The Cyclists Who Bring Capital To Standstill

[Origamist]

Can you provide a link because I've tried to search the TRL site and not been able to find it?

http://www.trl.co.uk/online_store/r...ty/report_drivers_perceptions_of_cyclists.htm

 

[Origamist]

With that clarification, I'd stand by the 'mean'. I can't think of anywhere where I've encountered so much impatience, intolerance and ignorance directed towards cyclists from other cyclists. I've heard the argument that this attitude is more about London than about cycling and I think there's a degree of truth in that. But it don't make it pleasant.

In many ways my dislike of CM comes from a frustration that something as simple as a personal means of transport has become so politicised and divisive. Naive I know in a country where lightbulbs can create full-page headlines.

I think Blazed has started a fab thread in Beginners all about London cyclists...

Turn the clock back 30 years and people in the Netherlands were protesting and blocking streets in order to combat high levels of (often speeding) traffic - woonerfs aka home zones soon followed as a result of this direct action.

 

[Bollo]

I think Blazed has started a fab thread in Beginners all about London cyclists...

Turn the clock back 30 years and people in the Netherlands were protesting and blocking streets in order to combat high levels of (often speeding) traffic - woonerfs aka home zones soon followed as a result of this direct action.

Ahhhh Mr B. He's made quite the impact hasn't he? I'm too busy cruising his six-figure porn sites to get involved.

Like the excellent TRL report points out, its often human nature to fall into the trap of generalisation. I know it's much more complex than 'All London cyclists are tw@ts' but frustration leads to simplification.

Unfortunately our pro-car juggernaut has been rolling far longer here than in the Netherlands. Direct action in this country is more likely to focus on 'stealth tax' speed cameras, 'unfair' fuel taxes and 'outrageous' parking fees. The child has been well and truly spoiled.

Despite my negative tone I think there is positive change happening but its slow, discrete and unglamorous. It's not just about London and it's definitely not about CM. That's why it doesn't make the news.

 

[CopperBrompton]

CM used to be a fun event, in the days when it was policed, but I was appalled at the last one I went on.

Those out to cause trouble and confrontation were still very much in the minority, but there were enough of them to make it a thoroughly unpleasant event: cyclists deliberately placing their bikes in front of other vehicles, cycling straight at pedestrians who had the lights in their favour, etc.

I won't be going on any more of these until the police are back on the rides.

 

[Origamist]

A bit more back history - in the late 1990s the Met deployed police motorbikers who accompanied the mass and they would do most of the corking. C of L police cyclists did not arrive on the scene untill much later, IIRC.

 

[CopperBrompton]

Why were CoL cops operating out of their area?

 

[Origamist]

Reg - I remember dealing with the Met on CMs pre-2000 - perhaps they were not officially designated to accompany the ride?

 

[Origamist]

City of London always took the lead. Sometimes Met officers were used.

That would make sense. Do you know why the Met took over the policing of CM?

 

[Origamist]

From what I can gather, there were two reasons. The City of London police didn't want the job any more and the Met police wanted to close Critical Mass down as it mainly happened on 'their patch'.

That's it basically.

Pretty much what I thought - thanks.

 

[CopperBrompton]

User, interesting, thanks for clearing up that little mystery!

Origamist, I spoke to one of the bicycle cops in the days when it was policed, and he told me that only two bicycle cops were officially assigned to police the event - all the rest were there off-duty, after their shifts had ended.

 

[thomas]

Not read all the comments, I wasn't on that ride (was planning on going, but it was a friend's birthday), went 2 months before and want to go to this month's one.

I think I recognise the chap in the first video saying "you'll get there in the end"....I think! I had a little chat with him when one policeman were getting all mouthy without any real need. Actually quite a nice bloke.

The comments: But he added: "Most of the confrontations fizzle out. It's a bit of bravado, but that's about it really." seem to sum it up pretty well. From what I could tell there were a lot of drivers willing to act tough, then realised there were thousands of other cyclists who would break anything up...same with, when the cyclists were misbehaving other cyclists would try to ease the situation.

If anyone is planning on going to this month's ride give me a PM - I'll be going up either by myself or with one friend, so if anyone wants to meet up that'd be great.

 

[CopperBrompton]

The problem is, that 'bravado' (what I would term pointless aggression towards motorists and pedestrians alike) turns an event that ought to win us friends into something that winds people up and gives cyclists a bad name.

 

[thomas]

The problem is, that 'bravado' (what I would term pointless aggression towards motorists and pedestrians alike) turns an event that ought to win us friends into something that winds people up and gives cyclists a bad name.

The bravado isn't just from the cyclists, it's from all groups. I saw a lot more motorists get unnecessarily angry than cyclists.

 

[CopperBrompton]

I've seen taxi drivers and cyclists having heated arguments on CM, and I think all of it was due to the manner in which CM members blocked cabs.

Sure, the 'corking' of junctions helps keep the ride together, but there are ways and ways of doing it. I used to help organise motorcycle 'toy runs', where bikers took toys to kids in hospital. We used to 'cork' junctions, but the way in which this was done was for a biker to park their bike at the junction then go and explain to the frontmost drivers what was happening.

It was all done with lots of smiles and assurances that they'd be on their way in just a few minutes. We never had any hassles or aggression.

It could be done the same way on CM, but in my experience isn't: it's done aggressively, with no smiles and no explanations - just someone plonking their bike right in front of a cab and standing there with a 'What are you going to do about it?' expression.

 

[thomas]

I've seen people try to explain, but when some of the drivers get a bee in their bonnet it doesn't really matter.

I wonder if your kids thing, involved cyclists, rather than motorcyclists, if people's reaction would be different.