Blackfriars Bridge flash ride will reflect cyclists' anger

It is being dubbed the Battle for Blackfriars and the call to arms – or at least bikes – has gone out across London.

The capital’s cyclists are being summoned to a flash ride tomorrow evening at 6pm on Blackfriars Bridge to protest the failure by Transport for London to alter its designs for what has been condemned by cycling advocates as a dangerous junction on the bridge's north side.

Protesters will also call for the current 20mph speed limit on the bridge to be retained.

Work on the road layout is being carried out as part of a £550 million, three year upgrade to Blackfriars station which is due to reopen later this year and the flash ride has been called as heavy equipment is moved into place to begin work at the junction over the weekend.

A number of groups including Critical Mass, the London Cycling Campaign, the Cycling Embassy of Great Britain plus politicians and sundry bloggers, tweeters and interested parties are urging cyclists to attend the ride to demonstrate a united front against a failure by Transport for London to adequately address their concerns.

Mike Cavenett of the London Cycling Campaign told road.cc: “People are really angry and dissatisfied with what’s happening. There appeared to be a consensus whereby the London Assembly members and even the Mayor himself agreed that there was a problem at Blackfriars but now it’s been announced that the works are going ahead.

“To show our anger we’re going to get as many cyclists as possible to ride across the bridge. It’s a symbolic gesture we’re not planning to disrupt the work but we do want to show politicians that there is a lot of anger out there.”

Riders are being asked to congregate at the Doggett's pub on the south side of the bridge shortly before 6pm tomorrow, July 29. The plan is for protesters to link up with a scheduled Critical Mass ride which is due to begin at Waterloo also at 6pm.