The Mass makes a few circuits of Parliament Square
Critical Mass is a global bicycle event. It occurs on the last Friday of every month. In London the mass meets at around 6.30 pm underneath the south side of Waterloo Bridge, outside the National Film Theatre. Mystery surrounds the reasons for the ride, which has no organisers and appears to be an organic phenomenon.
April’s Mass was on Friday 25th, where there was a carnival like atmosphere. Two sound systems pumped up the volume, with some cool grooves and powered around 200 bicycle riders on a random and circuitous route.
Riders were escorted through the crazy streets of London Town by a posy of Metropolitan Police Officers also on bicycles. The police were generally well behaved, and I was told were on overtime pay and so they should have made a few extra quid in order to pay for their essential worker housing.
Mr Angry put in an appearance at least twice. On one occasion he was seen shouting from the back of a taxi and informed those on the mass they were “cunts”, that they should “fuck off”, and should “get a job”. Froth was spraying from his mouth and any blood pressure equipment attached to him would probably have exploded. Another Mr Angry was later spotted in Bloomsbury, where he was remonstrating with a police officer over the fact his taxi had been held up by all these bicycles. He informed the officer that he had started work at 6am and had worked a 15 hour day … etc. There seem to be a lot of stressed people in this town. They may find less work more bike would mean less stress and more happiness, but what would I know.
As far as I could tell the police were also well behaved when the Mass entered Parliament Square, the epicentre of the demonstration exclusion zone (SOCPA zone) around Parliament Square. In this area the police require advance notice of any demonstration. And though Critical Mass does not appear to be a demonstration the Police have challenged its legality. The Lords will be hearing this case in due course.
April’s Mass was on Friday 25th, where there was a carnival like atmosphere. Two sound systems pumped up the volume, with some cool grooves and powered around 200 bicycle riders on a random and circuitous route.
Riders were escorted through the crazy streets of London Town by a posy of Metropolitan Police Officers also on bicycles. The police were generally well behaved, and I was told were on overtime pay and so they should have made a few extra quid in order to pay for their essential worker housing.
Mr Angry put in an appearance at least twice. On one occasion he was seen shouting from the back of a taxi and informed those on the mass they were “cunts”, that they should “fuck off”, and should “get a job”. Froth was spraying from his mouth and any blood pressure equipment attached to him would probably have exploded. Another Mr Angry was later spotted in Bloomsbury, where he was remonstrating with a police officer over the fact his taxi had been held up by all these bicycles. He informed the officer that he had started work at 6am and had worked a 15 hour day … etc. There seem to be a lot of stressed people in this town. They may find less work more bike would mean less stress and more happiness, but what would I know.
As far as I could tell the police were also well behaved when the Mass entered Parliament Square, the epicentre of the demonstration exclusion zone (SOCPA zone) around Parliament Square. In this area the police require advance notice of any demonstration. And though Critical Mass does not appear to be a demonstration the Police have challenged its legality. The Lords will be hearing this case in due course.
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