The Kidical Mass bike ride took place today (Sunday 21), inviting families to join in a ride around Brighton and Hove to promote the importance of cycling while calling for safer, connected cycle routes.

The ride was part of a global campaign, which saw similar rides taking place across the country.

Participants gathering at The Level, in Brighton, ahead of the ride(Image: NQ)

Due to its popularity, organisers held routes in both Brighton and Hove.

The Brighton route began at Preston Park, before travelling to The Level where more cyclists could join. The ride then continued to Stanmer Park for Apple Harvest Day.

The Hove route began at Hove Cemetery, picking up riders at Hove Park, Wish Park, and Stoneham Park, before converging at Hove Beach Park. For those wishing to continue, one big circular ride through Hove also took place.

The ride was organised by local cycling groups including Bricycles, Brighton Bike Hub, Brighton Multicultural Women’s Cycle Club, Clean Air for Brighton & Hove and Old Shoreham Road (OSR) Bike Train.

Duncan Blinkhorn, one of the organisers and part of Brighton Bike Hub, was leading the group joining from The Level.

Duncan Blinkhorn, one of the organisers and part of Brighton Bike Hub(Image: NQ)

He explained the importance of the event and its part in encouraging cycling within the community.

“We’ve been doing this twice a year, every April and September, for the last few years. It’s part of an international movement that’s about helping to get children and families on bikes, seeing them as the future and encouraging children to get in the habit of cycling which they can carry forward into adulthood.

“But it’s also to create a bit of pressure for better provision in terms of cycle routes. Brighton and Hove have some very good cycle lanes but there’s just not enough and they’re not very well joined up.

“We want to push for that, but also celebrate the fact that people want to get around by bike. It’s a positive, joyous event.”

He added: “It’s great to see Valley Gardens happening at the moment, but that’ll be another year before it’s complete. However. it’s very sad that the old Shoreham road cycle lane was taken away when there’s 6,000 children and young people going to school along that in that area.

“That was a real backward step and we really need to be stepping forward. And so what Kidical Mass does is it shows the enthusiasm that there is from children and adults to get around by bike.”

The group’s previous ride, held in April, attracted over 500 children and adults – a record-breaking amount since the start of the campaign in Brighton and Hove.

Jo and Seren Bishop were taking part in the ride(Image: NQ)

Mother and daughter, Jo and Seren Bishop, aged 16 and 43, were among riders taking part in today’s ride.

Seren said: “I don’t cycle as much as I probably should because buses are a lot quicker and with the roads in the city, it can be quite nerve-wracking.

“I know cycling to college would definitely be a lot nicer if there were nice bike routes. It’s also just quite fun to take part and be in the group of people.”

Seren celebrated work being done in the city to support cyclists.

She said: “I feel like what they’ve done down by Coldean, where they’ve got like a completely separate bike route to the road, rather than just like a bit of paint, is great. I think something like that around the city would definitely be helpful.”

Jo added: “There’s so much to see when you’re on a bike. There are places you can access on a bike that you can’t in a car.

“You can go a bit off-road and find really nice cafes, like the Undercliff cafe down by Ovingdean. It’s just nice to be able to have a bit of a different way of accessing the city.”

Phil and her children, Rafferty and Sophie had been visiting Brighton from Harpenden when they decided to take part in the event.

(Left to right) Rafferty, Phil, and Sophie were visiting Brighton when they decided to join the ride(Image: NQ)

Phil said: “We love cycling and we are in Brighton away, and a friend said this was going on.

“Cycling in Brighton has been amazing. Cycling on the front was really good, the bit from the station was a bit busy but there’s loads of really good cycle paths.”

During the route, riders displayed flags and banners on their bicycles as well as playing music and ringing their bells to passing traffic.

Brighton and Hove cabinet member for Transport and City Infrastructure, Trevor Muten, was also seen taking part in the Brighton ride.

The ride was free and open to all and is funded by Cycling UK’s Big Bike Revival.