Mass arrests 'Critical Mass' cycle ride during Olympics opening

[dellzeqq]

So 182 arrests, violence and theatre is supposed to give us safer cycle lanes and more tolerance from the car drivers ?

read the thread. Be grateful. And, since the other guy hasn't answered the question, perhaps you might.

Oh - and no thanks on the cycle lanes.........

 

[Hector]

we all do that....

You miss my point, but it is one that you've made in previous posts about volumes of cyclists on the road and that increased volume means more exposure that cyclists have the right as other road users
to use the road.

The bit that's miffed me is trying to link a CMR to the above, and then further trying to justify a load of idiots trying to gate crash the Olympics over some poxy ZIL lanes - WTF?!

Questioning a fellow forumite on what they've done for cycling and saying you'll get the pop corn - quit with the open ended hyperbole questions it don't work, but if you do want popcorn might I suggest Butterkist Toffee. It's scrumdiddlyumptious.

 

[toroddf]

Probably noone will get charged, Greg. But people will only read the "182 arrested" headline today and not read the "noone was charged" one paragraph big note disclaimer tucked away on page 27 (below the Volvo advert) in Tuesdays newspapers. Everyone, that is our constituents btw, will read the headline but not the disclaimer. That is media and that is our not so perfect world. So stay out of the headlines.

 

[dellzeqq]

BTW, after the Olympics, what will become of the Olympic traffic lanes? Will they maybe stay as cycling lanes?

the centre lanes in four lane roads..no. But some will revert to bus lanes.

Actually, Pat, the more I look at those Olympic (or 'Zil) lanes in the flesh the less I understand them. They're all over the shop. The ones on Kensington High Street feed in to............actually I've no idea. In an odd sort of way they're the 'negative' of bike lanes - they just get you to the next more complicated intersection more quickly.

 

[dellzeqq]

You miss my point, but it is one that you've made in previous posts about volumes of cyclists on the road and that increased volume means more exposure that cyclists have the right as other road users
to use the road.

The bit that's miffed me is trying to link a CMR to the above, and then further trying to justify a load of idiots trying to gate crash the Olympics over some poxy ZIL lanes - WTF?!

Questioning a fellow forumite on what they've done for cycling and saying you'll get the pop corn - quit with the open ended hyperbole questions it don't work, but if you do want popcorn might I suggest Butterkist Toffee. It's scrumdiddlyumptious.

baffling.........

the point of the question is this. The very people who complain loudest about people doing stuff often don't do anything themselves. I await enlightenment.

 

[MissTillyFlop]

I've been on dozens of CMs and not seen one violent incident. Actually I have seen one violent incident, when a cab driver knocked a cyclist off and the police jumped all over him. The difference between the Stratford CM and the rest is that the police were always going to make a point. It would have been a lot smarter to hand out sweeties.

By a strange co-incidence I led a ride last week that was trailed by the police. One of the things CM taught me is to make the first move to defuse a situation. I went to the back of the ride, hailed down the police car, and said 'since you're too polite to ask, this is who we are and this is what we're doing'. The cops, half my age, didn't have much option but to smile about it. In my time at CM we talked to the cops all the time, and they talked to us, and it's fair to say that there was a deal of affection. I'd challenge the younger ones to sprints. My strong suspicion is that the cops at Stratford hadn't seen a CM before and got over-anxious. Combine that with a bunch of kids out for high jinks and..........

I thought the thread was about those toerag kids out for hijinx? They are the ones who I'm pissed at thy should be charged with wasting police time.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

Ok, Greg, what you write about your commute is normal, imo, wherever you live.
I don't think cyling theatre will make drivers slow down, but to each his own opinion.
If there is an alternative to a busy road, I think is more realistic to persue this option, instead of expecting cars to slow down for cyclists.

Sent from my laptop, cat asleep on the keyboard

 

[toroddf]

The very people who complain loudest about people doing stuff often don't do anything themselves. I await enlightenment.

"Doing something themself" is in this case sabotaging a perfectly good case. For that, I am nothing but angry. Ten expletives removed.

 

[dellzeqq]

high jinks are the stuff of adolescence. And long may they continue. (Although with some CMers they've continued a loooong time)

 

[CopperBrompton]

I've done some walking in them, skipping, dancing shopping, hopping, cycling, skating, piggybacking, some (very bad) driving and pogosticking and none has ever tried to deny me my right to do so.

Yeah, but you can only do those things thanks to Critical Shoppers, Critical Pogostickers, etc.

 

[dellzeqq]

"Doing something themself" is in this case sabotaging a perfectly good case. For that, I am nothing but angry. Ten expletives removed.

Angry? Expletives? I'd go for a bike ride..........

(and, actually, having whizzed up to Kensington this morning, I am going for my second ride of the day. Ah...........the delights of Streatham High Road)

 

[toroddf]

high jinks are the stuff of adolescence. And long may they continue. (Although with some CMers they've continued a loooong time)

Thank you for clearing up the doubts we had about CM. You now claim this has nothing to do with promoting the bike riding in London and the environment. You claim this is about high jinks, being moronic, childish, idiot and creating as much disorder as possible.

Thank you for this clarification.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Ok, Greg, what you write about your commute is normal, imo, wherever you live.
I don't think cyling theatre will make drivers slow down, but to each his own opinion.
If there is an alternative to a busy road, I think is more realistic to persue this option, instead of expecting cars to slow down for cyclists.

Sent from my laptop, cat asleep on the keyboard

Normal perhaps. So was beating your wife once upon a time. Normal is as normal does and times change.

Cycling theatre, and other forms of cycle campaigning, raise the profile of cycling and this influences those who make the decisions about how to allocate public space in favour of cyclists.

I don't expect drivers to slow down for cyclists. The Law expects them to exercise greater care around vulnerable road users. Why might that be?

 

[Pat "5mph"]

baffling.........

the point of the question is this. The very people who complain loudest about people doing stuff often don't do anything themselves. I await enlightenment.

Aye, but there are different ways to do things! Do we have to cause disruption to make a point?

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Thank you for clearing up the doubts we had about CM. You now claim this has nothing to do with promoting the bike riding in London and the environment. You claim this is about high jinks, being moronic, childish, idiot and creating as much disorder as possible.

Thank you for this clarification.

it is entirely possible to promote a thing by indulging in high jinks.
I recently rode an mtb down 6 flights of stairs to promote cycling training.