MANY thanks to those residents of Ealing who, willingly or otherwise, gave up their parking spaces or had nearby roads closed for the Ealing Sky Ride.
Before the event, a small band of naysayers were vocal in their opposition to the event. Their concerns are understandable. On the day, however, thousands of people - including myself - turned out for a fantastic celebration of cycling.
For my three-and-a-half-year-old son and the hundreds of other children I saw taking part, the Ealing Sky Ride was a chance to enjoy a healthy and active day out with the family. Hopefully, the cycling habit will stay with them for a lifetime. For my wife, who hasn't been on her bike for more than 20 years, it was a rare opportunity to build her cycling confidence on safe, traffic-free streets.
I am not a militant member of the anti-petrol brigade. Like most cyclists, I also own and use a car. For one day out of the year, however, it was a delight to be able to enjoy the borough on two wheels without fear of being cut up or knocked down.
STUART HUGHES Drayton Gardens, W13
