Had the cops left us alone on tonight's critical mass we'd have quite happily completed a second loop of the inner ring road and then all buggered off home. But no, the cops need absolute control over everything.
They came along and joined us in a van for a while, but we just ignored them and carried on riding. They then decided that critical mass isn't very fun, so they got some motorbikes and cars to join them and launched an RTS action instead. This was quite nice of them, we ended up blocking three lanes for quite some time. Eventually though we spotted an ambulance coming our way, we moved out the way as quickly as possible but the cops were getting in the way. This annoyed us and so we made to leave, which the cops accepted under the provision that they escort us and we only take a single lane.
Some creative riding from our rear riders and we were soon taking up all three lanes again. The cops didn't seem to mind, we went quite some way before they decided to do something about it. Eventually we reached a nice big junction which the cops decided needed blockading, and so we stopped again. This was quite fun, but we soon got itchy feet again so most of us carried on riding with the big 24-person bike still blockaded by the cops.
From there it was back to standard, unescorted critical mass to complete the loop and wait for the big bike. A little later and the big bike completes the loop, escorted by two cop vans who immediately left us. By now the feeling was that another loop would seriously risk arrests, plus it was getting rather dark and cold and people were starting to leave.
Critical Mass in Leeds happens every last Friday of the month, starting from Millenium Square. Meeting time tends to be 17:30 for an 18:00 start but look out for fliers and Indymedia posts. Critical Mass in York will be resuming on the first Friday of November. Critical Mass in Manchester is on the last Friday of the month, 18:00 from Central Library and is sometimes themed or followed by an after-party.
Some creative riding from our rear riders and we were soon taking up all three lanes again. The cops didn't seem to mind, we went quite some way before they decided to do something about it. Eventually we reached a nice big junction which the cops decided needed blockading, and so we stopped again. This was quite fun, but we soon got itchy feet again so most of us carried on riding with the big 24-person bike still blockaded by the cops.
From there it was back to standard, unescorted critical mass to complete the loop and wait for the big bike. A little later and the big bike completes the loop, escorted by two cop vans who immediately left us. By now the feeling was that another loop would seriously risk arrests, plus it was getting rather dark and cold and people were starting to leave.
Critical Mass in Leeds happens every last Friday of the month, starting from Millenium Square. Meeting time tends to be 17:30 for an 18:00 start but look out for fliers and Indymedia posts. Critical Mass in York will be resuming on the first Friday of November. Critical Mass in Manchester is on the last Friday of the month, 18:00 from Central Library and is sometimes themed or followed by an after-party.
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