last week, a member of the public printed out leaflets about the critical mass cycle ride due to take place next friday, the 28th october. they took them to various north london cycle shops and had a warm reception from staff at all of them.

on returning to replenish flyers this afternoon there was a problem at just one shop, 'holloway cycles' at 302 holloway road near 'the coronet' pub and holloway road tube station. staff there said that their manager had thrown away the leaflets and would not allow them as they were 'political'.

now as far as i understand it, the monthly critical mass is a spontaneous and disorganised get together open to all cyclists which has been running peacefully for 11 years. last month, police handed out letters claiming that the mass was infact an unauthorised 'demonstration' and that future participants may be liable to arrest. in response to this amazing act of repressive intimidation, various leaflets have been produced by concerned members of the public to promote the next mass on the coming friday 28th october so that it will be the largest ever in britain.

support has come from many quarters, and it really does look as though next friday will indeed be an unprecedently huge and joyous gathering of cyclists not just from london, but from around the country too. i have heard of indignant people actually buying bikes to come to this. we have a samba band on wheels practising to ride and play. we have the green m.e.p. and member of the metropolitan police authority, jenny jones, writing to sir ian bliar (head of the met) and suggesting he arrests her first. we have pieces in the mainstream media about it, and the event will be covered by various newspapers including the guardian, and tv stations including channel 4.

the issue is about freedom of assembly, freedom from repression, and freedom of expression. in that sense in might be seen as political. but most of all it is about celebrating, empowering and promoting the use of bicycles in london.

but the apparently dim-witted manager of holloway cycles 302 holloway road north london is banning the promotion of this spectacular event. doh!!

i would strongly recommend that north london cyclists boycott this shop. there is another shop nearby (nearer highbury corner), the 'cycle surgery' at 70 holloway road, where they welcomed the leaflets. it's a short walk or ride from holloway cycles and the staff there are very efficient, friendly and helpful, so it won't be any inconvenience for you to stop using 'holloway cycles'. also if you want to get in touch with the manager and let him know what you think of his policy you can do so on tel: 0207 700 6611
fax: 0207 700 6611.

the critical mass is next friday. meeting point is on the south bank under waterloo bridge from 6pm. there are toilets, a bar, second-hand book stalls, and a cafe nearby, and normally the ride gets underway nearer to 7pm. the route is spontaneous but normally takes in several london land marks and ends up after an hour or so at a pub for socialising.

despite the police warning, there is very little likelihood of mass arrests, the police are on extremely shaky ground legally, and it is most likely that if any arrests occur at all it will be a small number of people whom police recognise as being affiliated with the mass for a long time and therefore in their eyes might be 'organisers'.

critical masses happen on the last friday of every month in london, and there are critiacl mass rides in many major cities throughout the globe attracting many thousands of cyclists.

if you want to help spread the word, see the indymedia article on the critical mass, print out the pdf leaflets and distribute them, tell others, and turn up next friday, and each following month to celebrate the bicycle. oh, and don't stop at 'holloway cycles'!!