Critical Mass...is not helping cycling...

Ste_S

Girofan, I'd argue that Kenny (directly or indirectly) has done far more for cycling in London than CM has.

Off the top of my head

Kenny

- Congestion Charge
- Grand Depart
- Hovis Freewheel

CM

- ?

Parkey

The trouble is that any such a demonstration always gets hijacked by the extremists.

For example, I agree with the notion that as energy policy goes forward we shouldn't be building new coal fired power stations. I don't, however, see how breaking into an existing power station with a view to cutting it off and consequently inconveniencing and angering a large number of people nearby when their lights go out will make anybody sympathise with that point of view.

I think events like the London to Brighton bike ride do more for the popularity of cycling.

OffTheBackAdam

It's where the Special Brew & spliffs lot have gone now they've not got as many hunts to aggrevate.

Crapaud

girofan wrote:

Never been near a CM demo, but critics of this group should remember that the alternatives fail to work.
Mealy-mouth politicians and councillors, plus the odd Hounorable and Lady Bountiful get the publicity they require by latching onto safer cycling initiatives. Then get back into their Jags and p**s off.
Remember, CM wouldn't be needed if cyclists had a voice that wasn't drowned by the transport lobby. <snip>

Alternatives do work. The London Cycle Campaign, for instance, has had some success - not earthshaking, headline grabbing stuff I'll grant you. I'm sure that this lot would be disappointed to find that, after all their work, all they needed to do was tootle around once a month. Then there's the CTC's successful campaign against the proposed Highway code change. Cycling does have a voice and it does work!

CM, on the other hand, has no (single) voice or message, and doesn't engage with those who can effect change. CM's only success has been to get the attention of the police.

girofan wrote:

What CM are saying IMO, is if you don't change, we will make you!!!

I don't believe that's what CM's saying - if it is, I would actively campaign against it. It'd be nothing more than bullying and would only make the general public and the authorities hostile towards cycling. I can believe that it would be the attitude of an element within CM though.