TFL Die In

[theclaud]

The Claud, the cut and paste specialist.

I got stuck behind something like this in Berlin a while back. I had no idea what they were protesting. But dozens of cyclists blocked the road, got the beers out and hung around for an hour. No attempt was made to interact with the drivers. No chat, no flyers, no nothing. What was the point? All it did was alienate them even more.

Steve

Oooooh! The text, as a wise man once said, is a "tissue of quotations drawn from the innumerable centres of culture."

There will be flyers, banners etc on this one. I'd have thought critical mass or similar was the most likely explanation, althoughs those are usuallly moving - and if the purpose isn't self-explanatory it at least offers the opportunity to think about why drivers get annoyed by cyclists holding them up but take it for granted that motor traffic will bring everything to a near standstill at least twice a day. But one might have thought, if you were stuck for an hour, that it might constitute an opportunity to talk to someone and find out what it was about...

 

[steveindenmark]

The problem with the Berlin event was that it didn't look as though the cyclists wanted to educate anyone about anything. It actually looked as though they just wanted to stop the traffic, prove a point and pixx everyone off. They certainly achieved their aims.

If there are going to be flyers and information, it could be an interesting experiment. Doing it on a Friday when everyone wants to get home is probably not the best idea though.

Who organises these events?

Steve

 

[Frood42]

The problem with the Berlin event was that it didn't look as though the cyclists wanted to educate anyone about anything. It actually looked as though they just wanted to stop the traffic, prove a point and pixx everyone off. They certainly achieved their aims.

If there are going to be flyers and information, it could be an interesting experiment. Doing it on a Friday when everyone wants to get home is probably not the best idea though.

Who organises these events?

Steve

IMO, I think that is the best time, or it will just be forgotten far too easily.
As long as it is marshalled properly then it shouldn't be a problem.

Have you seen some of the traffic queues that can build up in London when things like this aren't even happening?
I have seen queues all along Victoria Embankment, which made for some interesting filtering, I was very careful not to knock off any wing mirrors as well.
.

 

[Frood42]

From: "Rhiannon Redpath via Campaigns by You" <campaignsbyyou@38degrees.org.uk>
Date: 27 Nov 2013 16:51
Subject: Friday

Dear friends,

This Friday, over 2,000 cyclists, drivers and pedestrians will lie down on Blackfriars Road in front of Transport for London’s HQ for what will be London's largest ever Mass Cycle Die-In.

[1] A quick glance at the newspapers this week will show you that the MET police, City Hall and political parties are starting to take notice.

[2] But to achieve the real change we want to see, we need to keep up the pressure.

By gathering in our masses for peaceful protest, we have a chance to clearly reveal the problem we face: the deaths of those who cycle. It gives us a chance to say ‘there is an alternative to this’. This action will help to send a powerful message not just to Boris, but to TfL, Borough councils, and to all Londoners.
The more people that are there, the bigger it will be. The bigger it is, the harder it will be to ignore. I’m going to be there. Will you join me?
Friday, from 5pm, TfL's HQ at The Palestra Building, 197 Blackfriars Road (opposite Southwark Tube Station).

Here is all the information you need:
Join the event on Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/events/568751353179586/?fref=ts
Website:www.stopthekilling.org.uk
Use the hashtag: #TfLDieIn

The Dutch didn’t just wake up one day with the cycle infrastructure they now have. They organised. They laid down on their streets in peaceful protest. They changed the way that their politicians think

[3]. We can do that too.

Look forward to seeing many of you there.

Cycle safe,
Rhiannon

P.S. The Mass Cycle Die-In is organised by un-affiliated grassroot cyclists who feel the recent tragedies mean that radical action now has to happen quickly to make London's roads safer for all Londoners. This is a peaceful protest.

NOTES:
[1] From 5:00pm, thousands will gather outside TfL Headquarters for a vigil in memory of those cyclists who have died. At 5:30pm, we will lie down on Blackfriars Road in front of TfL's HQ at The Palestra Building, 197 Blackfriars Road (opposite Southwark Tube Station).

[2] Of note, City Hall are hosting a Summit on CS2 tomorrow night: http://cityhalllabour.org/cycling-superhighway-2-safety-summit/ It is open to the public, and Andrew Gilligan will be attending. I’m going along, and have booked extra places - if you want to come along, hit reply to let me know and I’ll add you to the Save Our Cyclists list of attendees. Exciting!

[3] Bicycle Dutch, How the Dutch got their cycling infrastructure, http://bicycledutch.wordpress.com/2011/10/20/how-the-dutch-got-their-cycling-infrastructure/

You received this email because you signed the petition 'Save Our Cyclists'.
.

 

[Rouge79]

I used to agree with many of the sentiments above saying that "it won't make a difference"

However times are a changing and IMO and others now is the time to act!! So much press and TV coverage regarding cycling safety and with more exposure of this event on C4, hopefully the politicians will finally listen and start to make remedies.

I used to be 100% against CM but even with that i am now in favour.

 

[newfhouse]

There's a bit of confusion regarding the aims of this protest. Facebook lists these aims:

- We need Amsterdam levels of money spent per person on London's Cycling Safety NOW.
- Cycling Organisations need at least 2 formal Board Members on TfL Board.
- We need ALL Boroughs to be spending at least 10% of their Mayoral approved transport budgets spent on cycling infrastructure.
- We need all Borough and TfL Transport Heads qualified to deliver Dutch Style safety or be fired.
- Children, pensioners and inexperienced adults should not be forced to share space with HGVs and Buses.
- We need a FULL Integrated safely designed segregated cycle network in London within 5 years.
- ALL dangerous junctions need to be redesigned to Dutch standards ASAP.
- Ban on any vehicles whose drivers cannot see adjacent road-users
- Make Oxford Street a pedestrian/cyclling only street
- All London streets to be 20mph
- Compulsory Cycle Awareness training for all truck/bus companies operating in London
- Protection for cyclists on Left Hand Turns to become standard design at major junctions
- Filtered LHT to be legal for cyclists with top priority for pedestrians.

and http://stopthekilling.org.uk/ lists just these three:

1. The Mayor and Boroughs to spend at least the same per person on cycling provision as The Netherlands (the UK spends about £1.25 per person – The Netherlands spends about £33 per person);
2. A ban on vehicles whose drivers cannot see adjacent road-users; and,
3. A full London-wide segregated network to be built urgently.

I'm not convinced that the call for full segregation is sensible or desirable but I still intend to attend this event to support the broad message.

 

[Rouge79]

I too don't fully agree with all the aims. Total segregation can present its own issues. Cars and cyclists need to learn how to share road space.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Snippet from an email:

The Mass Cycle Die-In is organised by un-affiliated grassroot cyclists who feel the recent tragedies mean that radical action now has to happen quickly to make London's roads safer for all Londoners. This is a peaceful protest.

It's the unaffiliated and grassroots bit that counts. While more organised interests, LCC for example, consider segregation to be part of their aims, they are not leading the ride, they are participating in it. Being prepared to say ''stop the killing'' is all it needs in essence and don't believe that it's necessary to align yourself with the whole gamut of a participating organisation's policies.

 

[gaz]

I'll be there. Not sure what time though.

 

[Kies]

I will be there on the Dahon - come say hello if you see me

 

[slowmotion]

I recklessly promised, hereabouts, that I would sample a Critical Mass ride on the same evening. I'm getting cold feet about it, the more I discover.
Might I be allowed to attend The Die In instead, and still maintain my thinly-smeared street cred? It sounds a lot more like my"cup of tea" than CM.
What say, Comrades?

 

[RedRider]

I recklessly promised, hereabouts, that I would sample a Critical Mass ride on the same evening. I'm getting cold feet about it, the more I discover.
Might I be allowed to attend The Die In instead, and still maintain my thinly-smeared street cred? It sounds a lot more like my"cup of tea" than CM.
What say, Comrades?

I imagine the two mingling and you'll be able to claim both.

 

[slowmotion]

I imagine the two mingling and you'll be able to claim both.

Being "Dead" and then "Critical" seems a bit "arse about tit".

 

[RedRider]

Being "Dead" and then "Critical" seems a bit "arse about tit".

Ha. Just like Benjamin Button only more fun.

 

[wiggydiggy]

If this was done, much of the rest would not be as necessary. All it needs is better policing, and police and magistrates to throw the book at drivers on phones, and inconsiderate driving in general. People would eventually get the point.

How will sitting in the road achieve this?