Do YOU have a story? Email isabella.machin@dailymail.co.uk See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy ISABELLA MACHIN, REPORTER Published: 17:21 BST, 30 June 2026 | Updated: 17:36 BST, 30 June 2026
Hundreds of cyclists illegally flocked to one of London's busiest roads on Friday night in a mass protest against the use of cars. Reckless members of the group took advantage of the Westway's temporary closure by trespassing on the former motorway, pulling wheelies on illegal e-bikes and climbing the gantries that hang over the dual carriageway. Against a setting sun, the cyclists were captured riding from the Marylebone flyover to the Westway roundabout, near White City, and along the elevated section. The A40 in west London is currently closed while 'critical' structural joints are replaced. The route - which cyclists and pedestrians are banned from using - was chosen by action group Critical Mass London as one of their monthly rides, with an aim to promote active travel. Riders, thought to number around 1,000, were videoed last weekend gliding down the open road as the oncoming flow of traffic on Harrow Road started to build into a queue. Footage shows cyclists performing tricks, including one man cruising on one wheel, while they film themselves riding without helmets at speed as they swerve across the road's lanes.Meanwhile, others decide to abandon their bikes altogether and stand on the gantries above the road. Hundreds of cyclists illegally flocked to one of London's busiest roads on Friday night in a mass protest against the use of cars Participants, armed with flags, halt en-masse on the road as they group together for a drink Participants, armed with flags, then halt en-masse on the road as they group together for a drink. Elsewhere, foolhardy men are captured climbing the road signs and waving down at smiling members of the group, as they film the protest - made up of illegal e-bikes, Forest bikes and Lime bikes.Friday night's protest came after plans under then-mayor Boris Johnson to create a protected cycle superhighway on the Westway were scrapped by Sadiq Khan in 2016.The Westway, which lost its motorway status in 2000, stretches for 3.5 miles through inner west London and is used by around 100,000 motorists a day. The axed proposals to create a cycle path on the flyover's six lanes came amongst a grouping of 'cycle superhighways', potentially scrapped over unpleasant cycling conditions and a high cost. It is a sentiment shared after cyclists descended on the then-newly opened Silvertown Tunnel in 2025 in irritation at ditched plans, also under Critical Mass London's call. Around 1,000 riders descended the northbound entrance near the O2 Arena during the 'mass trespass', fuelled with anger against the lack of a bike lane. Critical Mass London documented and posted the event on social media. Cyclists were captured performing tricks, including one man cruising on one wheel, while they film themselves riding without helmets at speed as they swerve across the road's lanes Foolhardy men are captured climbing the road signs and waving down at smiling members of the group, as they film the protestIt said of protesters: 'Maybe they wanted to be on a road completely free of all motor traffic for a change. Maybe they just wanted to experience the sun setting over the city with friends on bikes.'All reasons (and others) are equally valid. There is no one narrative or source of truth. 'Nobody (including this and other social media accounts) can speak as an authority for the ride. If you want to find out the reasons why participants did it, you would have to ask them all individually.'Critical Mass London is a messy, organic, chaotic meeting of different minds, tribes, styles, histories, motivations. 'But they all come together once a month to create (not take up) space across the city.'Transport for London has been contacted for comment.
