Safe cycling for the family this summer

By Manor Park Chronicle

A photo of two children riding in the front trailer of a bike along the canal.

We’re bicycle-loving parents with For Our Kids Ottawa-Gatineau. We want to share these exciting family-friendly events our group is organizing for Ottawa residents starting this spring and into fall!

Kidical Mass Rides

First is a series of joyful family-friendly group bike rides (a.k.a. bike parades!). These feature a slow-paced loop on separated paths and calm streets geared towards riders of all ages and abilities, including your youngest family members!

Dubbed Kidical Mass, these celebratory bike rides are part of an international movement inspired by ‘Critical Mass’ events. These events emphasized the number of people who want to ride bikes for transportation but need infrastructure improvements to make it safe.

Kidical Mass expands on that idea with a focus on children and families. We believe children should be able to travel safely and independently to school, parks, sports, and other destinations. With climate change already impacting the lives of children, safe streets for kids also means seriously addressing the climate emergency. There are measures – both big and small – that cities like Ottawa can pursue to make this possible.

Regardless of the the message, the Kidical Mass most festive bike ride your family has ever been on! Bike decorations, stuffy friends, music, and costumes are encouraged.

Mark your calendars for this year’s Kidical Mass rides. They’re on Saturday May 11, Saturday June 22, Sunday July 21, Saturday August 24, and Saturday September 21 (the big one). Meeting locations and routes will vary and will be posted on the website and social media (https://www.facebook.com/people/Kidical-Mass-Ottawa/61550361305883/).

For every ride, meet at 9:30 a.m. Bike rides depart at 10 a.m., and will take about an hour. Check out the website to download a fun colouring page invitation!

Cargo Bikes & Movie at the Mayfair: MOTHERLOAD

Second, but equally exciting – we are thrilled to be hosting a community showing of the award-winning documentary film MOTHERLOAD as part of Let’s Bike Month. This film captures a new mother’s quest to understand the increasing isolation and disconnection of modern life, its planetary impact, and how cargo bikes could be an antidote.

Join us at the Mayfair Theatre, 1074 Bank St., on Sunday June 9. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. for the noon showtime. The event is a fundraiser for the Ottawa Community Housing Foundation Hop On Bikes program that provides bikes to young residents.

Entry tickets can be obtained at cargobike-motherload.eventbrite.com with a suggested donation of $10 per person, $5 for students and youth.
Special thanks to our partners, including John Gomes of Royal Lepage Realty, Vélofix, Physio Bike Fitter, Let’s Go Cargo, School Streets Ottawa and Bike Ottawa!

Prior to the film, from 10:30-11:30 a.m., come check out a wide variety of cargo bikes and chat with their owners about how they make family transportation by bike easy and fun. Cargo-bike loving folks will have their bikes on display.next to Hopewell Avenue Public School for an informal cargo bike “Show & Tell.” All are welcome!

This article was written by Eugenie Waters and Erin Maher.

Kidical Mass on Queen Elizabeth Drive in September 2023. Photo: Gabriel Rivett-Carnac