have an idea of the attendance.

Our next ride is on Sat 16th December, at 2pm in Wokingham. See you there!

Categories
Ride

November 2023 Ride

Amazing attendance today, despite the weather being both wet and cold! But we had a very special guest πŸŽ…

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People

The people behind KM β€” Rodrigo

What is your current family bike setup?

I currently own a second-hand bike that my partner got for me from Reading Bike Kitchen, and I must admit, I absolutely love it. There’s also the added benefit that I can leave it in Central Reading without constantly worrying about it getting stolen.😊

How does cycling fit into your life?

Cycling has recently become a significant part of my life. Although I used to cycle as a kid and teenager, the allure of four-wheeled vehicles took over once I got my driver’s license. However, rediscovering the joy of cycling happened when I started dating my current partner. Initially, it was just casual rides around Reading and its surroundings, but now, it has transformed into my preferred mode for short distances. Whether it’s meeting friends in town or commuting to work (especially on rain-free days), cycling has seamlessly integrated itself into my lifestyle.

Why did you get involved in Kidical Mass?

My journey with Kidical Mass began when my partner invited me to join a ride in Inverness. The experience was intimidating at first, cycling on an A road before joining the rest of the ride in the city centre. However, this initial challenge piqued my interest. Upon returning to Reading, I participated in the first Kidical Mass ride here. It turned out to be not just fun, but also an eye-opener. These rides helped me discover new routes in Reading, boosting my confidence to cycle on roads and encouraging me to incorporate biking into my daily activities.

What is your role in Kidical Mass?

Initially, I assisted as a marshal, ensuring the safety of the riders. I still take on this role when the need arises. Now, I actively participate in the rides because they’re enjoyable and enriching experiences. I also collaborate with other organisers to secure funding that can sustain and expand this initiative. Being part of Kidical Mass has not only enhanced my biking skills but also ignited a passion for promoting cycling within the community.

Categories
Ride

Light up the Night!

A lot of women stop cycling when the days get shorter, because they don’t feel safe. To raise awareness for infrastructure that are well lit, we had a very joyful “Light up the Night” ride on Friday evening. Nearly 40 of us, all decorated with colourful lights, rode in town, from the Lido to the Fisherman’s Cottage.

At one point, an ambulance came past the group, after it got stuck behind cars. We were able to quickly and safely go into single file, ensuring it could reach whoever needed help as quickly as possible. And that’s yet another way cycling saves life!

Oh, and we got some mentions in the BBC too: read about us here https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-67389970

Or watch this short clip, which includes a powerful statement from our very own Kat: