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London Critical Mass Banned

Doug | 21.05.2007 18:58 | London

The Metropolitan Police have won a court battle to allow them to ban London's Critical Mass cycle ride.

The Mass entering Picadilly Circus
The Mass entering Picadilly Circus


Two out of three Appeal Court judges overturned a High Court ruling that the rides do not need to have prior permission from the police.

More:

 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6677589.stm

 http://criticalmasslondon.org.uk

Doug

Additions

The ruling

21.05.2007 21:06

 http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWCA/Civ/2007/477.html

pedal pushing LJ

Comments

Hide the following 11 comments

Is it a bike thing

21.05.2007 19:32

everyone should hire the biggest 4x4 they can and do it in that,just to make a point.

Walter rally

Ladri di biciclette

21.05.2007 19:54

This is bizarre. Is it now illegal to ride a bike in London ? Or just when other people are riding bikes ? I know this goes against all your principles, but why not do as Walter says and borrow cars and drive around in them as a protest with your bikes attached? Cos if you are in a convoy and someone in the middle stops, then the police can't really get to you to arrest you.


"One of the three appeal judges hearing today’s case did rule in favour of the cyclists. Lord Justice Wall said a ruling that the event fell within the Public Order Act was “potentially oppressive”. “The police, in my judgment, know what the cyclists are going to do. They are going to ride around the Greater London area. “That is a perfectly lawful activity, and if, for any reason, it ceases to be so, the police have ample powers to intervene.The judge said it was a valid argument that not only is the Critical Mass rally a part of London life, but that none of the bodies responsible for public transport in London had ever felt it necessary to ask the police to consider using the Public Order Act against it.”
 http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article1821099.ece

Danny

Sorry for being a bore

21.05.2007 20:44

and repeating myself.But weld two bikes together and take up the same space as a car.One your safer you can be seen.2 you cannot be overtaken by being forced into the kerb.3 it's not illegal.

Welder

Here's how to make one

21.05.2007 21:18

if you fancy having ago at a two or four person bike see below for instructions

 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2006/03/335512.html

Gulliver

is the state

21.05.2007 21:59

has now isolated a class of people not known for their radical action.Perhaps this will provoke them into some.A bad mistake by the court methinks.

One good thing about this

staight from the ministry of silly walks

21.05.2007 22:32

my one thought was (apart from wtf which isnt really a thought more of an acronym) great next we can ban the illegal unplanned walking down pavements. start with oxford street

liliana

It is a procession or not

21.05.2007 22:56

The flyer the police distributed claimed Mass as a procession I seem to remember, now the forces of law have changed their minds and two judges are saying the 'customary' procession is not a procession.
Heads I win, ....

Ari
mail e-mail: ari@arih.biz
- Homepage: http://www.arih.biz

Independent

21.05.2007 23:02

While I certainly wouldn't encourage people to go on a potentially illegal Critical Mass this Friday (25th of May), I expect that I will be meeting a few friends underneath Waterloo Bridge on the South Bank to go on a totally independent cycle ride around London, that may happen to follow the same route as the Critical Mass.

bill

it's not "illegal" ...

22.05.2007 06:35

bollocks, the court did not say its "illegal", the court says its the same as other demonstrations etc.
thats a difference. police can ban it, like othere demonstrations. did we ever care?

cyclist

remember last time?

22.05.2007 07:50

back in october 2005, after the introduction of SOCPA (serious organised crime and police act) section 132, controlling protest around parliament, police handed out their leaflets warning the mass may be controlled.

in response, around 1500 cyclists took to the streets in november, bringing central london to a standstill, and making it impossible for the police to enforce their crazy repression.

you don't have a lot of time to organise, but if you want to build a similar event, it's up to everyone to spread this news far and wide - leaflet, poster and recruit your local cycle shop, write to your local newspaper ("local person intends to defy police ban by cycling on friday"), swamp your mailing lists, and so on and so on.

remember, the critical mass is not an 'organised' event, and so cannot notify the police in advance of its route. since it's not organised by any one person, it means everyone who wants a mass needs to do something this week to make it happen large! no-one will do it for you.

so start acting, and think positive and huge - if 1500 can come out on a cold november night over this issue, think how many might turn up on a pleasant may evening?

rikki
mail e-mail: rikkiindymedia@googlemail.com

ridiculous

22.05.2007 10:43

Though I am not a fully trained clown, I can't help see this alleged ruling as a bit odd. The uniformed cycle police seemed friendly and helpful on the ride, and I felt they added to our presence. But that was before SOCPA.
I think any forthcoming government statement should make clear exactly who, in principle, opposes or supports the customary "procession", and who complained that cycling was "illegal" in the first place.
As for oppressive, please can the BBC either allow comments or link to the Indymedia?

Ben