‘Kidical’ mass ride promotes cycling safety in Carlington

A large group of cyclists came together in Ottawa Saturday to highlight the importance of road safety for cyclists and drivers. CTV’s Camille Wilson reports.

A mass bike ride was held Saturday morning in Ottawa’s Carlington neighbourhood to promote safer streets for kids.

The gathering brought together families and community members who want to see streets that allow kids to walk, bike and scooter to get around the city. The “Kidical Mass Ottawa Bike Ride” started at Meadowvale Terrace Park and took riders through the community and the Experimental Farm.

“As more kids want to be able to get around independently and sustainably, we need to have space so safe for them to be able to do so,” said Cassie Smith, vice president of the advocacy group Bike Ottawa.

The family-friendly event hosted by the Queer Bike Club of Ottawa welcomed everyone of all ages, abilities and skill levels.

“Coming to an event like this is great because we get to meet with other families who are all about the same thing, which is safe streets for our kids,” said Caitlin Davis, who attended the bike ride.

Many came together from across the province to promote safe cycling. Andrea Bidgod travelled from Guelph for the ride.

“I saw that Kidical Mass was meeting in our old neighborhood. We used to live two streets over and I just thought it was perfect,” says Bidgod,

 “I really enjoy that we are listening to families and children, especially for what they need to feel safe on the roads. Not only to give children their own agency and freedom to travel, but giving families that option as well to get where they need to go safely.”

Kidical Mass is an international movement inspired by ‘critical mass’ to emphasize the biking community’s call to celebrate the joy of biking, while asking cities to make streets safe for kids and the public.

“I think it’s important to be able to meet people who share the same values as you and for young people. The more we expose them to different ways of getting around the city at the youngest age, the more it breeds future behaviors,” said College Ward Coun. Laine Johnson.

“I just think we need to celebrate other ways of moving around the city and take up some of the space. That’s why I wanted to bring my kids today.”

Chris Hircock says he’s attended almost every ride with his daughter since the first event in the fall of 2023.

“This is about celebrating the joy of riding a bike and having freedom of mobility for older kids like Adele. It’s about independence of being able to make those trips without always having to rely on mom and dad for a ride in the car and to do that, we need those safe places to ride,” says Hircock,

“It’s about making it comfortable, safe and convenient to ride our bikes and walk the places we need to go.”

About four to five rides take place every year with this being the third one of the season.

The day included a chance to decorate bikes, dance, chalk and blow bubbles before the ride. Once the ride was complete, people were encouraged to bring snacks or picnics while listening to a storyteller.

“It’s really about having a joyful time on your bike and enjoying how that can bring community together,” says Smith.

For some the ride was also about creating some nostalgia.

“These are the bikes that I rode as a kid from the 1980s - BMX bikes. As an adult, I still ride mine around and I’ve shared this passion with my son,” said Jeff Dudka.

“I bought this before he was even here, and I knew someday my son would ride this bike and this is his first summer on it, so it’s pretty special being able to ride with my son like this.”

The event comes on the same day a woman in her 70s was killed while riding a bike near Manotick on Saturday.

A pair of nine-year-old’s were struck while riding bicycles in separate incidents in Stittsville and Barrhaven earlier this week. Both suffered non-life threatening injuries.

The organizers are asking the City of Ottawa for wide and separate bike lanes that provide access to children’s destinations like schools, libraries, parks and community centres. They are also seeking reduced speed limits on residential streets.

The next ‘big ride’ will be in September.

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