Pedal on Parliament 2018 leaves The Meadows Photo: Iona Shepherd

The seventh Pedal on Parliament in 2019 went national again with mass protests in three major cities – Edinburgh, Inverness and Aberdeen. Billed as The People’s PoP, politicians were invited to listen, rather than speak.

A People’s PoP!

8-year-old Charlotte Brennan speaks at Pedal on Parliament 2018    Photo: Iona Shepherd

And listen they did – to people including 8 year old Charlotte, writer and broadcaster Lesley Riddoch, student activist Lizzie, and Steven from Bikes for Refugees Scotland. Edinburgh’s protest was joined by world record breaking cyclist Mark Beaumont (who had been with us at the very first POP), visually impaired Talking Tandems riders, folk using Cycling Without Age trishaws and thousands of others.

Seventh safer cycling protest rides to success

Children at Pedal on Parliament 2018 (c) Iona Shepherd

In Aberdeen, 100s of people cycled to the Town Hall then assembled for speeches and music in Provost Skene House Square.

Aberdeen Protest Ride 2018       Photo: Rachel Martin

Guest post: Pedal on Parliament 2018, Aberdeen by Rachel Martin

And Inverness held their second PoP protest, with hundreds cycling around the River Ness to the Highland Council HQ. There the crowd was addressed by politicians representing all levels of government who put party political differences to one side to call for continued investment in active travel.

Cyclists gather at PoP Inverness 2018 Photo: Mark Falco

#PoPInverness – a great sight and sound!