Bikes and anarchy
Who said bikes were tame - loads of publicity around this month's Critical Mass bike ride in London:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/10/324891.html
http://www.criticalmasslondon.org.uk/
http://www.urban75.com/Action/critical.html
As far as I can make out, Critical Mass is a monthly celebration of bicycles and other nonpolluting means of transportation, exercising the right to use the road.
Perhaps I reveal too much when I say I rather agree with the Guardian's view:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/wheels/story/0,,1600651,00.html
"Zero tolerance: the most overrated concept of our age. "
If you try and crack down on a peaceful and fairly harmless protest, you are asking for people to push back. I think the police have more pressing issues than a once a month bike protest - we'd all be a lot healthier if more people took to their pedals. If you force the organisation into the ranks of 'protesters' you're asking for more radical supporters to join. But there you go: they may know something I don't (almost certainly!)
The 'group' seems to have a laudable aim - cars can cause congestion at any time without a raised eyebrow, bikes are a good deal healthier. And the aims don't seem too anarchistic, although I've noted one or two websites which revel in protest (expecting revolution any day now) being highly supportive, which is sad in that it takes this out of the mainstream and puts people off joining.
Unfortunately the police seem to be imposing some kind of controls/limitations on the ride, which on the face of it seems a bit unnecessary, but my view is probably coloured by the fact that I don't have anything other than biased information.
I won't get a babysitter in time for this months ride, but it could be a great way to get in some road practise somewhere other than Reading. Or am I being naive?
Anyway, on my search for more information discovered people have been riding around London naked. I had no idea that biking could be so anarchic!
http://www.barewitness.org/worldnakedbikeride04.html
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/10/324891.html
http://www.criticalmasslondon.org.uk/
http://www.urban75.com/Action/critical.html
As far as I can make out, Critical Mass is a monthly celebration of bicycles and other nonpolluting means of transportation, exercising the right to use the road.
Perhaps I reveal too much when I say I rather agree with the Guardian's view:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/wheels/story/0,,1600651,00.html
"Zero tolerance: the most overrated concept of our age. "
If you try and crack down on a peaceful and fairly harmless protest, you are asking for people to push back. I think the police have more pressing issues than a once a month bike protest - we'd all be a lot healthier if more people took to their pedals. If you force the organisation into the ranks of 'protesters' you're asking for more radical supporters to join. But there you go: they may know something I don't (almost certainly!)
The 'group' seems to have a laudable aim - cars can cause congestion at any time without a raised eyebrow, bikes are a good deal healthier. And the aims don't seem too anarchistic, although I've noted one or two websites which revel in protest (expecting revolution any day now) being highly supportive, which is sad in that it takes this out of the mainstream and puts people off joining.
Unfortunately the police seem to be imposing some kind of controls/limitations on the ride, which on the face of it seems a bit unnecessary, but my view is probably coloured by the fact that I don't have anything other than biased information.
I won't get a babysitter in time for this months ride, but it could be a great way to get in some road practise somewhere other than Reading. Or am I being naive?
Anyway, on my search for more information discovered people have been riding around London naked. I had no idea that biking could be so anarchic!
http://www.barewitness.org/worldnakedbikeride04.html
posted by Waving hello! @ 10:54 pm
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