Mass arrests 'Critical Mass' cycle ride during Olympics opening

[Pat "5mph"]

I don't, but I'm prepared to look it up.

Before you get stuck in to your dinner - answer me this. Would you rather cycle in Edinburgh or Glasgow? It's not a trick question - I would just like to know

DZ, I rarely go to Edinburgh, maybe once every couple of years.
Within the next couple of weeks I actually have to go there: I shall observe traffic, then answer your question.
I guess, though, it's always easier to cycle on routes you know well.

 

[dellzeqq]

Benny Rothman and his compatriots objected to the fact vast tracts of land were not open to them and set out to deliberately trespass to signal this objection. National Parks followed as a consequence but they were not the aim. Which bit of the public highway are CM rides attempting to reclaim? I can certainly sympathize with making cyclists and cycling more routine, everyday and mainstream but object when thuggish behaviour by some can be used to denigrate me just because I cycle. I feel the same about RLJing cyclists for the same reason.

the Zil lanes. And consider that Benny Rothman and others were accused of violence, arrested and (I think) sent to prison.

(later edit). People were accused of violence, convicted and sent to prison, but Benny Rothman wasn't among them.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Benny Rothman and his compatriots objected to the fact vast tracts of land were not open to them and set out to deliberately trespass to signal this objection. National Parks followed as a consequence but they were not the aim. Which bit of the public highway are CM rides attempting to reclaim? I can certainly sympathize with making cyclists and cycling more routine, everyday and mainstream but object when thuggish behaviour by some can be used to denigrate me just because I cycle. I feel the same about RLJing cyclists for the same reason.

Are you a union rep for the national union of cyclists? If not then you are not accountable for anything other cyclists do and anyone who thinks you are is, well, a bit thick, frankly.

 

[toroddf]

That long running rambler campaign was not about running riot and thuggery. It was all about a well crafted campaign where the trespassing on land owned by a small, pretty disgraceful xenophobic (and in many cases; members of Mosley's fascist party) bunch of landowners was just a small detail in a very big picture. You cannot justify CMs action some days ago with that ramblers argument. It is a downright factual and historical wrong.

 

[MissTillyFlop]

the Zil lanes. And consider that Benny Rothman and others were accused of violence, arrested and (I think) sent to prison.

So are you saying that these guys at the protest are in somehow superior to Rothman & the others? If not, why should they be let off with doing the same thing?

 

[CopperBrompton]

CMers generally have a visceral antipathy to the supremacy of the motorvehicle and would like our streets to be more various and joyful

Making the streets more joyful is decidedly not what CM achieves.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

increase fuel duty to punitive levels. That will sort it in a week.

Ach, you know that if you do that the price of all goods will raise.
And the delivery/taxi drivers will still go fast.

 

[dellzeqq]

That rambler thing was not about running riot and thuggery. It was all about a well crafted campaign where the trespassing on land owned by a small, pretty disgraceful xenophobic (and in many cases; members of Mosley's fascist party) bunch of landowners was just a small detail in a very big picture. You cannot justify CMs action some days ago with that ramblers argument. It is a downright factual and historical wrong.

sorry, but there are direct comparisons

the Kinder Scout trespassers were 400 in number. Some fell in to a fight with the gamekeepers, some were arrested and a couple were sent to prison. The rest is how you write history.

 

[middleagecyclist]

the Zil lanes. And consider that Benny Rothman and others were accused of violence, arrested and (I think) sent to prison.

I don't live in London (its true some of us live elsewhere) but these Zil lanes. Are they closed to cyclists only or to all traffic without an official Olympic pass? Will they carry on after the Olympics? Just asking as I'm not clear.

 

[MissTillyFlop]

Can we not just accept for the next four weeks, we as individuals are less important than the Olympics?

 

[dellzeqq]

I don't live in London (its true some of us live elsewhere) but these Zil lanes. Are they closed to cyclists only or to all traffic without an official Olympic pass? Will they carry on after the Olympics? Just asking as I'm not clear.

they vary, but, in a general way, they're only open to Olympic bigwigs in their chauffeur driven BMWs

 

[MissTillyFlop]

they vary, but, in a general way, they're only open to Olympic bigwigs in their chauffeur driven BMWs

And athletes so they don't miss their events.

 

[dellzeqq]

Can we not just accept for the next four weeks, we as individuals are less important than the Olympics?

could we perhaps have an Olympics founded on sustainable transport? Oh, sorry, that was exactly the basis on which the bid was won! .And, now I come to think of it, the target for people cycling and walking to the Olympics was 20%. What happened to that?

 

[toroddf]

the Zil lanes. And consider that Benny Rothman and others were accused of violence, arrested and (I think) sent to prison.

Strange........ the cabbies and the shop owners is also claiming the same lanes as their own. With some good justifications too. How many of them has been arrested again, did you say ? 182 ? How many of the cabbies and shop owners has violent attacked police officers ? Or maybe you don't want to answer that as the answers reveals your hypocrisy.

 

[dellzeqq]

And athletes so they don't miss their events.

really? I think you'll find that the athletes are not staying in fancy hotels in Park Lane