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‘We want to have a cycling city’: Month two of Aberdeen cycling campaign picks up the pace

Around 50 cyclists turned up for the second ever Aberdeen Critical Mass cycling event. Image: Kieran Beattie.
Around 50 cyclists turned up for the second ever Aberdeen Critical Mass cycling event. Image: Kieran Beattie.

Around 50 people turned out tonight for the second month of a new ongoing campaign for improved cycling in Aberdeen.

The Aberdeen Critical Mass event invited people from all across the Granite City to get on their bikes and ride through town this evening as part of a “celebration of cycling”.

All sorts of cyclists turned out, fully equipped with lights to pedal through the darkened October streets.

It was a larger turn-out than the first Critical Mass event in Aberdeen, which took place on September 30.

The critical mass from September 30. Image: Denny Andonova.

The idea behind the grassroots initiative is to have a mass ride-out on the last Friday of every month to promote cycling as a means of transport, and highlight the desire from bicycle riders in Aberdeen for better support and infrastructure.

‘At the moment, Aberdeen isn’t fit for purpose for cycling’

One of those taking part in this evening’s event was Rachel Martin, campaigns secretary of the Aberdeen Cycle Forum.

As it’s Halloween weekend, she dressed up as the main character from the classic Spielberg movie E.T, complete with a cuddly toy of the alien in her bicycle basket.

Rachel Martin of the Aberdeen Cycle Forum, alongside E.T the Extra-terrestrial in her bike basket. Image: Chris Sumner

“If only it was the real E.T”, she joked, “And he could take us up and above the traffic, that would be nice”.

Rachel said she was happy to see how many people turned out to the Critical Mass event tonight, and highlighted the number of children present too.

She said: “A lot of people who missed last month’s event said they really wanted to come, so if it’s taking place regularly every month at the same time, then more people will be able to attend.

“In a broad sense, it’s a celebration of cycling.

The cyclists started gathering from around 5.45pm, and departed shortly after 6pm. Image: Chris Sumner.

“It’s a way to say we are people who cycle in the city, we want infrastructure to get around, and this is what it looks like when you’ve got mas cycling.

“At the moment, Aberdeen isn’t fit for purpose for a lot of cycling, and we want to make it fit for purpose.

“We want to have a cycling city.”

Why is it called Critical Mass?

Critical Mass cycles have been taking place in cities all across the world for years, with one of the first held in San Francisco in 1992.

The events are aimed at spotlighting the number of people in an area who would want to use their bikes where they live, but are potentially concerned about safety issues and poor infrastructure.

They involve hundreds of cyclists taking to the streets at once.

Similar schemes run in Inverness, Glasgow and Edinburgh, usually once a month.

What is the route?

The cyclists for the Aberdeen Critical Mass started their journey at just after 6pm on Broad Street.

The route they followed is designed to avoid major roundabouts and any right-handed turns where cyclists cross over traffic flows.

Here is a map of the route:

And here is a first person video cycle-through of the route:

See also:

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