On Saturday 13th September, Haringey Cycling Campaign (HCC) organised a marshalled family ride around local animal murals. Marshalled rides are important – they give children a chance to ride safely in a group, with adults carefully steering a route of safe travel. We got an amazing turnout, and as dozens and dozens of children happily pedalled past an elephant, a zebra, a polar bear and more, it was a reminder of how many hundreds of children would love to cycle safely in this borough. It was a reminder of something else too – that the only thing stopping them is that we don’t have safe cycle routes for them in Haringey. It’s why we’re calling for a safe cycling habitat for children here.
The team at Haringey Cycling Campaign and Wendy at the council had worked hard to make sure people knew about this ride, but everyone was still surprised to see the huge turnout of those on wheels ready to go. There were nearly 100 people in all.
A route was planned in advance, and eleven trained marshals made sure everyone stayed safe, taking it in turns to cycle ahead and block junctions to ensure safe passage. Seeing dozens and dozens of children happily cycling across Haringey was uplifting and somewhat emotional for all of us. We saw children as young as four or five having absolutely no problem with doing the 3.5 mile route. We were reminded that the only thing holding them back from tearing across this borough on their bikes, is that they have no safe route.
We also saw how much they enjoyed being on their bikes, and how much they enjoy cycling safely. And as adults, who are we to stop them from having this opportunity? Shouldn’t we be facilitating them being happy and healthy? Isn’t that basically what politics is all about? It was clear for all of us to see – we need to be doing everything we can to build safe cycling routes across the borough.
As Haringey Cycling Campaign, we call on the leader of the borough Peray Ahmet and her senior leadership team to work hard on this – we know they care a lot for children in Haringey, and want them to be active, healthy, energetic and safe. It’s also worth pointing out that in these times when the cost of living is high, that cycles are a cheap way of travelling, and therefore riding a bike strongly adheres with Labour values.
As a campaigner, I know only too well how much children need safe routes – at the moment, a lot of the time, they have none. The pavements aren’t safe for cycling, and the roads are full of traffic. When my daughter learnt to ride a bike aged 4, I saw first-hand how unsuitable pavements are for pedalling on. There are bumps, kerbs, lampposts, trees and people, those with prams and all sorts. “I want to cycle on the nice flat road mummy” my daughter said, after cycling into a lamppost and falling off. “The pavements are full of trees and people”. She was quite right. She was delighted when we got a Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN). Her only disappointment was that it wasn’t across “the whole universe” like she thought it was going to be.
Seeing all of these children on the ride, we are more determined than ever that they are given safe routes to cycle in their home borough.
The ride was an adventure, and everyone enjoyed seeing the range of murals, by two artists, James Straffon, and a group called ATM – the “Anarchist Trouble Makers”.
We are really pleased that Councillor Mike Hakata came along on our ride, cabinet member for Climate Action, the Environment and Transport (you’ll spot him in the video). He agreed to do a Q+A, which was good, because we had questions, a lot of questions. We have always been impressed with Mike’s courage, determination, cleverness and political will. Mike has plenty of drive and works hard – he’s a bright spark in the active travel world.
He masterminded the plan to put in the first three low traffic neighbourhoods in the borough, taking on a lot of flack when they came in. The LTNs go some way to giving children safe areas for cycling, but we need more, a lot more. Mike knows this. But since the LTNs, work on safer streets (apart from school streets), seems to have ground to a halt. So naturally we want to know what the hold up is.
The main route we are all looking for change on is Green Lanes (you can see my Ham and High piece about it here… where I’m quoted as saying the speed of change here has been “glacial” – quite apt when the ride went past a polar bear).
Mike told us that Haringey is taking a strategic approach, mapping a cycle network. That they’re getting the designs, will do engagement, and implementation will follow. (We can do the engagement now Mike – save you a job – the answer is YES PLEASE to all of it).
Mike told us that a strategic cycle lane network is happening “rapidly and extensively in the near to medium term” (which is rather different to my term “glacial” – but I’m happy to suspend belief on this one, if it means it actually happens!)
Mike said: “We want to do them all, and it’s better that we do them all at once”. (Or why not start tomorrow – Ed).
Mike continued: “The design principle we’re working on, is that you would be comfortable cycling each route with a 5 year old”. Agreed. He also said that the strategic cycle routes should include connections between LTNs. Safe cycling corridors, rather like safe wildlife corridors, I like it.
About Green Lanes, Mike said it’s an “important, strategic route, and for this reason we would have to work closely with TfL to understand the possibilities”. (We better get on the blower to Will Norman then, and find out when he’s coming to visit).
Mike told us that doing cycle lanes is a battle, that they have a small team doing the work, but that they’re absolutely committed. He also promised that he would NOT be answering the same questions about change and delivery in Haringey here in a year’s time.
HE PROMISED.
So we’ll be ready on 13th September 2026 to see what changes have taken place! And if we’re in the same spot asking the same questions, Mike can wear a polar bear costume for a week. With the words “glacial change” on the back. And we might put him on an iceberg too. Here’s to change in Haringey, that’s been a long time coming. We’re looking forward to seeing some real transformation, ideally before these 5-year-olds get in their teens. Haringey loves cycling. Let’s give everyone safe routes please. Bear hugs at the ready for when it happens, promise. Grrr.
Carla Francome, Cycle Campaigner, 25th September 2025
This piece was in the Ham & High
A shorter version of this article was printed in the Ham & High in early October. It took up half a page:
There is a link to the article here.
There are more photos of the ride here:
And if you’d like to do the safari ride in your own time, you’ll find the route below on MyMaps, Komoot and on Strava.
And you can see more of the artists’ work from our ride here:
—
Thanks to David Miller, Robert Pike and Ben House for the footage for the video – and to Carla Francome for editing it. Thanks to Wendy and the council’s active travel team for supporting the ride and encouraging so many schools to spread the word – likewise to Gavin at Butternut Bikes for telling all his customers. Thanks also to ride leader Louise and all the marshals – and to Laura for the marshal training and route planning and for asking the key question in the Q and A.