Critical Mass Rides - continue

NervexProf

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstop ... -rule.html

A victory for common sense.

spen666

does that mean I can continue to organise such demonstrations :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

synchronicity

Yeah but by its own definition, an unorganised ride isn't going to achieve much... Okay, so the article states they occur in 400 cities world wide -what have they got to show for it?

I'm siding with police on this one. What's wrong with them diverting traffic away from the ride if they know the route? Isn't that one of the aims of critical mass? To get cars out of the CBD???

spen666

synchronicity wrote:

Yeah but by its own definition, an unorganised ride isn't going to achieve much... Okay, so the article states they occur in 400 cities world wide -what have they got to show for it?

I'm siding with police on this one. What's wrong with them diverting traffic away from the ride if they know the route? Isn't that one of the aims of critical mass? To get cars out of the CBD???

THe ride is a fun ride round a city

There is no planned route and no organisation.

Try attending one and seeing for yourself



Let the police arrest & prosecute the organisers- bit like looking for a backbone in a jelly

STEFANOS4784

So critical mass ride in Bath?...................Anyone :?:

synchronicity

spen666 wrote:

Try attending one and seeing for yourself

Let the police arrest & prosecute the organisers- bit like looking for a backbone in a jelly

I have attended them in the past, in Sydney.

Are they actually ready to arrest cyclists or are they just asking for a bit of notice :?:

JULIANBRAMLEY

Why is purposefully obstructing normal people who happen to be driving going to suddenly make them empathise with cyclists?

boybiker

I have found new respect for drivers since I had a bit of a spill the other day and a driver seeing that I was looking a bit sorry for myself with blood dripping down my arm stopped,fished his first aid kit out the boot and put a bandage on and gave me a lift home.
So basically these type of events,designed simply to piss off drivers will never get my support.

BornAgainCyclist

boybiker wrote:

I have found new respect for drivers since I had a bit of a spill the other day and a driver seeing that I was looking a bit sorry for myself with blood dripping down my arm stopped,fished his first aid kit out the boot and put a bandage on and gave me a lift home.
So basically these type of events,designed simply to wee-wee off drivers will never get my support.

+1

Stewie Griffin

JULIANBRAMLEY wrote:

Why is purposefully obstructing normal people who happen to be driving going to suddenly make them empathise with cyclists?

Agreed, got stuck in Hyde Park years ago, I drove through it everyday to get to & home from work. One day on the way home half way through everything ground to a halt. Gay Pride. Be gay, be as happy as you friking well like but can I go about my day without having to wait for you to tell everyone how proud you are?

Sirius631

BornAgainCyclist wrote:

boybiker wrote:

I have found new respect for drivers since I had a bit of a spill the other day and a driver seeing that I was looking a bit sorry for myself with blood dripping down my arm stopped,fished his first aid kit out the boot and put a bandage on and gave me a lift home.
So basically these type of events,designed simply to wee-wee off drivers will never get my support.

+1

+2. I've been helped out by motorists, who have gone out of their way, on a couple occations. I think CM rides have done more harm than good, as they wind drivers up rather than pursuade them into any positive action. The best way to promote positive behaviour is to reward good driving with a wave of thanks, and to ride in a manner that doesn't invite trouble. Having been trained as a National Standard Cycling Instructor, I came to see how poor my riding style is , along with that of 90% of the cycling population. If we can disuade drivers from doing stupid things, we would reduce the tension that has been pumped up by the media.

Sirius631

avoidingmyphd

Is cycling around in a big group getting in motorists' way a good way to promote cycling? No.

Does that mean it should be illegal to take part in critical mass? No

We should all welcome this judgment, whether we agree with CM or not. It's a shame that a lot of the comments so far in this thread seem to think CM should be illegal on a public order technicality simply because they disagree with it.

boybiker

I don't think it should be made illegal, there are so many other things which should be punishable by public execution first,such as smoking a pipe in public, whistling ( if its an old man with a mangy dog then it should be death by boiling) and listening to Oasis under any circumstances.

ANC

Ok Critical Mass is fun, but I can see the potential for creating tension.

The real critical mass to aim for is mass everyday use of bikes through choice or necessity. Anything 'organised' like CM is grist to the mill of 'reds under the bed' reactionary fears.

As for using legal powers against CM..no way.

a) They are doing nothing illegal (apart from any individuals transgressing; pavements, red lights, etc.). Instead the authorities try to annexe the activity into illegality to suit them.

b) If such restrictions are applied, there's nothing to stop restrictions being applied to a natural 'critical mass', in areas that cycling becomes inconveniently popular, rather than invest in infrastructure (extreme example Beijing a decade ago, where the mass of everyday bicycle use was 'restricting' the expansion of 'aspirational' car use and they....banned bikes during rush hours, you couldn't make it up)

teagar

Stewie Griffin wrote:

JULIANBRAMLEY wrote:

Why is purposefully obstructing normal people who happen to be driving going to suddenly make them empathise with cyclists?

Agreed, got stuck in Hyde Park years ago, I drove through it everyday to get to & home from work. One day on the way home half way through everything ground to a halt. Gay Pride. Be gay, be as happy as you friking well like but can I go about my day without having to wait for you to tell everyone how proud you are?

I think someone's got something hidden deep in the closet .

Stewie Griffin

no, no, no not at all actually :oops: .