Mass arrests 'Critical Mass' cycle ride during Olympics opening

[Linford]

Oh yes I can. It's an absolute piece of piss.

Well you will really have to try harder next time because it didn't work for you on this occasion

 

[dellzeqq]

Found this report about CM san diego interesting
http://www.10news.com/news/31248243/detail.html

I've never thought much of shared paths (less still of boardwalks, which grab your tyres), and this has confirmed my antipathy. Bikes on the road, if you please!

 

[Linford]

In what way?

Critical Mass starts the last Friday of every month from the fountain in Balboa Park.

"Kind of showing people to share the road and trying to show that bicyclists are part of the traffic, too, so just be careful," said Jason Livecchi, who has participated in the event before.

Since Critical Mass arrived in the 1990s, some have said the antics have gone too far. YouTube videos show hundreds of participants storming into the Horton Plaza parking garage and Target. Those are hardly places where bicyclist rights are in question.

The assault on the couple, who are in their 50s, along the boardwalk is just the latest dust-up.

"That's really rare. Usually everyone's really respectful, very nice," said Livecchi.

"If they need to send a message, I don't think beating up an old couple is the right way to do it," said Monica Chavez, who was walking the boardwalk Wednesday.

They knocked a middle aged lady down because despite the claim that they wanted to share the space - in their actions, they really don't come across that way do they.....

 

[Linford]

I've never thought much of shared paths (less still of boardwalks, which grab your tyres), and this has confirmed my antipathy. Bikes on the road, if you please!

Hells bells, We are in agreement !

 

[PK99]

This post from the Pre July mass dicsussion on the CM london web site is intriguing:

We are prepared

23.07.2012 19:03
We are well aware that certain individuals are trying to politisize the Mass and steps have been taken to ensure this does not happen. There will be stewards at all points within the mass and spotters looking out for trouble makers and those attempting to hijack the Mass for their own purposes. Do be assured the Mas will as usual be chilled and respectful to all.

and also:

Not wanted

24.07.2012 10:04
I think some people are still not getting it - Critical Mass London does not want your political anti-Olympic protest. You do not represent the views of Critical Mass participants and you will be asked to leave the Mass if you attempt a demonstration or political act. A number of people have agreed to act as stewards and it has been agreed that they will intervene if political acts that are not in keeping with the Critical Mass ethos are undertaken.

Please make your protest elsewhere

Thank you.
Long time rider

Critical Mass boycotts olympigs

24.07.2012 12:47
As far as I'm aware CM will be boycotting the Olympigs. This means clearing off into South London, keeping it real and representing the streets on the streets. We won't have time for no funny olympig nonsense.

I don't know this, of course, I just think it. We'll see - but what I expect to happen is that all the numpty party poopers will get kettled on waterloo bridge and all the awesome people will be riding down Waterloo Road into the fine, fine free city of South London.

I encourage all other massers to push the idea. We head south! Then we can have some fun, Elephant and Castle, Brixton, Peckham, Camberwell and maybe, maybe head north once the opening ceremony is under way.

Can we have a couple of hours of freedom, of keeping the fuzz guessing, before those people who want to cause trouble start kicking off?

Can we please have our monthly bike ride? Because, basically, I don't want to be sitting in no jail cell so that some Waitrose-shopping-rupert-anarchist-yah can play the party pooper because daddy never watched him/her on sports day
Carlos X

Central London

24.07.2012 17:46
Some of us are coming from out of town for the cm. We are coming as it's important for the world to see there is some form of protest about these bullshit games. And we want to see and be seen in Central London not the southern slums.
Seems like there's a poster (probably a cop)with different names trying to cause division.
This is a great opportunity to wear your anti Olympic gear and cycle in a large group around busy central London.
All you pro Olympic morons go cycle somewhere else.
Anon

 

[GrumpyGregry]

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

Throwing your hands up and saying "nothing can be done" or "it's too difficult" is not compulsory.

Commercial users of fuel can be exempted, like farmers are, speed limits can be enforced by avg speed cameras everywhere, like they are for roadworks. All that is needed is the will to make our towns civilised places rather than racetracks.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

And I thought I'd had some bad experiences lately at the hand of crap drivers!

I still experience more consideration than crap from drivers though. I certainly agree urban speed limits should be lower and policed. Greg. We could be soulmates.

The point is we, as 'regular' or 'experienced' cyclists, develop a tolerance, an immunity, to the generalised nature of poor driving in town and countryside. Precisely because we experience so much of it. The 100cm pass becomes the 75cm, and we don't raise an eyebrow, the 75cm the 50, and we ride on smiling, the 50cm the 20, the 20 the 10, and we suck it up on the basis that it goes with the territory, until the point where the only thing we regard as crap driving is a leg shaver or copping a transit door mirror in the shoulder, and even then we think, "well I didn't actually crash so it's ok; just one of those things".

and as for what happens if a cyclist has the gall to ride in primary.....

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Back in the good old bad old days certain lanes in Moscow were reserved for government officials, who were conveyed in chauffeur-driven Zil limousines

Damn - beaten by Uncle Mort. And I only got to see one from the footpath.

The Zils have gone but some of the lanes still exist in Moscow. You can even buy the right to use them.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

In my experience the vast majority of car drivers do just that, evidence the fact that cycling is safe.

It isn't me you need to convince but the people who won't ride bikes on the streets of our towns and cities.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

As honesty is a bridge too far for Critical Mass..... I have moved on.

Hmm....... It seems like a grouping called Critical Manners is a good alternative to the BNP thugs like Critical Mass.
Critical Manners is for those who obey the traffic lights, want to improve the conditions for bike riders, cares about the environment and does not physically attack police officers and other hard working people. In other words; they are the excact opposite of the Critical Mass outing some days a.

Now, that is a cause well worth supporting. A local chapter may be set up and watch out for further announcements.

OK, on with the smiles again and the cheerful praise of a good Monday morning.

I've suggested "Convivial Mass" rides as the way forward on several occasions since I last took part in a CM

 

[GrumpyGregry]

What I am convinced of is that if people do not protest the privatisation of space, then we'll all be the losers. Even those who never leave their sofas.

^This.

 

[dellzeqq]

This post from the Pre July mass dicsussion on the CM london web site is intriguing:



and also:

well, to recap. The 'Critical Mass' website is simply some individuals take on the thing - there is no official line, there is no single point of view. That a large number of people turned up and went to Stratford suggests that at least some of them wanted to either make a point about the Olympics

 

[The Jogger]

So now we jump red lights, ride on pavements and fight with the police, great

I thought that looked like you in the video.

 

[MissTillyFlop]

You means those who has never lived together with a female and still think they know how to deal with them ?

Dear toroddf,

I would place you firmly in that category. This "girlfriend" of yours - is she inflatable, or your mother's corpse?

 

[MissTillyFlop]

and also:

Some of us are coming from out of town for the cm. We are coming as it's important for the world to see there is some form of protest about these bullshit games. And we want to see and be seen in Central London not the southern slums.
Seems like there's a poster (probably a cop)with different names trying to cause division.
This is a great opportunity to wear your anti Olympic gear and cycle in a large group around busy central London.
All you pro Olympic morons go cycle somewhere else.
Anon

So looks like they failed to stop the hijacking by massive pricks then.