Other events in Baltic States

About one thousand cyclists gathered at the Freedom Monument yesterday at noon to participate in a cycling parade through half of the city to the Mezaparks neighborhood, where various events dedicated to healthy lifestyle were taking place all day, LETA observed.

Cyclists of all ages could be seen as the parade took off: members of various cycling associations, professional athletes, people who ride a bike on a daily basis as well as those who go cycling on weekends were pedaling past the Freedom Monument, many with children.

The parade proceeded along Meierovica Boulevard and down Valdemara Street, Raina Boulevard, Brivibas Street and on until Mezaparks.

During the parade, the streets where the cyclists were riding were closed to traffic by the police, and the participants safely and swiftly reached Mezaparks Open-air Stage.

Riga Mayor Nils Usakovs (Harmony Center) with his spouse Jelena and Vice-Mayor Andris Ameriks (Honor To Serve Riga) also participated in the parade. Usakovs stressed that the Riga City Council was doing everything it could to make Riga a cyclist-friendly city: a new cycling lane will be built along the Daugava, and cycling lanes to Darzini and Bolderaja neighborhoods are being designed. Rigas satiksme passenger transport company has lifted several restrictions on transportation of bicycles in buses and trolley-buses, said Usakovs.