Mass pedal-power protest gets a reward

       Over 10,000 cyclists gathered in the centre of the Hungarian capital on Tuesday evening to push for a better deal for the city's cyclists.
       The annual event organised by the cycling pressure group Critical Mass to mark World Car-free Day had a political edge this year.
       Riders encircled the town hall to protest the cancellation of one of two planned cycle lanes to be laid out as part of the renovation of a major bridge across the Danube river.
       Police warnings that motorists should steer clear of the city centre in the evening proved wise as cyclists, from families with young children to the odd pensioner,filled the roads in one colourful, tooting and bell-tinkling mass.
       Earlier in the day, government officials cycled from the Hungarian parliament building to the city centre to announce a 1.3-billion-forint (238.5 million baht)city bicycle programme. Almost threequarters of the funding will come from government and European Union sources, the prime minister's chief of staff Csaba Molnar said.
       Mr Molnar said that more than 1,000 bikes will be made available for free public use, to be picked up and dropped off at any of 73 planned bicycle stations around the city.
       Gabor Bihari, a spokesman for Critical Mass Hungary, the local arm of the global cycling movement, welcomed the news.
       He said that he believed it was no coincidence that the government announcement came on the day of a high-profile demonstration.
       "We very much look forward to all promises being delivered," he said.