Critical Mass = Legal

Full text of the judgement here (spread over four web pages):

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200708/ldjudgmt/jd081126/metro-1.htm

Slight variations in opinion, but a by and large unanimous judgement.

Like Skully, I think the implications are very positive.

That guinea fowl must've put them in a relaxed mood.

Instead of a monthly ride on a Friday night, all cyclists should rent cars and drive to work on a Monday morning at about 8am.

Me likely.

Is there not a danger that the only awareness these rides are raising in motorists is that of how much they hate cyclists?

Besides, I've passed CM a couple of times (in the opposite direction) and the majority of motorists, whilst looking very fed up, are so far back in the ensuing traffic jam that they don't even know what's causing it. Not to mention the green impact of all those idling engines, which, though I'm pretty indifferent to it, strikes me as the kind of thing most people on the rides are concerned with.

And the port.

Wow, interesting to note that the precedent set isn't just for 'traditional' events but new ones too... So the grounds that notification of a route doesn't have to be given isn't due to traditional events not needing to do so, it's because they're random and don't have a predetermined route. This may have big implications for other protests that are meant to have been inhibited by the SOCPA. Hooray for our right to protest freely. Gawd love them Law Lords.

Yeah !

I wrote to John ( |³|MA3K ) last week saying that I thought that if the Bridges™ ride grew any more (last ride 300 wheels) it would start to creep towards CM levels by next Summer - and additionally as it rode through the SOCPA zone - maybe he might want to consider not being so prominent as an 'organiser' as I can't imagine the police taking so much time, effort (and legal cost) to attempt to curtail (and ultimately kill off?) CM, whilst ignoring another (potentially large) mass ride through London.

But this decision negates much of my concern.

Fucking cool.

:D

Like Skully, I think the implications are very positive.

Me too ! :D

Though, I have to say, Wiganwill's question is a good one. I like CM for some subtle reasons I can't really express. Same as going on a night ride with you lot.

Loads of people out riding their bikes through London's famous London on a friday night instead of rotting their faces off in front of the telly. A chance for angry lcc members to shout at the police.

Actually, LCC has no connection with Critical Mass. Individual members go of their own initiative, but I think you'd find that they wouldn't come to CM particularly angry. We have lots of ways in channelling our energy positively.

CM is just another cycling event among the many that happen in London. As Chris and others say, it's a bit of fun, although of course different people perceive it in different ways. For some, the mere fact that people come together in pursuit of a minority activity means that it must be a protest. It's all part of the wider discussion of what it means to use our streets for more than the daily grind and rushing around. You don't have to formally protest to do something positive, you can just get on with actually doing what you're in favour of.

I go to CM because it's one of the most relaxed ways of catching up with friends while riding around London and going for a pint or a meal afterwards. I have many happy memories of CMs.

Historically, it was quite a new idea when it first started. It is less new and original now but I think it still has its place. Many people feel a little isolated in everyday traffic owing to the low modal share of cycling and CM can be a nice experience of togetherness. I also like the fact that it does bring very different people together.

Some people are unlucky enough to go on their first CM and have a bad experience and some witness confrontations and are very much put off by them, but I would say that on balance it has probably shown more people what is possible through cycling than it has pissed people off.

I may be missing the point of Critical Mass, but I think it's a fun Friday night out. Riding around town is great, but stopping traffic in Piccadilly Circus so nobody can go home for the weekend is kind of dumb.

It's not everyone's cup of tea, all that waving your bikes in the air business. Some people positively don't want to do that stuff, like me, who enjoy Mass when it's actually moving. But again, Sano, a good point.

Great news. a CM is one of the rare times in London that you can ride around with friends and not have to worry about being pushed into the curb or feel imperilled whilst riding your bike.
I think that is the point.

Yep, I agree. I'm down for that part of it, for sure.

Yup, fair point taken on both counts (assuming I've managed the multi-quote function properly)

How very kind of you to explain to me what i really meant. I've never had much facility with the English language.

No problem, glad to be of service. Normally I charge £295 an hour for that but for you this time it's free ;)

Great news. a CM is one of the rare times in London that you can ride around with friends and not have to worry about being pushed into the curb or feel imperilled whilst riding your bike.
I think that is the point.

The time I hung with you and Jason was probably my best Mass ever. You're so right.

and still a rip off :)

Aaaaaah I see you've employed me before!

Brilliant. I've always wondered why the Police get so arsey about it, it's always the last friday of every month, and has been for how many years? It's not like they don't know it's going to happen.

Anyway, great news - see you all on friday!

Shit, am gonna miss it this month cos my film's showing at the NFT.

what film?

And that would be the end of history would it Chris? There are now more states with nuclear weapons than when the Berlin wall fell, proxy wars continue around the world (Darfur for example though that's not a simple USA v USSR style conflict but one involving several proxies) and Russia has the ability to hold western Europe to ransom through it's supply of oil and gas. I guess the opponents of the Greenham Common protest must be happy as larry that their policies worked so well and we live in a more secure and stable world.

They won their war, we have enjoyed about 50 years of prosperity so far. There are other wars, but i highly doubt a bunch of soap dodgers will win them. but again I don't really care, its just wrong to assume that greenham comon had much at all to do with the state of the world as we know it.

Shit, am gonna miss it this month cos my film's showing at the NFT.

i think i have a ticket.

haven't been to more than 2 CM's and I've enjoyed them both, I think the greatest achievement of it is to give people who ride bikes a glimpse of what is like to ride with a bunch of other cyclists, something people rarely do as most just commute, think of that feeling you have going on the bridges ride for the first time or one of the longer rides to brighton/southend/cambridge/oxford/canterbury, that social, riding your bike talking to other people riding bikes, its a great feeling, and so I assume people come out on the Mass for more of the same.
London as a city and the UK as a whole are still miles away from reaching the tipping point, in relation to bikes on the roads and other road users, looking out for and being aware of us. If Critical Mass helps in that respect then its a good thing, if it doesn't or is past its sell by date, then people need to figure out something else that will...

oh how you do miss your rep system eh?

what film?

This film, hon

http://www.londonfgss.com/thread12193.html

Hope you can swerve your life in it's direction on Friday. Otherwise another time, It'll be on at ICA sometime soon I gather.

i really like critical mass. it's empowering to ride around on the streets of london with your mates and not worry about motorvehicle traffic. i think everyyone who did the bridges ride recently agrees that this was one of the best parts of the event. but cm is fun, and that's really all it's meant to be, no?

and i'm well chuffed about this ruling. it's a definite victory for common sense.