EXTINCTION Rebellion activists went on a socially distanced bike ride to highlight the need for climate action and new approaches to air quality and transport.

Cycling in convoy from Manningham Park to Northcliffe Park on Sunday, the protestors aimed to symbolise “the reclaiming of the streets for people.”

The group has called for a post lockdown Bradford to be more friendly to cyclists and pedestrians, and pointed out that pollution can lead to the underlying health conditions that makes Covid 19 more deadly.

Proposed cycling routes would link city centre to South of District

Alex Radice, one of those who took part in the protest, said: “I’ve been cycling since I came to Bradford 20 years ago. Bradford roads are very inhospitable for cyclists; a lot of them are quite narrow and busy and scare people off cycling. We need more cycle lanes to encourage people to use their bikes.”

Cllr Vick Jenkins (Lab, Shipley) said: “One of the few positives has been a significant improvement in air quality since the lockdown due to coronavirus. Bradford Council are looking at ideas put forward by residents to where we can alter lanes and walkways as we continue to live with the Covid virus. Another angle we all can push for will be for Council and many other employees being able to continue to work from home fully or partially removing now proven unnecessary cars from our roads, helping too with work life balance.”

Cllr Kevin Warnes (Green, Shipley), said: "As ever, XR are ahead of the game in their determination to build a sustainable future for us all. I hope that this action reminds key decision-makers in Bradford that we must do a lot more, right now, to change our behaviour and make different choices about how we move around the District.

Lockdown has been tough. Very tough for many of us. So let’s seize this chance to make real and lasting changes as our community and our economy opens up again. Let’s move beyond ‘Business As Usual’ into the low carbon future we all need.”