CYCLISTS are preparing for the first Critical Mass ride through Worcester this weekend.

Woo Critical Mass, the organiser of the event, said the family friendly event to promote safer cycling will take place on Saturday.

Organisers are encouraging cyclists to bring “posters, signs and placards” to “send a message to the powers that be” for safer cycling in the city.

The Critical Mass cycling movement began in San Francisco in 1992 before being held in London in 1994 and growing globally over the ensuing decades.

The movement has been described as direct action in which people meet at a set location and time and travel as a group through their local area on bikes, all to raise awareness of cycling safety issues and put pressure on authorities to support green forms of transport and develop cycling-friendly infrastructure.

Critical Mass events are set up through social media but are ‘leaderless and have no organisers’ with whoever is the leader at a time choosing the route.

In a tweet announcing the event, Worcester Critical Mass said: “The details of this Saturday’s inaugural Critical Mass in Worcester City - meeting at 10.15am at Croft Road Car Park, near Cafe Viaduct. If there is more than 30, we go off in groups of 30 at at time. There is no set route, the person in front decides.”

It continued: “We politely ask you to observe the Highway Code at all times. It isn’t a race, please go slow enough for the group to keep up. Families and children are very welcome. They are our future.

“The aim of the game is to show how many people use their bikes for transport (rather than sport). It’s going to be relaxed so no need for lycra. If you’re newer to cycling (welcome lockdown cyclists) or feel nervous, please let someone know. There is so much support within the cycling community. We’ll help you out.

“If you’re not dashing off after, please support the local economy - Crowngate has a superb cycle storage facility.”

A spokesman for West Mercia Police confirmed Woo Critical Mass had notified them of the event.

A Worcestershire County Council spokesman said: “The council is committed through our Local Transport Plan to improving walking and cycling links, or ‘Active Travel Corridors’, throughout the county.

"We have recently completed several improvements for walkers and cyclists including Hams Way Bridge and the refurbished Sabrina Bridge.

"We invite people to take a look at the new proposals for schemes across the county and share their views as this will help us as we look ahead to completing them later this year.

“More information on the proposed schemes, including maps of each one is available at www.worcestershire.gov.uk/EATC.”