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Video of July ride of London Critical Mass.

As usual at the start of the ride the police were threatening riders with sound systems with arrest if they dare to play them within the SOCPA zone around Parliament. Something they do not do to motorists with sound systems. The photos show police hassling a rider with a sound system.

Video Video Part 1 - video/mp4 18M

Video Video part 2 - video/mp4 22M

Police videoing sound system rider

Police threatening sound system rider

Police taking details of sound system rider

The ride was fast with an interesting route and no stops at junctions for a change. Everything went well until the police decided to pull over a sound system in Park Lane towards the end of the ride, well outside of the SOCPA zone. It later emerged that they did this because 'offensive music' was being played. This is not the first time these self-appointed arbiters of public morality have tried to censor music during a CM ride.

The raw video is over two hours long and was made with a helmet cam. It has been edited down into two parts totaling 11 minutes.

http://criticalmasslondon.org.uk

Doug

Additions

Police massers_Met bloc

03.08.2007 13:47

While it is somewhat encouraging that the police seem to want to be included in the monthly coincidental cycle rides,somewhat a new event in it`s 13 year history,I`d like to voice my concerns in thier behaviour. In 13 years there have been very little confrontation on the mass,however since the met bloc has joined it has become more agressive and surely unlawful. On julys mass the met bloc persisted in blockading roads and generally causing mayhem to motorists. In Park Lane they decided to "pull over" the sound system to bully the rider into turning off the sound system,firstly under the guise that it was in the SOPCA zone,when it was pointed out that it wasn`t in the SOPCA zone the rider was told that the music was deemed offensive. Yes facts can offend as all was being played was songs condeming the killing of innocents in Iraq,afganistan. Due to the solidarity of fellow cyclists,who stopped to witness this harassment of a peaceful cyclist,the whole southbound carrageway of Park Lane ground to a halt,culminating in tail backs around Marble arch,Edgware Rd,Bayswater Rd,Oxford St and even the northbound carrageway of Park Lane. A feat that the mass has never done. Are the Met bloc out to subvert. Further on at Trafalgar Sq I witnessed the sound system cyclist being told that he faced arrest for playing music in the SOPCA zone. When it was pointed out to the member of the Met bloc that in fact the rider was outside the zone,the officer disappeared! My I suggest that if the Met insist on "facilitating" the ride,a coincidence my I add,no orginisers no leaders. In fact it`s becoming increasingly obvious to me that the ones leading the ride are the Met Police. Surely this makes them liable to arrest for orginising. Maybe they should gen themselves up on the law before trying to wrongfully arrest people. Sadly,I wonder if these bully boy tactics are scaring cyclists away from what is a peaceable community spirited ride. I noticed the Met Bloc getting close to the sound system talking of snatching it. Well done to the solidarity of other cyclists forming a barrier around the sound system. I`d also like to suggest that some of the Met bloc take a cycling course as rubbing the backs of fellow cyclists wheels can result in very serious injury. Power to the people. See you all on the 14th @ 7.30am for a ride to climate camp.

@NARCHO CYCLIST

Comments

Hide the following 5 comments

Good Vid

03.08.2007 09:47

Thanks for posting. Any idea why so few people turned up, was it just the holidays or was there another reason ?

bikerman

Few people?

03.08.2007 14:57

It only looks like a few people because I was mainly near the front and didn't get a broadside view.. There have been pretty good turnouts lately.

7.30am for the Climate Camp ride? Thats a bit early isn't it? I saw a milestone at Heathrow which said only 11 miles to Central London. Its not going to take long to get there surely?

Doug

Response to NARCHO CYCLIST

05.08.2007 17:57

As CM is a monthly coincidental cycle ride , it's a shame that the event is strictly restricted to Fridays. If the CM ride in London is becoming overly controlled by the met police, what better way of throwing a spanner in the works by altering the day now and then ... perhaps to a Sunday.

The cost of a late alteration to the met police would be immense, the only problem I foresee is spreading the word to participants, maybe on the week of the ride an attempt to inform mass regulars could take place , and those that are aware of the change could turn up at the meeting points on the Friday to inform those that were savvy to the change.

Just a thought.

Andy
Homepage: http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=urbanmanc

Andy wants it on a Sunday

06.08.2007 14:30

Andy, we've had this discussion before but it's a non starter unless somebody starts it - how about you post around that you will be at a certain place and time and might head out for a bike ride, the first time probably nobody will turn up (yeah I've been on a CM once with one other person and once on my own) but over time maybe some sort of 'critical mass' will build.

Love the London CM video Doug - first footage I've seen of Beatrix on the move.

Martyn

Sunday bloody sunday.

07.08.2007 18:19

I attend the Manchester CM, and attendance is sketchy ( esp. during winter times ), so it would take a big effort on my part to create a 'sunday cm culture' when the official friday event isn't pulling the crowds that is should.

The London CM does get decent numbers, it would be an interesting experiment if they could advertise an 'extra and alternative' sunday cm ( sometime,spring /summer next year, giving time for promotion of the event ) to see what the reaction would be , a Sunday winter ride ( in the daylight ) would be far more appealing to the masses.

Friday CM began with a handful of devotees, theres no reaon why Sunday CM couldn't be as successful, and probably more so.