We Pedalled on COP to take our climate message to the world

Over a thousand cyclists converged on Glasgow for the Global Day of Action on Climate Justice, as Pedal on COP and our ‘This Machine Fights Climate Change’ slogan went global! Thank you to everyone who helped organise, spread the word, and — most importantly — turned up on the day to join us.

Marchers with bicycles fill the street — The Cycling and Sustainable Transport bloc at the Global Day of Action in Glasgow, Nov 6th. Photo (c) Andy Catlin.

Twenty-one different feeder rides defied headwinds and sheeting rain to deliver cyclists from as far afield as Aberdeen, Inverness and Dumfries, and from all corners of Glasgow. The numbers turning out for almost every ride defied organisers’ expectations, with Kelvin Way filling with bikes of all shapes and sizes as we assembled ready for the march. This was a day that was too important for people to be put off by a little inclement weather.

Small boy leading a group of cyclists up the Bears Way — Little legs can make a big difference: the East Dunbarton feeder ride is led by one of our youngest participants. Photo: David Brennan

World leaders at the summit may be ignoring the role of cycling and sustainable transport in fighting climate change but, as we joined the biggest demonstration this century on the streets of Glasgow, we sent a message that was surely too loud to be ignored: these machines fight climate change!

This film explains what’s at stake.

Who are we?

Pedal on Parliament is a grassroots volunteer-led campaign pushing for better, safer and more inclusive cycling conditions for everyone of all ages and abilities in Scotland. We run an annual nationwide weekend of action aimed at policy makers, asking for better investment, design and policy for sustainable transport.
Our manifesto asks politicians to agree to:

Proper funding for active travel – starting at 10% of the transport budget and rising to 20% by the end of the parliamentary term.
Design cycling for all ages and abilities into Scotland’s roads.
Implement and enforce safer speeds where people live, work and play.

“The measure of a good city is one where a child on a tricycle or bicycle can safely go anywhere. If a city is good for children, it will be good for everybody else.”
Enrique Peñalosa

Pedal on Parliament: That's Mr Beaumont to you — The first PoP in 2012 © Richard Cross

Want to help? Find out how to get involved. Or you can support us financially – we are funded entirely through individual donations and the sale of POP t-shirts.

Our RSS feed is https://pedalonparliament.org/feed/