On Friday 28th November, Nottingham's Critical Mass Bike Ride started from the Market Square. Critical Mass is for everyone who rides a bike in Nottingham and wants to take part.

Critical Mass is a monthly bike ride [routinely meeting at 5pm to leave at 5.30pm on the last friday of every month] to celebrate cycling and to assert cyclists' right to the road. With no set routes and no leaders, it's simply a bunch of people enjoying clean healthy transport.

Check out the website at  http://www.criticalmassrides.info/nottingham

Also, there is a discussion group at  http://lists.riseup.net/www/info/nottcriticalmass

In addition to all of the worthwhile issues that Critical Mass highlights, it's a great way to meet people and perhaps do a bit of networking to promote other campaigns.

So why start from the Market Square? Well Critical Mass should appeal to anyone that rides a bike so it should start from the most central location for everyone's benefit. Plus, practically every other Critical Mass around the globe starts from a central, well-known location which makes it easy to remember and easy to find.

It's never more than a couple of hours. Bring bright clothing, lights, horns, bells, NOISE and FRIENDS.

As usual, I've tried to take a set of pictures that show critical mass to be an empowering experience. Hopefully fun to be at. A celebration of the alternatives to the existing 'car culture'.

Please note: The next one would be on Friday 26th December. Being Boxing Day, it might be that this doesn't happen, but who knows. Otherwise, you might expect Friday 30th January 2009. from Market Square, Nottingham (Last Friday of every month). Gather at 5.00pm to depart at 5.30pm. Let's get on our bikes and make this, the simplest of actions, happen.

See you there ..........

Links to the previous Nottingham Critical Mass I've covered at:

 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/11/412096.html
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/02/363222.html
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/11/356820.html
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/09/352260.html
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/09/352281.html
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/05/339623.html
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/02/334660.html
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/02/334465.html
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/02/332729.html
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/11/328535.html
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/11/328514.html
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/10/326823.html
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/10/324826.html
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/04/310149.html
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/02/305420.html
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/02/305893.html
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/06/292966.html

Slide Shows
CM Feb 2006  http://indymedia.org.uk/media/2006/02//334617.avi
CM 2005-2006  http://indymedia.org.uk/media/2006/02//334661.avi

Construction of the 'multi-person thingy'
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2006/03/335512.html

Design & building the multi-person powered thingy - Nottm's Rinky-Dink Phase 2
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2006/04/337654.html

Making flags and decor for Nottingham's Critical Mass Bike About
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2006/01/332293.html

All bikes are go ! Nottingham Indymedia feature
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2005/09/322684.html

Bicycology biketour pedals onwards : Nottingham Pix
 http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2006/08/348752.html

******

There have been some legal arguement, finishing in the House of Lords on Wednesday 26 November 2008.

The upshot appears to be that critical mass IS a "procession which is truly commonly or customarily held" and hence does NOT require police permission and consent under the Public Order Act 1986. So there!

This all began as a leaflet issued to CM participants by police at the start of the ride on September 2005 which stated:

"...Police can impose conditions on processions, demonstrations and other assemblies, and participants render themselves liable to arrest if they fail to comply with those conditions. These cycle protests are not lawful because no organiser has provided police the with the necessary notification. Your participation in this event could render you liable to prosecution. Police policy in facilitating these events is currently under review..."

After that the High Court decided in favour of CM but the police then appealed against that decision and won. The legalities involved are quite complicated and seem to hinge on whether the ride is customarily held and therefore not subject to certain police restrictions.

On Monday 20th October 2008 an appeal by Des Kay and Friends of the Earth, against the Commissioner of Metropolitan Police, was heard by five Law Lords and their decision is that the appeal is allowed and CM is a commonly or customarily held procession without organisers and therefore does not need to inform the police of each ride. So, still we ride too! Though whether we are traffic or not is debatable.

 http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200708/ldjudgmt/jd081126/metro-1.htm

For a plain english explanation, check out: Victory for Critical Mass campaigners [BikeRadar.com]

 http://tinyurl.com/6ktykr

____________________________________________
ALAN LODGE
Photographer - Media: One Eye on the Road. Nottingham. UK
Email:  tash@indymedia.org
Member of the National Union of Journalists [No: 014345]
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"It is not enough to curse the darkness.
It is also necessary to light a lamp!!"
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