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Jun 2020

Last Updated: 12/06/2020

Community

Extinction Rebellion plans cycling protest in Harrogate town centre

by Vicky Carr

| 11 Jun, 2020

A bike ride around Harrogate's central roads will aim to highlight how much easier and safer cycling has been during lockdown and call for people to consider how those benefits can be maintained.

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Extinction Rebellion's Harrogate branch is planning a bike ride in the town centre to highlight the need for change as the coronavirus lockdown eases.

The group, which only formed in Harrogate in January, says its aim is to highlight the issues facing the town, under the title No Going Back.

The bike ride will set off from Library Gardens on Station Parade at 10.30am on Sunday and complete two laps of the town centre, finishing at the war memorial. Organisers have asked participants to ride in groups of no more than six from the same household, and keep their distance from others who are not in their family group.

Anyone not able to cycle is encouraged to show their support with banners, bells and whistles, and to take photographs of the event. Organiser Vicky Wild said:

"During lockdown, an awful lot more people are cycling and walking. We don't want to go back to the way it was.

"I'm someone who goes to work and the ships on a bike. I've lost count of the number of people who say, 'I would love to do that, but I don't feel safe'.

"It's just trying to change the conversation a bit around public transport in Harrogate. Personally, I have certain routes I go on that I know are fairly safe. For some people, there are certain roads you just don't want to go on.

"When I was cycling round during the lockdown at the beginning, it was heaven - it was lovely. I went twice round the Prince of Wales roundabout just because I could, because there were no cars on it. I don't think I've ever been round it before."

With traffic already heading back towards pre-lockdown levels, the group is keen to draw people's attention to how different things have been and urge them to consider what can be done to make long-term changes.

It is also holding an online meeting tonight to discuss setting up a citizens' assembly for Harrogate. That body would be made up of members of the public, rather than political party representatives, to look at facts and make decisions about the future of the town.

The group had held one event - a stall on Cambridge Street highlighting climate change, pictured above - before the coronavirus lockdown put paid to its plans for the year. Now, members are looking at action they can take safely in the coming months. Vicky added:

"The idea of Extinction Rebellion is things should be fun and inclusive and family-friendly. We're trying to do things that won't alienate people but will get people on board and asking questions."

Full details about the citizen's assembly meeting and the bike ride can be found on the Extinction Rebellion Harrogate Facebook page.