Families enjoy Ipswich Sky Ride

Gallery: Thousands enjoy Ipswich Sky Ride

By Colin Adwent Monday, June 13, 2011
9:51 AM

AROUND 6,000 children and adults enjoyed a family day out today cycling around Suffolk’s county town during the Ipswich Sky Ride.

Mums, dads, children, and even some grandparents, took part in the six kilometre ride in one of a series of nationwide events around the country aimed at getting more than a million people cycling regularly in the UK by 2013.

Despite the changeable weather as sunshine was interspersed with spits and spots of rain, riders’ enthusiasm remained undaunted by the blustery conditions.

Ann Simpson, 70, who cycled from Kesgrave with her grandchildren Rebecca and Elizabeth Hodge, aged 12 and eight, along with her daughter Sarah and son-in-law, Mark, summed up the family event.

She said: “It’s fabulous.”

The organisers were also delighted with how the day had gone.

Sky Ride Ambassador Jeff Brazier said: “It’s been a fantastic day here at Sky Ride Ipswich, with people of all ages getting back on their bikes and enjoying cycling around the town on traffic free streets. I just hope that all 6,000 people that have taken part today will be inspired to start cycling more regularly and continue to have fun on two wheels.”

Councillor Bryony Rudkin leisure portfolio-holder for Ipswich Borough Council said: “This was great fun and fantastic to join friends and neighbours all cycling around a car-free town centre in safety. I want to thank Sky and British Cycling, along with all the local clubs and individuals who came along, for making this such a brilliant event. It was also a great occasion for us to promote cycling and other healthy activities we have in place here in Ipswich.”

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30 comments

Vehicles should naturally take priority over cycles on the roads or at least until cyclists pay a Road Tax of their own, and also learn that a red light means STOP for them as well as drivers.

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england1770

Tuesday, June 14, 2011
awwwwww my daughter is in 2 of theses pictures bless her she had a lovely time xxx

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gemma ruffles

Monday, June 13, 2011
I'm glad that everyone had a good time, but due to the complete lack of notice given to motorists by IBC, I stumbled across the closed roads and ended up being late for work. Had there been notices put up a few days in advance (as has to be done for roadworks) I could have left earlier and planned an alternative route.

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Karen M

Monday, June 13, 2011
I would like to congratulate Ipswich Borough Council and Sky for putting on a great event on Sunday. As a family who like to go out for bike rides, we thoroughly enjoyed our cycle round the Town. So there may have been some traffic hold ups round town, and perhaps the advertising could have been better, but it was for a few hours on a Sunday. We should all be embracing the fact that we have a free event such as this in the Town, not complaining about it! Here's to another such event next year.

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JonB

Monday, June 13, 2011
The whole town bought to a standstill and gridlocked....Hmmmmm i wonder how much Sky paid the council for this privelage!!

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Shed Kev

Monday, June 13, 2011
as both a cyclist and a motorist .this was another pointless exercise by our beloved council..all the comments about cyclists on the path etc yes there are bad cyclists as much as there are bad drivers ..the problem is if you are a motorist you have to pay a lot of money for the "privilege" of sitting gridlocked in the streets of Ipswich ..and if you are stupid enough to talk on your phone ..speed ..run red light etc and get caught you get fined and points on your licence..unlike cyclists who can do what they want and if they scratch a car whilst going up the inside or outside of traffic this can cause hundreds of pounds worth of damage and only way to get your money is to go through small claims court more expense for the motorist.as for pedestrians if i had a pound for every pedestrian who walks across the road in front of me i could retire .but again they don't get fined ..as a cyclist in my opinion cycle lanes on the road are a total waste of time and money and totally unnecessary..put them on the pavements if a pedestrian and bike collide let them sort it out in court ..after all a cyclist is no more dangerous then an old person in there disability buggy !!!!!!

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paul hales

Monday, June 13, 2011
I was one of the unfortunate ones to be held up in the sky ride traffic in Ipswich town yesterday. Had I have known it was taking place or had been made aware of road closures, I for one would not have ventured into Ipswich yesterday, as I am sure many others would not have done, a bit more information wouldn't have gone a miss. The frustration was not helped by traffic signals still in operation (but no one moving) and then stop and go boards to ease the cyslists across the road, surely someone could have dimounted and pressed a button for the pedestrian crossing to have been used in the normal fashion?

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Claire McCarthy

Monday, June 13, 2011
Hmm let me think. What is more dangerous, a cyclist who rides on the pavement or car drivers who continually flout the law by using a mobile phone whilst driving ? As a law abiding road riding cyclist I have lost count at the amount of times cars have veered across the lane in front of me because the driver has been too engrossed with their mobile phone conversation or nearly been wiped out but motorists and motorbikes amber gambling.

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The_Napp

Monday, June 13, 2011
chrisotherwise - nice that you had a day free of worry from being knocked off your bike. Now perhaps we can work on me being able to walk on the pavement to the railway station without being clipped by bikes. Cyclist are so "threatened" by traffic the current vogue seem to be to put the cycle path on the footpath, great for older folk and mothers with prams. And wahat ever happened to having a bell on your bike. I walked the river bank in Ipswich (wide enough for two pedestrians) and got a mouthful of abuse from a cyclist because "I didn't hear him coming and he had to dismount" Aw diddums. . In a lot of cases - for "cycle path" read "psychopath".

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Citizen

Monday, June 13, 2011
As one of the so-called "small minded anti-cyclist brigade) can I just add that I have absolutely no objection to cyclists who obey the rules of the road and who do not ride on paths endangering pedestrians and who do not weave in and out of traffic ignoring traffic-lights, stop signs etc! It really is about time that this type of cyclist realised they are every much a danger as thoughtless car drivers!

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G Rumpy

Monday, June 13, 2011
I'm sure it was a great day for all those involved, unfortunately as an event to encourage people to "get on their bikes" it was a bit of a pointless excercise. Until realistic provision of safe cycle paths are created, I would certainly not encourage my kids to cycle around Town and with very little funding available I cannot see this happening anytime soon.

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dean james

Monday, June 13, 2011
In terms of getting people to take up cycling i dont think this would work at all but i do agree it would be a nice thing to do with family or friends but i dont see why it had to be done right through the centre of town. coludnt it have started in town, went a bit more away and circled back round?

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Monkey1986

Monday, June 13, 2011
What an enjoyable day out, great fun for all the family and can't wait until next year. No suprise that there are the normal postings on here from the small minded anti cyclist brigade,

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The_Napp

Monday, June 13, 2011
All this so-called "stunt" has shown is that people are more willing to cycle when there is provision to cycle without motorised traffic. At the end of the day, a cycle-only ring road around the town centre, or a cycle-only thoroughfare running east - west across the town will encourage people to use bicycles for short journeys.

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martha farquhar

Monday, June 13, 2011
Well I've got to say yesterday was great I was one of the many thousand people to join in on this skyride event but I do have one question why is it you always get the do gooders (car owners) that decide to moan about us cyclist's enjoying that ONE DAY of freedom on just a few roads when you get the freedom of the road 247 365 barging us cyclists to the curb and invading our cycle lane so we have no choice but to use the pathway instead of spending time moaning why not give us credit for participating and get out of your cars and on a push-bike and join in after all that's what the day was all about. US CYCLIST'S

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Martin

Monday, June 13, 2011
Had a great time on the ride with my wife and kids and good to see so many people out and about. The road signage could have been better for those people trying to get throughinto town by car and I have to admit that I wouldn't have been happy to stumble across it! Regarding the fact that it was held on Pentecost Sunday I'm sure that God in his infinite kindness and wisdom, as well as his most ardent followers, will be forgiving of this oversight and will have rejoiced in the fun being had by his children - plus I'm sure there won't have been any lost frequent flyer miles by being a little late, I mean you do have eternity to chat...!

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Doctor_Albran

Monday, June 13, 2011
Thanks to all those involved in making this happen. It was wonderful to have just one day when we could cycle round Ipswich without the worry of our children getting knocked over.

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chrisotherwise

Monday, June 13, 2011
Perhaps when Tractorboy finds out the date of the next Sky Ride he could do a better job of publicising it than what was done yesterday! First sign of anything going on was Saturday when signs were being put up along Star Lane! Getting through town on Sunday was a nightmare! As for cyclists riding on the pavement; isn't it about time the police cracked down on this. Anyone over the age of 12 has no excuse for this dangerous practice. I'm glad all the cyclists had a great day, but next time could the organisers have a little more forethought and think of everyone else?

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G Rumpy

Monday, June 13, 2011
my little girl is in theses pics bless her xx

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gemma ruffles

Monday, June 13, 2011
I have a bike and love to ride when I can but the roads are not a safe place to ride it would be nice to have bike paths as in Holland. I was on a bus coming from Felixstowe and was stuck in traffic, buses found roads blocked and were backing up looking for alternate routes, more organization was needed for the event to have been less disruptive to the general public at large..

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heather bird

Monday, June 13, 2011
I fail to see how a day cycling around town with no danger of meeting other traffic is going to persuade non-cyclists to leave their cars at home. A mere publicity stunt for the council and Sky.

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Sarky Sage

Monday, June 13, 2011
What a great day ! My family thoroughly enjoyed it, my 4 and 2 year olds were so excited to cycle on the roads they're so intimidated by with cars on - 4 times round & ultra zonked, never seen them go to sleep so fast! First thing we did when we got back was to find out where the next Sky Ride was ... couldn't wait for next years in Ipswich. Thanks to all involved.

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TractorBoy

Sunday, June 12, 2011
Don't know why they bothered, cyclists are all over the pavements anyway, so what difference did it make. They are a menace.

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Mike Derruki

Sunday, June 12, 2011
I welcome the fact that the cyclists had an enjoyable day, but surely a more appropriate day and time could have been chosen, than Pentecost Sunday when morning worshippers are coming into town, as is usual on Sundays.

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Rolf

Sunday, June 12, 2011
why why why are people who have to still use our cars treated by like the worse scum on earth by our council traffic planning to have a nintey year old disabled mum trying to give her a day out stuck in traffic all because some idiot from the council could not be bothered to put a few signs up in advance around town to warn other road tax payers of road closers this is why these events dont work as well here as they do in france au revoir !

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john john

Sunday, June 12, 2011
Brilliant day. Well done and thank you to all concerned.

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cyclopaul

Sunday, June 12, 2011
If it happens again in the future would there be any chance that other people trying to use the Town Centre on a Sunday morning be considered. It was Pentecost Sunday today. Would have been thoughtful for the organisers to have the event take place later in the day. Thanks.

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Alan Scurrell

Sunday, June 12, 2011
I did the sky ride today with two of my daughters we wanted to thank you for such a brilliant event we really enjoyed it as too did many others we spoke to lets hope we have it as an anual event Julie,Chloe and Lillie-Mai

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julie w

Sunday, June 12, 2011
Well the whole idea was to cycle the town & not be in your car!! We all use our cars out of convience when many could walk or cycle.

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Bails

Sunday, June 12, 2011
Was glad I decided on the scooter that day, traffic was insane, I'd have hated to have been stuck in a car.

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Winston Barrington Jr.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

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