Brighton Kidical Mass!

What a great day for the Brighton Kidical Mass! Sunshine, warmth, seaside, kids of all ages with their parents and friends, all cycling through Brighton in an exotic assemblage - a kaleidoscope - of cycles and other light pedal-powered vehicles. This is  a relatively new event, having started in 2023, and joins many sporty and family friendly annual gatherings that parade along the seafront - coming up next Saturday, for example, is the Brighton Festival Children’s Parade.

Kidical Mass is an international movement inspired by Critical Mass (which itself first emerged in San Francisco in 1992), aiming to create safer streets for children and families to cycle. The Brighton Kidical Mass began its local chapter with a first major ride in September 2023, attracting over 300 participants. The events are organised by Brighton Bike Hub, Bricycles and OSR Bike Train, with support from other local cycling groups and funding from Cycling UK’s Big Bike Revival. The rides are fully marshalled, free to join, and open to all ages, with a special focus on enabling children and families to cycle safely on city streets..

The event today featured ‘feeder rides’ starting from various parks and locations across Brighton & Hove (Wish Park, Hove Park, The Level, Black Rock and Preston Park). After congregating at the Peace Statue in Hove, they all rode together in a loop around town before finishing again at the Peace Statue. Participants were encouraged to decorate their bikes, dress up, and bring noise-makers, to create ‘a festive and inclusive atmosphere’. 

It certainly was just that when they passed me and my camera on Grand Junction Parade, opposite the Doughnut Groyne.

After last April’s ride (2024), Brighton and Hove News reported that it was ‘by far the biggest Kidical Mass ride we’ve yet seen’; and the article noted that local councillors and prospective MPs from the Labour and Green parties had taken part in the ride.