Hey.
At the last london critical mass bike ride, the cops handed out a letter that warned participants may be liable for prosecution and that “Police policy in facilitating these events is currently under review”…
Mostly the cops on bikes and motorbikes follow along with the critical mass cyclists, withvery little bother. Now it seems they may be preparing to start clamping down on the bike riders.
This year in new york – after yrs of pretty trouble free events – the cops have started arresting people etc etc – wonder if this will happen here?
God this country’s getting fucking depressing. Anyway – here’s the info on the next critical mass ride, where people are hoping there will be a strong turn out…
London CM meets at 6pm on the last Friday of each and every
month. The first 45 minutes or so is usually spent socialising and the ride has usually left the meet-up point by 7pm. On average the ride lasts about 2 hours but the time is flexible depending on who is there and what the weather is like. This meet up point is central, chilled out and great for pre-ride socialising/planning.
There are a couple of bars/cafes nearby for any cyclists looking for refreshments. The ride often flows around central London taking in major tourist attractions. There is no set route, and the direction we move in is spontaneously chosen as we cycle. Anyone is free to join or leave the ride while it is taking place. The ride usually ends somewhere pretty central, often a pub! People on any form of unpowered wheeled transport are also welcome (eg skates, skateboards, unicycles, wheelchairs, supermarket trolleys…).
SO WHY IS THIS CRITICAL MASS GOING TO BE THE BIGGEST EVER?
On Sept 30th police (who usually facilitate the mass in an
unobtrusive way) handed out warning letters to cyclists
(reproduced overleaf) in an indefensible attack on freedom of
assembly/expression/transport, and the mass will go ahead bigger and more fun than ever in the face of this unprecedented attempt at repression.
Critical Mass in London has rolled on since 1994 without police threatening to use the POA to impose conditions. Why invoke it now when there’s been no need up to now?
Why are they wasting time threatening innocent cyclists? Car
drivers flock together to block the roads on a daily basis
commuting to and from work. We don’t block the traffic – we ARE the traffic!!!
[url]http://www[/url]. criticalmasslondon.org.uk
New Scotland Yard
CO11 Public Order Branch
London
SW11 OBG
Critical Mass Cycle Demonstrations
Organisers of public processions are required by law to notify police at least 6 days before the event occurs of the date, time, proposed route and the name and address of an organiser. Failure to do so makes the event unlawful
Demonstrations within a designated area around Parliament must also be notified, and anyone taking part in an unauthorised demonstration commits an offence.
Police can impose conditions on processions, demonstrations and other assemblies, and participants render themselves liable to arrest if they fail to comply with those conditions.
These cycle protests are not lawful because no organiser has provided police the with the necessary notification. Your participation in this event could render you liable to prosecution.
Police policy in facilitating these events is currently under review.
If you intend to organise a future similar event please refer to the Metropolitan Police website, http://www.met.police.uk for details. It is preferable for all parties if a lawful event can be safely facilitated, rather than the Police having to enforce legislation.
Superintendent Gomm
New Scotland Yard
Thank you for your letter of the 29th in which you raised your concern that perhaps cyclists might be breaking the law by organising public processions. However, your concern is misplaced since the monthly community ride is not a procession or indeed a protest. Critical mass has no route and no organisers and doesn’t aim to be a demonstration.
While new draconian laws now prohibit democracy around Parliament without prior notification this really has nothing to do with the monthly critical mass bike ride which is an ongoing event and nothing new – just like Brian Haw’s constant vigil.
Police may like to impose conditions on critical mass and arrest participants not complying to such conditions. However, nobody involved in the ride is in a position to negotiate with the
police as the event is by nature, unorganised and without leaders.
These cycle rides are lawful even though no organiser has provided police the with the necessary notification and while participation may render one liable to wrongful arrest I am certain that we would be victorious in court and well compensated for any assault or unlawful detention resulting from such an action.
If you intend to review police policy in ‘facilitating’ these events please refer to the dozens of critical mass related websites. It is preferable for all parties to be aware of Human Rights Acts so that unlawful acts by the police can be avoided, rather than wasting court time on overturning bad legislation.
Pedal Pusher
Homepage: http://www.criticalmasslondon.org.uk/
i just bought a new (second hand) bike and riding it feels like an expression of freedom
and fuque the coquesuquez
critical mass is no different to any group of friends going on a group bike ride without pre-organisation…. which happens every day in most parts of the country – I can’t see it causing any major disruption as the ride starts at 19:00 which is after the rush hour..
restricting the use of bicycles is a very dodgy step for any government, it was used by the Nazis and the Taleban in Afghanistan
it already happened to the NY critical mass… mass arrests and confiscation of many bicycles
See http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/10/324919.html
Bike Biz .com website commentated over the weekend:
“Going on a club run in London? Tell the cops six days beforehand….
At the 30th September Critical Mass ride in London, bike police leafleted the riders. “Public processions” – especially those taking in the sights of Westmister – must now register with New Scotland Yard or the participants could get nicked. So, will groups of cyclists be arrested in future if they don’t lodge route details with the Met?”
I guess some of this then is directly linked to the ‘no protest zone’ around parliament, as i assume the cyclists cycle past there.
And yeah,apparently they’ve even used fucking nets in New York to trap people before arresting them!
doesn’t surprise me one bit. I remember reading somewhere that in some US states you actually need to register a bicycle with the traffic licensing authority… 🙁
Get every single “member” of CM to write/call the police to say they’re going on a bike ride with their mates, route undetermined. 6000 letters should keep them so busy there’s no room for beat officers and bully boy tactics. Let the paperwork do the walking 😉
and fuque the coquesuquez
absofuckinglutely. its ridiculous that riding your bike is now an arrestable offence. i didnt realise that lawabout notification of prosecions was valid either. boooo.
I heard about this. Shit but not really unexpected considering CMs involvement in direct action protests. I remember critical mass used to often be the first to take the road at reclaim the streets parties. Wern’t they getting hassled by the cops for their involvement in the mayday protests?
protests aside, cyclists can be arrested for all manner of traffic offences – this has been the case since shortly after bicycles were invented!
in the late 1800s the Victorian nimby brigade thought bikes were dangerous, subversive machines…..
In one of my cycling books there’s a cartoon of a “victorian Chav” who has ridden through some small village at speed, knocking down old ladies and dogs and the bobbies are trying to stop him on foot (without much success).
This is also one reason why kids have their cycling proficiency training at age 10 – its the minimum age for criminal responsibility.
you can be done for being drunk (or unfit through drugs) in charge of a bicycle, and dangerous cycling, but people are rarely nicked as they are difficult to catch unless the cops are also on bikes!
there’s even a crime of “furious cycling” – there is no speed limit for a bicycle, so its left up to the cops to decide what the safe limit is.
A bobby can also stop you and inspect your brakes, lights etc for roadworthiness..
its possible all these tactics could be used by cops to disrupt critical mass style protests, or any other group ride they take exception to.
there are lots more bobbies on bikes nowadays (new mountain bikes with blues and twos!) – not just there to project a traditional British image but also to deal with street crime and drug dealing where cycles are used as transport and getaway vehicles.
OTOH if your bike is in good order and you follow the highway code they can’t get you on that one… but there’s still the wider issue about the banning of protests around Parliament and restrictions on movement in London.
I can to an extent understand this following 7/7 – but TBH I would suspect any danger which does exist is far more from extreme-right terrorists who may try to cause an explosion at a protest to spread FUD.
I still can’t see how a group of cyclists could pose any major threat to the Houses of Parliament; particularly as they are fairly well guarded..
Even Baron Greenback couldn’t pull that one off..
from South London Press. A victory in Court – but bear in mind this does not stop the black rats (traffic cops) from attending and busting people for any traffic offences they can think of (as described above)
By Robert Dex
hope its the biggest ride everraaaraaaraaa
i think its the sign of a world gone mad that the Met are trying to arrest cyclists for cycling:you_crazy:you_crazy:you_crazy
in these days of sky high crude derivative prices we need more cyclists not less:bounce_fl:bounce_fl:bounce_fl:bounce_fl:bounce_fl
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