- Title: RUSSIA: CYCLING - Thousands of cyclists flock to Moscow streets
- Date: 29th June 2014
- Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (JUNE 29, 2014) (REUTERS) CYCLIST WITH BABY CARRIAGE CAR CARRYING BICYCLES PARTICIPANTS PUTTING ON CYCLING GEAR PARTICIPANT HOLDING BICYCLE UP IN THE AIR VARIOUS CYCLISTS WAITING (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) CYCLIST BORIS, SAYING: "I've been cycling for some ten years now. And within this ten years much more people started cycling." (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) CYCLIST KATYA, SAYING: "(We want) to show the drivers, that we also have the right to use the streets. We have the rights." (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) CYCLIST ANTON, SAYING: "No, it's just for the development of infrastructure in Moscow, cycling infrastructure. To make more cycling tracks." CYCLISTS HOLDING BICYCLES (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) CYCLIST GALYA, SAYING: "Bicycle is a way of life, mine for sure. I ride my bicycle every day, except for winter, of course." (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) PARTICIPANT LEONID, SAYING: "Traffic jams make a lot of people consider taking a bicycle. It's convenient, it's comfortable, when it's not winter, of course. Yes, and with no traffic jams." BADGE ON BICYCLE (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) CYCLIST ILYA, SAYING: "If you don't take very cold weather into account, and that happens, all the other time Moscow is a city suited for bicycles, and it's a comfortable means of transport." CHILD BY BICYCLE PARTICIPANTS STARTING RIDE VARIOUS CYCLISTS IN STREET CARS HOOTING CARS AND CYCLISTS ON DIFFERENT SIDES OF ROAD POLICE WATCHING CARS AND MOTORBIKES PRECEDING RIDE VARIOUS RIDE IN PROGRESS PARTICIPANTS WAVING VARIOUS RIDE IN PROGRESS CYCLISTS FINISHING RIDE (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) CYCLIST VALERIA, ASKED IF SHE LIKED THE RIDE, SAYING: "Amazing. I'm vary happy. It's the first time I am taking part in such an event. It's wonderful. I hope, Moscow will hold more events of this sort, for health, for happiness, for pleasure, for youth." (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) CYCLIST GEORGY, SAYING: "Wonderful. Everyone greeted us, cars on the opposite side of the road were hooting happily. At the Park Kultury I gave HI-five to a driver of the upcoming Audi. Such a nice car and such a joyful lady. Everyone supports us." (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) PARTICIPANT MARINA, SAYING: "The ride was splendid. The weather is beautiful. Moscow is exceptionally good to us today. We came from Vladimir. Our organized group is called Velo-Vladimir." PARTICIPANTS FINISHING RIDE (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) CYCLIST FYODOR, SAYING: "The ride was wonderful. I'm very grateful to the organizers and to Moscow, for holding a contest of this level. I'm from Kyrgyzstan." PARTICIPANTS FINISHING RIDE
- Embargoed: 14th July 2014 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Russian Federation
- Country: Russia
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVA30LEWKQCKD3XAR9MF6YMJZOVN
- Story Text: Over 30,000 cyclists flocked to Moscow streets on Sunday (June 29) to take part in a mass ride to promoting cycling in the city and raise concerns over cyclists' safety on the roads.
The participants of the Cycling Parade, as it was called by the organisers, arrived in the city centre early in the morning, some with children and families, to a glorious sunny weather - a welcomed change for a fortnight of a cold spell.
Cycling has become a popular sport in Moscow and more people attempt to negotiating their way on a bicycle through notoriously heavy Moscow traffic on a daily basis.
"I've been cycling for some ten years now. And within this ten years much more people started cycling," said Boris.
But staying safe in the city traffic is a big concern for the growing cyclist population.
"(We want) to show the drivers, that we also have the right to use the streets. We have the rights," said Katia giving her reason for taking part in Sunday ride.
Moscow government statistics show that there are now more then 3 million bicycles in Moscow. But the first cycling track in the city appeared only in 2011.
Many participants see today's race as a way to draw authorities' attention to a need of a better infrastructure.
"It's just for the development of infrastructure in Moscow, cycling infrastructure. To make more cycling tracks," said Anton.
Moscow government has said that as of May 2014 the network of cycling tracks in Moscow took up more than 146 kilometres, largely in the city parks. There are plans, welcomed by cyclists, to add 136 kilometres more by the end of the year.
"Bicycle is a way of life, mine for sure. I ride my bicycle every day, except for winter, of course," Galya says.
Muscovites take to bicycle for different reasons but for many it is a way of avoiding Moscow's notoriously impassible traffic.
"Traffic jams make a lot of people consider taking a bicycle. It's convenient, it's comfortable, when it's not winter, of course. Yes, and with no traffic jams," said Leonid.
Cycling enthusiasts argue that despite severe winters Moscow is well suited for that means of transportation.
"If you don't take very cold weather into account, and that happens, all the other time Moscow is a city suited for bicycles, and it's a comfortable means of transportation," Ilya said.
The ride escorted by city police took participants around the 16-kilometre-long Garden Ring in central Moscow.
"Amazing. I'm vary happy. It's the first time I am taking part in such an event. It's wonderful. I hope, Moscow will hold more events of this sort, for health, for happiness, for pleasure, for youth," said Valeria.
"Wonderful. Everyone greeted us, cars on the opposite side of the road were hooting happily. At the Park Kultury I gave HI-five to a driver of the upcoming Audi. Such a nice car and such a joyful lady. Everyone supports us," said Georgy.
The ride has become an annual event after a successful debut in may 2012, attracting participants from around the country and abroad.
"The ride was splendid. The weather is beautiful. Moscow is exceptionally good to us today. We came from Vladimir. Our organized group is called Velo-Vladimir," Marina said.
"The ride was wonderful. I'm very grateful to the organizers and to Moscow, for holding a contest of this level. I'm from Kyrgyzstan," Fyodor said.
In developing cycling infrastructure Moscow follows the trend, set by some major European capitals where cyclists have long become notable participants of city traffic. In 2013 Moscow followed the suit of Paris and London in offering bike rental in the city centre. Over 150 rental bays now offer 2,500 municipal bicycles to city dwellers and tourists. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2014. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None