Reclaim the streets?

Quoted message said:

I do wonder though if it isn't detrimental, promoting an
anti-cyclist viewpoint.

If you were all cyclists I could see how it would. Was
there anything to let at least the people at the front of
the conker know what it was about? Were pedestrians
involved too?

Given that *anything* that slows down /some/ motorists gives
them an anti- whatever viewpoint I'm sure you've confirmed
to a few people what they thought already :-)

"Jon Senior" <jon@restless_REMOVE_lemon.co.uk> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Today I took part in a "Reclaim the streets"-type protest.
I don't know

who

Quoted message said:

organises it, but on the last friday of the month, a group
of cyclists

meet

Quoted message said:

up, cycle slowly along one of the main roads, in a manner
which blocks all traffic.....

What exactly are you "protesting" about?

Are you saying you want roads with no traffic apart from
other bikes?

On Sat, 27 Mar 2004 00:08:45 -0000, "Jon Senior"

jon@restless_REMOVE_lemon.co.uk said:

Today I took part in a "Reclaim the streets"-type protest.
I don't know who organises it, but on the last friday of
the month, a group of cyclists meet up, cycle slowly along
one of the main roads, in a manner which blocks all
traffic, then pulls off.

Sounds great. Just the type of action that will make the
already enraged 'cager' come to his senses. Amazing.

garryb

Quoted message said:

I remember reading something about it in the local campaign
magazine, SPOKES.

It was fun. It provided a wonderful opportunity to see some
really stupid behaviour. (The bloke who decided to overtake
the column of cyclists and ended up getting stuck on the
wrong side of the road, facing teh oncoming traffic. The
persistant beeping from drivers who honestly thought that
this would make the column part.) At the end, we had backed
up the traffic from the Newington end of the Meadows, back
to at least Tollcross, possibly further!

Fun as it was though, it did make me wonder about action
like this. The people at the tail end of the queue would
have had no idea what delayed them, so the purpose (Not
even sure exactly what it was!) would be lost to them. In
theory it demonstrates the power of the bike, and increases
the visibility of cyclists, in the public awareness. I do
wonder though if it isn't detrimental, promoting an anti-
cyclist viewpoint.

I was wondering if anyone else here has encountered, or
taken part in these things (ISTR that they are national),
or what the general feeling is toward them.

Jon

Jon Senior said:

I was wondering if anyone else here has encountered, or
taken part in these things (ISTR that they are national),
or what the general feeling is toward them.

What about if we demand 'fairer' tax on bikes, flapjacks
and bibshorts and cycle round and round all the roundabouts
on the M1?

--
Andy Morris

AndyAtJinkasDotFreeserve.Co.UK

Love this:
Put an end to Outlook Express's messy quotes
home.in.tum.deoe quotefixOpen ↗

"Mark Thompson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

If you were all cyclists I could see how it would. Was
there anything to let at least the people at the front of
the conker know what it was about?

This was (I felt) a problem. There appeared to be no
spokesman / spokespeople who could explain the action to
those drivers caught up in it. A large number of the riders
present seemed to be more interested in it for "attitood"
than politics. A friend and I intend to turn up at the start
next month and ask more questions. If the cause is right,
I'll gladly hang back and explain.

Quoted message said:

Were pedestrians involved too?

Not really. There were one or two shouts of encouragement
from the pavements, but the group was all bikes.

Quoted message said:

Given that *anything* that slows down /some/ motorists
gives them an anti- whatever viewpoint I'm sure you've
confirmed to a few people what they thought already :-)

Probably. Feeling somewhat guilty. I'd like to hope that
it's all in a good cause, but I can't help feeling that its
current form is probably counter-productive.

Jon

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Jon Senior said:

I was wondering if anyone else here has encountered, or
taken part in these things (ISTR that they are
national), or what the general feeling is toward them.

What about if we demand 'fairer' tax on bikes, flapjacks
and bibshorts and cycle round and round all the
roundabouts on the M1?

--
Andy Morris

AndyAtJinkasDotFreeserve.Co.UK

Love this: Put an end to Outlook Express's messy quotes
home.in.tum.deoe quotefixOpen ↗

<pedantic> are there any roundabouts ON the A1? Theres lots
above and below, and possibly one at each end, but shirly
there's none on the motorway </pedantic>

p.s. :o)

--
.paul

If at first you don't succeed... Skydiving is probably not
the sport for you.

"Jon Senior" <jon@restless_REMOVE_lemon.co.uk> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I was wondering if anyone else here has encountered, or
taken part in

these

Quoted message said:

things (ISTR that they are national), or what the general
feeling is

toward

Quoted message said:

them.

Taken part in the London one a couple of times. The first
time I swore I wouldn't do it again. The second time, I
won't be bothering with it again. A lot of people had the
same frame of mind as myself, however the few spoilt the
whole thing.

I much prefer the London FNS, (www.thefns.com), especially
when the clocks go back and the weather warms up. 🙂

It should be about having fun, and enjoying the streets in a
group. Not a case of using it to shout about politics and
other carp.

Nick

"elyob" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

"Jon Senior" <jon@restless_REMOVE_lemon.co.uk> wrote in
message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I was wondering if anyone else here has encountered, or
taken part in

these

Quoted message said:

things (ISTR that they are national), or what the
general feeling is

toward

Quoted message said:

them.

Taken part in the London one a couple of times. The first
time I swore I wouldn't do it again. The second time, I
won't be bothering with it again. A lot of people had the
same frame of mind as myself, however the few spoilt the
whole thing.

I much prefer the London FNS, (www.thefns.com), especially
when the clocks go back and the weather warms up. 🙂

It should be about having fun, and enjoying the streets in
a group. Not a case of using it to shout about politics
and other carp.

Nick

Anything which annoys that A*****e John Gaunt in BBC LDN
can't be a bad thing!

"dirtylitterboxofferingstospammers" <[email hidden]> wrote in
message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Certainly *used* to be. When I lived at St. Neots there
was a one a few

miles

Quoted message said:

south - which took you to Bedford.

It's still there, as is the one north of that at Buckden.
Brampton now has a flyover and the next one after that is
Stamford (I believe).

Congratulations on leaving St. Neots by the way!

Jon

Jon Senior said:

Today I took part in a "Reclaim the streets"-type protest.
I don't know who organises it, but on the last friday of
the month, a group of cyclists meet up, cycle slowly along
one of the main roads, in a manner which blocks all
traffic, then pulls off. I remember reading something
about it in the local campaign magazine, SPOKES.

It was fun. It provided a wonderful opportunity to see
some really stupid behaviour. (The bloke who decided to
overtake the column of cyclists and ended up getting stuck
on the wrong side of the road, facing teh oncoming
traffic. The persistant beeping from drivers who honestly
thought that this would make the column part.) At the end,
we had backed up the traffic from the Newington end of the
Meadows, back to at least Tollcross, possibly further!

Fun as it was though, it did make me wonder about action
like this. The people at the tail end of the queue would
have had no idea what delayed them, so the purpose (Not
even sure exactly what it was!) would be lost to them. In
theory it demonstrates the power of the bike, and
increases the visibility of cyclists, in the public
awareness. I do wonder though if it isn't detrimental,
promoting an anti-cyclist viewpoint.

I was wondering if anyone else here has encountered, or
taken part in these things (ISTR that they are national),
or what the general feeling is toward them.

They are cyclists' roads just as much as car drivers'. You
holding up traffic makes no difference - you are traffic and
can travel sensibly at whatever slow speed you like. The
more motorists have to face queues for whatever reason the
more likely they are to use public transport, bikes or walk.
I've been on the Critical Mass ride in London only once but
loved the experience - riding round London looking at the
scenery/buildings is so much nicer than having to look out
for people who aren't looking out for you.

"Jon Senior" <jon@restless_REMOVE_lemon.co.uk> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Today I took part in a "Reclaim the streets"-type protest.
I don't know

who

Quoted message said:

organises it, but on the last friday of the month, a group
of cyclists

meet

Quoted message said:

up, cycle slowly along one of the main roads, in a manner
which blocks all traffic, then pulls off. I remember
reading something about it in the

local

Quoted message said:

campaign magazine, SPOKES.

What a brilliant way to make people think cyclists are a
bunch of ignorant tossers. The vast majority of other road
users will have no idea why you're there or what you're up
to, other than that you're making yourself a pain in their
[censored]. As if all the morons with no lights riding on the
pavement don't make people hate cyclists enough.

Who are you supposed to be reclaiming the streets from? I've
yet to be stopped on my bike by someone or a sign telling me
I can't go down this road. The only road you can't travel on
whilst on a bicycle as far as I know is the motorway. There
are lots of bus / cycle only routes in most cities though.

"Stephen (aka steford)" <[email hidden]>
wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

They are cyclists' roads just as much as car drivers'. You
holding up traffic makes no difference - you are traffic
and can travel sensibly at whatever slow speed you like.

No you can't. It'd be just the same as me jumping in my car
with a couple of mates and driving down the road at 20mph,
or just parking in the middle of the road. It's obstructing
the highway. You can be arrested for it, and fined.

"There
are lots of bus / cycle only routes in most cities though."
Most of them on my way home are filled by parked cars or motorists who pay no regard to them at all and drive in bus and cycle lanes thus making it impossible for cyclists to use them. Maybe this is why people protest via Critical mass rallies.

Doki said:

"Stephen (aka steford)"
<[email hidden]> wrote in
message -"]news:[email hidden]-
berlin.de...

Quoted message said:

They are cyclists' roads just as much as car drivers'.
You holding up traffic makes no difference - you are
traffic and can travel sensibly at whatever slow speed
you like.

No you can't. It'd be just the same as me jumping in my
car with a couple of mates and driving down the road at
20mph, or just parking in the middle of the road. It's
obstructing the highway. You can be arrested for it,
and fined.

I'm not being facetious here, but is it actually illegal to
drive at 20 in a 30 zone? I wasn't aware of that.
--
www.drianwalker.com

Remove the nice brown paste in my signature if you
want to reply!

"Jon Senior" <jon_AT_restlesslemon.co.uk> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Stephen (aka steford)"
<[email hidden]> wrote in
message -"]news:[email hidden]-
berlin.de...

Quoted message said:

They are cyclists' roads just as much as car drivers'.
You holding up traffic makes no difference - you are
traffic and can travel sensibly at whatever slow speed
you like. The more motorists have to face queues for
whatever reason the more likely they are to use public
transport, bikes

or

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

walk. I've been on the Critical Mass ride in London only
once but loved

the

Quoted message said:

experience - riding round London looking at the
scenery/buildings is so

much

Quoted message said:

nicer than having to look out for people who aren't
looking out for you.

"Critical Mass"! That was it! I knew I'd seen details on a
website before.

I

Quoted message said:

still think that a certain amount of explanation to
drivers should be carried out. If they were aware that
they'd be home quicker by bike, they might be more
inclined to leave the cars at home and ride for a change.

check the Critical Mass FAQ
cmlondon.enrager.netindex.htmOpen ↗

Stephen (aka steford) said:

Quoted message said:

They are cyclists' roads just as much as car drivers'. You
holding up traffic makes no difference - you are traffic
and can travel sensibly at whatever slow speed you like.

I seem to recall folks here getting very steamed up about
pedestrians that block shared paths and walk at their own
pace. I guess you have just articulated the pedestrians'
rationale.

Tony

On Sat, 27 Mar 2004 00:08:45 -0000 someone who may be "Jon Senior"
<jon@restless_REMOVE_lemon.co.uk> wrote this:-

Quoted message said:

I was wondering if anyone else here has encountered, or
taken part in these things (ISTR that they are national),
or what the general feeling is toward them.

Use your favourite search engine to look for "critical mass"
and read about the idea. Motorists organise a critical mass
every day, when they clog up the streets and make things
more difficult for others. I don't see that they have a leg
to stand on if another group occasionally gets together in
large numbers to use the roads.

--
David Hansen, Edinburgh | PGP email preferred-key number
F566DA0E I will always explain revoked keys, unless the UK
government prevents me using the RIP Act 2000.

On Sat, 27 Mar 2004 10:57:48 -0000 someone who may be "Doki"
<[email hidden]> wrote this:-

Quoted message said:

The only road you can't travel on whilst on a bicycle as
far as I know is the motorway. There are lots of bus /
cycle only routes in most cities though.

In the case of Edinburgh you need to add in the City Bypass
and Western Approach Road. You also need to know that the
supposedly cycle-friendly council is currently trying to ban
cyclists from the
A90. What road will be next?

--
David Hansen, Edinburgh | PGP email preferred-key number
F566DA0E I will always explain revoked keys, unless the UK
government prevents me using the RIP Act 2000.

On Sat, 27 Mar 2004 10:52:11 -0000 someone who may be "Doki"
<[email hidden]> wrote this:-

Quoted message said:

No you can't. It'd be just the same as me jumping in my car
with a couple of mates and driving down the road at 20mph,
or just parking in the middle of the road. It's obstructing
the highway. You can be arrested for it, and fined.

Motorists do this every day in Edinburgh. I have not
noticed the police arresting anyone for it, or the courts
fining them.

--
David Hansen, Edinburgh | PGP email preferred-key number
F566DA0E I will always explain revoked keys, unless the UK
government prevents me using the RIP Act 2000.