After 30 years, Critical Mass is still fighting for cyclists on London’s roads

My first rideout back in 2011 was liberating – and this Sunday, the monthly demonstration celebrates a big milestone

Thirteen years ago, riding through central London on my way to meet a friend one evening, I found myself surrounded by hundreds of cyclists, some blaring horns, one popping wheelies, and even someone covered in lights, thundering out drum’n’bass from a mobile sound system.

In spite of being overdressed in a shirt and my best trousers, I was taken by the spontaneous solidarity of this diverse group, who I later found was mostly made up of strangers.