Cycle Islington has been campaigning and championing two-wheel transport since 1976 and will be celebrating the milestone achievement next month

A CYCLING group is celebrating 50 years of campaigning to make cycling safer and more accessible to everyone.

Set up by some “cycling keenies” and associates of Friends of the Earth in 1976, Cycle Islington (CI) was formed to inspire more people to swap petrol for pedals.

They even pre-date the city-wide umbrella group London Cycling Campaign, which was formed in 1978. CI soon joined them to collaborate with other boroughs such as Camden Cycling Campaign.

Eilidh Murray, the group’s coordinator of eight years and member for 15, reflected on their successes, challenges and key campaign work.

She told the Tribune: “People don’t realise the silver bullet that cycling is, it’s healthy and quick. We have an obesity problem in this country, and getting people out of cars and onto bikes can help that.

“But we’ve got to work with local authorities to enable more cycling. The data is all out there – it’s quicker, it’s fun and it’s social. There are so many things going for it. But people still talk about ‘bloody cyclists in Lycra’!”

A big part of CI’s work is to try and counter the image of cycling as a hobby of “testosterone and Lycra”. Getting more women cycling is a huge part of their work, but Ms Murray told the Tribune that, unfortunately, there are still many barriers.

“Women don’t like cycling with the current infrastructure. The misogyny we get on the road from men in vans is unbelievable. You get some man telling you shouldn’t be there, men abusing women and it’s not being taken seriously.

“What we want to see is a proper process for reporting to the police so they can at least see how much of this is going on.”

Asked what the priorities for the group are now after this half-century milestone, Ms Murray said: “We’re getting there, but we are moving slowly. We’re about 40 years behind Holland!

“We are campaigners for better infrastructure, better surfaces and joined-up neighbour­hoods. To try and prevent pot holes and road damage.

“Ultimately, we want to get people onto bikes. So here’s to the next 50 years! Come and join us.”

The official festivities will kick off in June. A video featuring some of the charity’s original members and mystery celebrity supporters will be screened on June 11 at the Islington Museum.

This will be followed by a communal bike ride around the borough, open to the public and with a special cake to celebrate at the finish line at Highbury Fields.

And then a final knees-up – a Scottish ceilidh dance in Hocking Hall in Whittington Park on Friday June 26, tickets available online.

Anyone interested in joining in the anniversary celebrations can get more information on the Cycle Islington website.