Bicycle rally promotes cycling (From Times Series)

Bicycle rally promotes cycling in Barnet

10:40am Wednesday 13th June 2012 in News By Emma Innes

A bicycle rally to raise awareness of the benefits of cycling took place in Finchley on Sunday.

The fifth annual Greenacre Bicycle Rally, organised by the Greenacre Project, a Finchley-based community group, started at Finchley Artsdepot in Nether Street.

It was officially started by Barnet’s mayor, Cllr Brian Schama, and the riders were accompanied by police cyclists and a St John Ambulance rider.

The 134 cyclists followed an 11 mile route which took them through North Finchley, Friern Barnet, Whetstone and Church End.

In the morning they rode through Whetstone and Finchley before stopping for lunch near Victoria Park.

In the afternoon they used the cycle-ways up to Swan Lane Open Space, Whetstone, where they were greeted with music from folk group, Spootiskerry.

The bicycle ride was organised to remind people of the benefits of cycling; that it is healthy, reduces air pollution and that it is fun.

However, it also aimed to put pressure on Barnet Council to improve its provisions for cyclists.

Mike Gee, co-coordinator of the rally, said: “If we can persuade people to leave their cars at home we will live in a better world.

“We have a good working relationship with the council and they support our rally but compared to other boroughs Barnet Council is very unhelpful when it comes to cycling.

He added: “It makes people happy to see bikes. It is a viable form of transport and we need to get people on their bikes.”