London Critical Mass 15th Anniversary ride.

London Critical Mass February 2009 ride.

After setting off the ride passed a flashmob at Waterloo Station. There was only one circuit of Parliament Square this time but with sound systems playing merrily in the SOCPA zone. Annoyed motorists hooted in Trafalgar Square but there was a friendly blast from a large lorry. Then on to the Embankment and a very good job of corking at Blackfriars Bridge. Reaching Islington turned left on to Pentonville Road. After Kings Cross taxis pushed in dangerously on the Euston Road. The way was then wended to Oxford Circus, where bikes were lifted on high and there was some amazing dancing in the streets with lifted bikes. The ride then continued into the unknown down Oxford Street.

Climate Bike ride

The ride of more than 100 participants visited three climate greenwash headquarters, Greenergy, 198 High Holborn - for an agrofuels protest organised by Biofuelswatch, E.On 100 Pall Mall - for a speaker on no new coal and the Department of Transport - for a speaker on sustainable transport, before joining up with the National Climate March on Parliament.

http://www.campaigncc.org/bikeride.shtml

Rikki's sound file and pics: http://london.indymedia.org.uk/articles/366

http://criticalmasslondon.org.uk

London Critical Mass Halloween ride

Again there were no cycle police in attendance and CM riders did a very good job of returning to the job of corking, which the police had previously taken over.

First the ride went South to the Elephant and Castle and then North, ending up at Stoke Newington, where apparently a fancy dress party was being held in a churchyard. One rider mentioned that "Having no police completely changes the atmosphere (for the better) and people seem to be learning how to cork again". Another rider wrote, "The look of joy from people looking down from their balcony's and the halloweeners we passed on foot, the fancy dress and a really good happy feeling in general". One large and a couple of small systems added to the cheerful mood.

There was a spot of bother with a taxi driver who seemed intent on forcing his way through the ride and who allegedly damaged a bicycle. A few other impatient drivers and a motorcyclists also tried to force their way through, instead of just waiting for the CM ride to pass safely.

London Critical Mass remembers Marie Vesco.

About 600 cyclists set off from the South Bank for London Critical Mass June ride, with it usual large police retinue, who sometimes block the front of the ride causing delays to traffic. Arriving at Brixton there was a minute's silence for Marie, who was killed by a motorist while cycling with a group of friends to the Carnival Against the Arms Trade outside EDO-MBM arms factory in Brighton on Wednesday 4th June 2008.

On the return journey the ride somehow got lost and had to double back. It then passed Stockwell Underground Station, where an innocent man Jean Charles de Menezes was shot dead by police for which no one has since been held accountable, and then proceeded to the Oval, accompanied by the cheers of many bystanders. A short, impromptu street party was held under a railway bridge at Vauxhall. Then along the Embankment to Parliament Square where the ride was held up by police insisting that the sound systems be silenced. Under the stupid SOCPA legislation you can make as much noise as you like outside Parliament as long as you do not use a loudspeaker, but drivers are allowed to use their very LOUDspeakers in their vehicles.

On to Buckingham Palace with sound systems working again. It seems you can wake up the Queen with your loudspeakers but not Members of Parliament. Amazingly, a vibrant street party then took place outside the Palace while police just looked on.

London Critical Mass 14th Anniversary ride.

Early in the ride police blocked the front at traffic lights and prevented movement, even when the lights were green. This is a familiar tactic which is done to compress the ride into as small a space as possible, with officers and a van at the back hassling stragglers to keep up, which slows things down and holds up traffic as well as making cycling difficult.

Police aside, the April ride was well attended and good fun but the usual commemorative anniversary t-shirts were sadly missed this time. Ironically, towards the end of the ride it was held up for a while in Shaftesbury Avenue by the usual Friday evening motorised traffic congestion. Critical Mass is often blamed for holding up traffic but they are not the only ones doing so on entertainment evening outings, nevertheless they are much more stringently policed.

London Critical Mass UK visits the Chinese Embassy on its March 2008 ride.

Despite wet and windy conditions more than 100 riders started, accompanied by about 20 police cyclists and the usual police van. Police have a habit of blocking the front of the ride at some intersections and traffic lights which tends to make it slower than otherwise and holds up traffic. Under the notorious SOCPA law, which might soon be repealed, Critical Mass sound systems are not allowed to be played near Parliament.

The ride, which has no pre-planned route, just happened to pass by the Chinese Embassy where some riders expressed indignation about the treatment of Tibet.

http://www.archive.org/details/cml28-3-08

Video of January 2008 ride.

A subdued start to a good ride, held up by a massive traffic jam in the Strand, but it livened up later with a bike high in Piccadilly Circus and taunts to impatient car horns. Joyful chants of 'More bikes less cars' and 'Whose streets? Our streets'.

Several sound systems this time, some were threatened with SOCPA prosecution if they dared to play in the vicinity of Parliament. Cycle police were back after their Christmas/New Year break, about 28 in all - they usually don't turn up at all to the December ride. They barked orders and blocked the ride at some intersections but did a good job of corking and even told off a few drivers. Later they shut down a sound system in Whitehall.

Just before Oxford Circus, a wannabe saboteur threw a glass bottle into the road which shattered into lots of puncturing shards, something to watch out for in future. The video is MPEG4 21Mb 2min 29secs long.

http://www.archive.org/details/cml25-1-08

Video of Critical Mass London (Halloween) October ride 2007.

A fairly smooth Halloween style ride with few if any police hassles. There were a good numbers compared to the previous month. Several sound systems. No blocking junctions this time. Some London landmarks are highlighted. The video is MPEG4 36Mb 7mins 36secs long.

http://www.archive.org/details/cm26-10-07b

Video of Critical Mass style ride to the Arms Fair.

The DSEi Arms Fair, reputed to be the biggest in the world, continues to be held every other year in London's Docklands, England, despite being allowed to sell horrendous weapons to rogue regimes.

Local residents, politicans and anti-war groups object most strongly to this brutal trade, including A Critical Mass style protest. The video covers this year's ride to the Arms fair and consequent confrontations with a large contingent of police. One nice touch was the presence of a tank sneaked in by some demonstrators and offered for mock auction.A subdued start to a good ride, held up by a massive traffic jam in the Strand, but it livened up later with a bike high in Piccadilly Circus and taunts to impatient car horns. Joyful chants of 'More bikes less cars' and 'Whose streets? Our streets'.A subdued start to a good ride, held up by a massive traffic jam in the Strand, but it livened up later with a bike high in Piccadilly Circus and taunts to impatient car horns. Joyful chants of 'More bikes less cars' and 'Whose streets? Our streets'.

London Critical Mass July 2007 ride

Helmet cam video of ride.

As usual at the start of the ride the police were threatening riders with sound systems with arrest if they dare to play them within the SOCPA zone around Parliament. Something they do not do to motorists with sound systems.

The ride was fast with an interesting route and no stops at junctions for a change. Everything went well until the police decided to pull over a sound system in Park Lane towards the end of the ride, well outside of the SOCPA zone. When their error was pointed out they then claimed they did it because 'offensive music' was being played. This is not the first time these self-appointed arbiters of public morality have tried to censor music during a CM ride.Several sound systems this time, some were threatened with SOCPA prosecution if they dared to play in the vicinity of Parliament. Cycle police were back after their Christmas/New Year break, about 28 in all - they usually don't turn up at all to the December ride. They barked orders and blocked the ride at some intersections but did a good job of corking and even told off a few drivers. Later they shut down a sound system in Whitehall.Several sound systems this time, some were threatened with SOCPA prosecution if they dared to play in the vicinity of Parliament. Cycle police were back after their Christmas/New Year break, about 28 in all - they usually don't turn up at all to the December ride. They barked orders and blocked the ride at some intersections but did a good job of corking and even told off a few drivers. Later they shut down a sound system in Whitehall.

London Critical Mass May 2007 ride

Video of UK London Critical Mass on its monthly ride, defying the Metropolitan Police appeal.

There was a large attendance, possibly 1,000 or more, thanks to the call-out, some media attention and reaction to the court case.

The cycle police were pretty laid back and vastly outnumbered, though they did still try to manage the ride by blocking the front so that the back could catch up. What does it matter if a 1,000 riders get split into two or more though? The police did threatened to arrest a young rider at King's Cross, allegedly for theft. This led to some booing from the Mass.

The impression I got from other riders was that this was a very good Mass. I went expecting the worst and got almost the best. Video is 4min 32 secs MPEG4Local residents, politicans and anti-war groups object most strongly to this brutal trade, including A Critical Mass style protest. The video covers this year's ride to the Arms fair and consequent confrontations with a large contingent of police. One nice touch was the presence of a tank sneaked in by some demonstrators and offered for mock auction.Local residents, politicans and anti-war groups object most strongly to this brutal trade, including A Critical Mass style protest. The video covers this year's ride to the Arms fair and consequent confrontations with a large contingent of police. One nice touch was the presence of a tank sneaked in by some demonstrators and offered for mock auction. Just before Oxford Circus, a wannabe saboteur threw a glass bottle into the road which shattered into lots of puncturing shards, something to watch out for in future.Just before Oxford Circus, a wannabe saboteur threw a glass bottle into the road which shattered into lots of puncturing shards, something to watch out for in future.

London Critical Mass 13th Anniversary ride

Critical Mass London 13th Anniversary ride.

The very well attended Mass got off to a good start, despite a spelling mistake on the kindly donated t-shirts. There was the usual large police presence with its intimidatory videoing of riders.

The police returned to their previous tactic of blocking the front of the ride, thus adding to traffic congestion. At the entrance to Parliament Square the front of the ride was blocked for several traffic light cycles. Finally, in frustration, and after some booing at the blockers, riders decide to go around on the pavement to enter the Square. After several circuits of Parliament Square the ride accidentally split into two but managed to join up again in the Strand. Videoing stopped at about 9pm while the ride continued on into the night heading Eastwards.

The 6 minute video should play on both Quicktime and the latest Windows Media Player.

London Critical Mass February 2007 ride

London's Critical Mass rides the red lights in February 2007

The video shows how riders on the February ride were ordered through red lights by the police, despite it inconveniencing pedestrians who had right of way. Later on the police van was blocked by some bollards and petulantly sounded its twos-n-blues much to the amusement of the riders.

A policeman at the beginning of the ride let slip that he was concerned about CM causing mayhem to motorists, thus revealing his true agenda. Also mentioned was that CM sound systems are not allowed in the London SOCPA zone but, of course, this does not seem to apply to motorists.http://www.dsei.org/

London Critical Mass January 2007 ride

The January 2007 ride of London's Critical Mass

This time the cops decided to get tough with riders without lights and those who go through red lights and also with sound systems in the SOCPA zone. Anyone carrying a placard within the zone, close to Parliament, is liable to arrest if they do not have prior police permission. Cars are allowed to play their sound systems within the zone but not bicycles it seems.

The video are 3min 40secs long in Quicktime (.mpeg4 9.8Mb and 40Mb) and Windows (.wmv 24Mb) versions.http://www.dsei.co.uk/

London Critical Mass September 2006 ride

The September 2006 ride of London's Critical Mass

This was a relatively calm ride, in contrast to July and August when there were hassles from the police. For a change it was videoed mainly from the back of the ride, which gives an impression of fewer riders than there really were. Here a helmet videocam was partly used for the first time.

http://www.criticalmasslondon.org.uk/

The videos are 5 minutes long in QuickTime (.mpeg4 17Mb) and Windows (.wmv 21Mb) versions.http://www.criticalmasslondon.org.uk/

London Critical Mass July 2006 ride

Police try to manage the July 2006 ride of London's Critical Mass.

Having won its court case against the police, London CM is now being subjected by the cycle cops to barricading and cars being allowed to nose into the ride.

http://www.criticalmasslondon.org.uk/

The videos are 9 minutes long in QuickTime (.mpeg4 30Mb) and Windows (.wmv 24Mb)versions.

London Critical Mass 12th Anniversary ride.

London Critical Mass celebrates its 12th Anniversary.

This video shows most of the ride through central London in April 2006, accompanied by Samba drummers .

Windows (.wmv) version of the video is 19Mb. Quicktime (.mov) version is 18Mb.

London Critical Mass enters the Exclusion Zone.

London Critical Mass enters the Exclusion Zone.

In defiance of new draconian legislation, the October 2005 Mass attracted many new supporters. The ride was much bigger than usual and it entered the exclusion zone. There were no arrests reported.

Windows (.wmv) versions of the video are 10Mb and 33Mb. Quicktime (.mov) versions are 11Mb and 29Mb. Run time 5min.

Critical Mass rides to the Arms Fair

Critical Mass rides to the Arms fair.

On Wednesday 14th September 2005 Critical Mass rode to the DSEi Arms Fair at the ExCel Centre in London E16, and ended up with a street party.

The MPEG4 video is H.264 codec, file size 13Mb, run time 2min 13 secs.

London Critical mass confronts motorist.

London Critical Mass confronts motorist.

London Critical Mass (UK) rides on the last Friday of every month from the South Bank by the National Film Theatre under Waterloo Bridge at 6pm. On its May 2005 ride it had this confrontation with a motorist.

The MPEG4 video is H.264 codec, file size 11Mb, run time 1min 38 secs. Also Quicktime version.

Impromptu Street Party.

Impromptu Street Party.

On its May 2005 ride, London Critical Mass held an impromptu street party outside a pub used by cycle couriers. The police looked on unperturbed, despite the delay to traffic. The MPEG4 video is H.264 codec, file size 13Mb, run time 2min 13 secs.The 5 minute video starts at the usual assembly point at Waterloo Bridge on the South Bank and ends outside the Prime Minister's house in Downing Street.

Critical Mass rides the sights of London.

Critical Mass rides the sights of London.

On is July 2005 ride Critical Mass just happened to pass by some of the tourist hotspots of Central London and met up with rollerbladers. The video ends at a favourite cycle courier pub in Clerkenwell Road. The Quicktime MPEG4 video is H.264 codec, run time 7min 18secs, file size 44Mb. The Windows WMV version is 46Mb.Windows (.wmv) versions of the video are 10Mb and 33Mb. Quicktime (.mov) versions are 11Mb and 29Mb.

G8 Bike Ride.

G8 Bike Ride leaves London.

Starting at the National Film Theatre under Waterloo Bridge, on the South Bank in London, UK, the ride progressed to Westminster Bridge and Parliament Square. Then a noisy pit stop at Downing Street followed by a diversion around the 'Changing of the Guard' to Buckingham Palace. On to Wellington Arch, up Park Lane and thence to the Edgeware Road where filming stopped. MPEG4 video, run time 6min 38 secs, file size 38Mb.