Why are you doing the Cycle Sunday events?
The first event showed very clearly that there is a huge demand for traffic-free family cycling in North Bristol. The Downs is the perfect location with its 400 acres of flat parkland. Given that Bristol is the European Green Capital and a Cycling City, we feel that we have some leverage with regards to the Downs Committee.
Now that the events are under way, the next step will be to campaign for a cycle path around the Downs that can be enjoyed at any time of the day and any day of the week!
Why has it been so difficult to get permission for Cycle Sunday? Doesn’t Bristol City Council support cycling?
We can categorically say that we have had masses of support from Bristol City Council, including the Mayor, councillors and a number of council staff. However, the Downs Committee controls what happens on the Downs. It is described as an “outside body” because half of its members are Merchant Venturers.
We do have a number of supporters on the Downs Committee who have been very strong and effective advocates for us. However, there are also members who have blocked cycling on the Downs for many, many years.
Why don’t you close Ladies Mile and other roads?
If we applied to close Ladies Mile, we would also need to close Stoke Road in order to make a loop. Closing these two roads would lead to traffic build up in the surrounding roads. It would also make the event much, much larger for us to manage safely in terms of stewarding and first aid.
We hope that either Bristol City Council or a cycling organisation will take on the idea and run a cycling festival on the Downs in future years.
Why is Cycle Sunday in the morning?
It is really hard to put in a road closure once there are lots of cars parked on it. By closing Circular Road at dawn, we know it is clear. We can’t justify keeping it closed for long without anything happening on it.
It is really quiet on the surrounding roads as well on a Sunday morning making it a better time for lots of families to be out on their bikes.
Can you have food and drink stalls at the next Cycle Sunday?
We currently have plans for a coffee trike to be at Cycle Sunday 2016 which will ensure a caffeine fix for those who require it on a Sunday morning.
We hope that folk will bring their own food and drinks and/or stop at places like Café Retreat (by the water tower). The ice cream vans will be up at the Downs as usual, and we will remind them again to arrive a little earlier than usual.