Demonstrators called for more protection on one of Wandsworth’s busiest cycling routes on Sunday (April 25).

Over 50 cyclists rode along the Cycle Superhighway 7 (CS7) from Colliers Wood to Balham and back, to highlight the importance of wands on the major cycle route into London.

The group fears that these wands – flexible plastic bollards which indicate where a cycle lane is to other road users – could be removed.

An Extinction Rebellion (XR) spokesperson said: “Having the bollards along the route to protect cyclists from motor vehicles has been a great improvement for safety.

Wandsworth Times: Cyclists arriving in Balham [credit: Paul Gapper]Cyclists arriving in Balham [credit: Paul Gapper]

“The riders were greeted in Balham by a ‘Green Man Swarm’. No traffic was stopped, protesters moved into the road with banners when the green man pedestrian light stopped the traffic and then moved back on to the pavement when the green man went off.”

Cyclists came from XR Merton, XR Wandsworth, XR Lambeth, Friends of the Earth Merton, Green Party members and cycling campaign groups from Battersea, Wandsworth, Putney and Merton.

They carried flags and placards with messages such as ‘#WeLoveULEZ’, ‘Rebel for Life’, ‘Climate Action Now’, ‘Wake Up Wandsworth’ and ‘#yestoCS7’.

Wandsworth Times: Campaigners at Colliers Wood station [credit: Paul Gapper]Campaigners at Colliers Wood station [credit: Paul Gapper]

Paul, a cyclist from Lower Morden, said: “It would be crazy to take away the CS7 wands! I have two young children and a partner who already fears for my safety. I cycle from Morden to Kings Cross every week to get to work.

“The CS7 was the most treacherous part of my journey. The wands made a significant difference to mine and my family’s anxiety levels! I would rather not start driving again, as the environmental cost is huge, but taking away the CS7 wands will leave me with no choice.’"