Bike destroyed by rammer during London May ride
"I was rammed on my bike on the May 28th ride on Parliament Street (continuation of Whitehall) just after the Cenotaph heading towards Parliament Square at approx 20:57. The vehicle made off without stopping and has not reported the incident to the police..." More.
Edinburgh Critical Mass Attacked by Police
"Suddenly, the sound system rider was cuffed and violently arrested by four officers, with other riders quickly responding, but forced back by the first cop on the scene, who drew his baton and threatened the other riders, shouting aggressively. The other cops shoved the riders around, refused to let them communicate with the arrested rider, and eventually forced the riders out of the Meadows with threats of arrest and physical violence shouting things such as "disappear". They also stole the soundsystem, trailer and bike." More with pics. Video.
The Bicycle Music Festival
"Just a note to thank all those Massers who turned up the the Bicycle Music Festival there were a lot of familiar faces and it turned into great event.". Pics. Website.
Hollywood Critical Mass riders assaulted by cops.
Riders were attacked with batons, pushed off their bikes and rammed by squad cars, They were then bruitalised handcuffed and then cited for small infractions such as no lights or not obeying traffic laws. Reports | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |.
London CM May 2010.
Probably more than 500 turnout. Good weather. One arrest. Several rammings. Cheered and high-fived by tourists and others. Visited the Democracy Village in Parliament Square where it had a warm reception. Reports. Reports with pics | 1 | 2 |. Videos | 1 | 2 |.
International bike ride links communities in resistance
Merthyr to Mayo cyclists set off
Velorution writes: Today, a 50-strong international bike ride begins the 400 mile journey from a community resisting Britain's largest open cast coal mine in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales to County Mayo, Ireland, where local people have spent the last ten years fighting a Shell-led gas development. We aim to offer direct support to these two local campaigns resisting the fossil fuel industry. More.
Ride to Party at the pumps 2
The route taken was through Hyde Park and down Constitution Hill to the Mall and from there for a circuit of Parliament Square. Then along Whitehall and eventually making its way to the Angel and along Upper Street to the Shell Garage. The riders were greeted with a cheer and quickly merged with the partying. Pics and report. Video.
London CM April 2010.
16th Anniversayr ride with quite a large attendance. Critical Mass is often criticised for 'corking' and impatient drivers often attempt to nose into the Mass hazardously but the video shows a police car waiting patiently while being corked. Video.
City Pays $98,000 to Critical Mass Cyclists
"New York City agreed Tuesday to pay tens of thousands of dollars to five cyclists who filed a lawsuit saying they were harassed during the monthly cycling group-ride Critical Mass - including one man seen on videotape being shoved off his bicycle by an officer..." Reports | 1 | 2 | 3 | Videos | 1 | 2 | 3 |
London CM March 2010.
Some people joined CM in remembrance of three cyclists recently killed in London by HGVs. There were about 600 riders in all. Confrontation with abusive lorry driver. Reports. Reports with pics | 1 | 2 | Pics. Video.
Some bike blogs
ibikelondon • Bike
Tart • London Cyclist
• Moving Target Zine •
Cycle Chic • Cyclodelic • VeLo City • the Bike Show podcast.
Why the Cops Will Not Shut Down Critical Mass
There are several reports that the Mayor of San Francisco and its poiice want to shut down Critical Mass. CM worldwide originated in SF.
"...they tried it before and it didn’t work. Mayor Willie Brown famously tried to stop the ride in 1997 and ended up blowing Critical Mass up to 5000-7000 riders, rather than the usual 1 or 2000. He backpedaled on that one pretty quick..." More | 1 | 2 | 3 |
"If you don't move over I'll run you over"
Sounds familiar? A motorist cop in Atlanta threatened CM riders and allegedly lightly rammed one of them. Report with videos.
London CM February 2010
Thanks to a gap in the bad weather turnout was pretty good for the time of year, maybe 200 or more? The corking was again excellent. Report. Pics | 1 | 2 | 3 |
BBC does hatchet job on cyclists
On its 'Inside Out London' programme of 22nd February London cyclists are roundly condemned by former Top Gear presenter Adrian Simpson for not obeying trafic laws. Ironically, one clip from the video that slipped through shows a cyclist and an HGV both going through the same red light at the same time. Anyway, he also took a critical glance at CM on its January ride. Video.
NY Judge Upholds Critical Mass Ruling
A judge ruled Tuesday that the city has the right to require 50 or more bicyclists to get permits before hitting the streets. This didn't just cover Critical Mass but bicycle clubs too!
"They've put something on the books that affects potentially hundreds of events every year - like historical bike tours, to say nothing of the small rides that take place during Bike Month." Reports | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
London CM January 2010
A BBC team were interviewing and filming at the start of the ride.
"It was quite soon that the group got divided due to some aggressive drivers, but the splinter soon rejoined near Westminster. That's when the bigger group went round the intersection a few times to give the chance to the "splinter" to rejoin. Once this happened, there was a joyful horn blowing, a cheer and soon after the joyful bike-lifts! hooray for bicycles! these critical mass cyclists always manage to put a smile on my face!"
Problems with taxi drivers and one motorist "went totally mental and decided to drive totally erratic and dangerous before targeting and driving back and forwards into people." A complaint has been made to the police.. Reports | 1 | 2 | Pics.
Man Acquitted in Critical Mass Sues Mpls
Augustin Ganely was acquitted, and is suing the city for civil rights violations. More | 1 | 2 |.
