Tonight:
8°c
Kelly and Hoy join 65,000 cyclists on Mayor's Skyride
Neil Millard21.09.09
Boris Johnson was joined by cycling gold-medallist Chris Hoy and model Kelly Brook as he led more than 65,000 cyclists on a mass “Skyride” past some of the capital's most famous landmarks.
Many of the riders got into the spirit of the event, including one in an old-fashioned policeman's outfit, left, and others seemingly hoping for some wind assistance, right.
The Mayor described the event as the “climax of a summer of cycling”, in which he has launched initiatives to encourage more Londoners to cycle to work. Yesterday's nine-mile route took in Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square and the Tower of London.
Reader views (14)
Had a fun day, only fell off once and that was Scott's fault ( i was the one dressed as a clone trooper not buzz lightyear as the policeman said) Went around 3 times
Thankyou to auntie sarah letting us stay
- Oliver Clarkson Aged 6, Shropshire
What a great day! Fantastic to see so many families out enjoying cycling. If only it were like this evey day. It was peaceful, quiet (ish!), clean air, everybody smiling and chatting to each other. Certainly makes a change from the usual traffic jams, honkin horns and swearing from motorists blaming everyone but themselves for the queues they are in!
- Cyclist, london
Barry
Can you confirm if there were any fatalities or were these just minor accidents (cuts, bruises etc)? I also wonder how the accident rate for this event compares to a normal day when car, lorries and buses are on the street.
- Dc, London
in response to nolan
in Paris, EVERY sunday of the year (+bank holidays) many streets are reserved for pedestrians, joggers, rollerbladers and cyclists from 10 AM to 4/6/8 PM (depending of the area). one is a beautiful stretch along the Seine. the scheme is called paris respire (paris breathes) and you londoners should demand it for london. The impossible happened in Paris so it could happen to you. put it in as a tie-in with the arrival of your bike hire scheme next year. good luck. alternatively, if you come to paris make sure you spend the sunday here and with a 1 euro price-tag, you ll be able to rent a bike and take a stroll on les voies sur berges and enjoy the traffic-free experience (being a weekly event, the streets have no bike congestion issus, especially on a rainy day)
- Emile, paris, france
I'll be happy when cyclists in london actually remember there are other road users too. rarely do i see them waiting at lights, giving way etc. they ride dangerously, on pavements,across pedestrian crossings blowing those silly whistles.
i despise all the lycra wearing, dreadlocked/bearded insufferable bores who ride bikes.
- Kerry, Purley
It's funny how there is no mention of the accident rate during the day. As a first aider on duty at the event, it was surprisingly high; with cyclists colliding into each other, or falling off their bikes etc etc. All this considering there was no other vehicle on the road to blame. Just goes to show, some cyclists can't even ride alongside each other safely. No doubt the pro cycling lobby will be quick to remove these facts from their PR machine.
- Barry, London
In fact, if Mr Port wants to drive round london traffic light and cyclist free there's always the M25.
However, given three lanes, and a decent gap between cars he's still only get about 14,000 vehicles on it.
- Prj45, London
I demand that this sets the pattern for 'rush Hour' no cars and vans in central London between 6AM to 10AM and 4 PM to 7PM.
Cyclists should use this example to demand their rights !
- June, Surrey
An enjoyable day, although I found it too congested along the main routes between Buckingham Palace and Tower Hill. That a public cycling-event is becoming a victim of its own success is still a good thing. The streets around St. Pauls and Smithfield were virtually deserted, pointing up the need to make next year's events bigger and better and more joined up.
As for S. Port's calls for roads without traffic lights and cyclists - you've already got that 24/7/365 - they're called motorways.
- Austen, London
>Mr S.Port, London
>Great day had by all, now can we have one next year for motorists, you know clear roads, no lights, no cyclists or buses,no road works, no humps or holes. Just a thought.!!
I love to see 65,000 people in cars attempting to drive round a nine mile circuit in London (given a single occupany rate of about eight out of 10 vehicles), traffic lights or not!
By my reckoning a solid nine mile queue of cars would consist of just 3,000 of them (that's about 2000 people)!
- Prj45, London
An excellent day out for all the family, particularly enjoyed the chap on the piano bike. This is becoming a great annual event.
- David, London
How about a classic car day, no cars made since 1980 and importantly no cyclists, especially those that damage the valuable cars and speed off without stopping - you know who you are !
- Jim, City of London
What a brilliant day, great fun in a great friendly family atmosphere. It gave a real gimpse of how much better London would be without all those ugly cars clogging the roads. They should do this once a month, not once a year.
- Nolan, Londonist
Great day had by all, now can we have one next year for motorists, you know clear roads, no lights, no cyclists or buses,no road works, no humps or holes. Just a thought.!!
- Mr S.Port, London
