“Give us space,” say 5,000 protesting cyclists

As MPs debated how to ‘Get Britain Cycling’, 5,000 cyclists from London and further afield pedalled on Parliament to demand – in the words of the hashtag – #space4cycling.

The ride, organised by the London Cycling Campaign, was designed to show a critical mass of support for improving cycling facilities in the capital. Foremost in the riders’ minds were the all-too-frequent recent deaths in London. One of the participants was Debbie Dorling, widow of Brian Dorling, killed by a construction lorry while cycling on the so-called ‘Cycling Superhighway’ in Bow.

LCC summarised its two main demands:

“Main roads and major junctions need to be made safe for cycling using segregated tracks and cyclist-specific traffic lights to protect people from fast-moving and heavy motor traffic. Local streets – where people predominantly live and shop – should be transformed into spaces that are safe for cycling and walking by removing through motor traffic and reducing its speed.”