Tunnels and Bridges, Oh My!
Reading Cycle Festival is an event we will always be happy to have in our calendar. It’s full of people who agree with Kidical Mass Reading’s aims – to campaign for better cycling infrastructure, build friendships between cyclists and to have fun on bikes.
It was also full of people who were keen to go for a Kidical Mass ride and we had our biggest ride yet with around 90 riders taking to the cycle paths and streets to, well, campaign for better cycling infrastructure, build friendships between cyclists and have fun on bikes.
It’s been an exciting time for cycling infrastructure in and around the town centre, with both the rebuild of the bridge on Kings Meadow and the reopening of the (newly bike-friendly) station underpass scheduled for the week or two before the Cycle Festival. Yes, of course we planned a route that used both of these.
We were so excited to finally be able to take a Kidical Mass ride through the station tunnel. The tunnel creates a much needed centrally located crossing of the railway that is suitable for young or less confident cyclists (Vastern Road and Forbury roundabout are not for the faint of heart, unless you routinely travel with a team of marshals).
I’m so delighted that the Council are taking action on some of the unnavigable pinch points as well as building longer cycle lanes (e.g. on Shinfield Road). Both are needed.
We arrived back over Christchurch bridge to the festival, where our boys had the opportunity to try out the ramps brought by Avanti (which they loved), watch the stunt cycling (which they loved) and socialise with their cycling friends (who they love). As ever, a big thank you to the marshals who make our rides possible, many of whom are RCC members.
Hilary Smart
