Bristol's Biggest Bike Ride cancelled after Portway crash

A charity bike ride involving thousands of people in Bristol has been cancelled following a van crash on the route.

Organisers decided to stop the "Biggest Bike Ride" after the closure of the A4 Portway before the ride started.

More than 5,500 cyclists had registered to take part. It is the first time the event has been cancelled in its 18-year history.

Bristol City councillor Jon Rogers said he was "disappointed" but "fully supported" the decision to cancel.

He added: "It's a really difficult call for people organising these sorts of things but four rides go along the Portway.

"It was explicitly [cancelled] because the Portway was too dangerous to run seven, eight, nine thousand cyclists.

'Very slippery'

"The weather will have played a part in it but if you've got diesel on the road it becomes very slippery. If you've got glass on the road and people fall off it's very dangerous.

"It needs a slightly higher level of safety than a quick clean. We'll look at the decision but as far as I can see it's one that I would fully support."

One unnamed cyclist who had hoped to take part, said he had ridden past the scene at about 0930 BST but did not see any diesel or glass.

"I'm going to take their word for it that it could have been dangerous if lots of people went down that way," he said.

Police reopened the road at lunchtime following the crash at about 0720 BST.

Bristol's Biggest Bike Ride is normally open to cyclists of all abilities with a choice of five routes ranging from nine to 38 miles across the city centre and surrounding area.