I have written a few articles over the months about two cycling campaign groups – Critical Mass for adults and Kidical Mass for youngsters. Basically they are part of a global movement which aims to raise awareness of the issues of cycling safety in the city.

They organise regular quite visible events and this was a report from the latest which took place on Thursday evening which was in yesterday’s paper.

CYCLING activists gathered in Inverness to raise awareness of their cause. 

It was organised by campaign group Critical Mass and participants met at Falcon Square on Thursday evening. 

Group spokeswoman Susan Guest said it had been a lovely evening, adding: “It was a good ride and turnout is growing every month. 

“We rode around the city centre, all very good natured and lots of people waving and saying ‘hi’. 

“We finished the ride at Eden Court for a drink and to sit on the grass and chat.” 

There are future events also planned for the third Thursday each month with the next ride on August 18.

Critical Mass bike rides do not follow a set route, instead the riders at the front of the ride choose the direction, then drop back so everyone who wants to gets to lead. 

The rides are very social with a gentle pace and lots of chat, sometimes about cycling, but also about lots of other things. 

Critical Mass is a global movement, and organisers would like to invite everyone to come to Critical Mass in Inverness. 

Previously their efforts for active travel in the Highlands, via both Critical Mass and younger iteration Kidical Mass, have been praised in the Scottish Parliament. 

Ariane Burgess, Greens MSP for the Highlands and Islands, tabled a motion which called on Holyrood to congratulate participants on an earlier Kidical Mass event and to recognise that “this was part of a worldwide event to advocate safe spaces for active travel, especially for young people”. 

From the Inverness Courier on Tuesday, July 26, 2022.