[Imc-uk-features] Feature proposal on developments with Critical Mass

[Planet Mail]

Hi good feature proposal.

I think also the key phrase
"Police policy in facilitating these events is currently under review."
needs to be in the frontpage article bit, (or at least paraphrased to 
something like the letter stated the police are reviewing their 'policy' 
towards critcal mass) as the rest of the letter content is really just 
stating 'legal fact' as they see it - and the policy review is the 
important bit.

may also be worth including parliament square reference and link to 
previous feature on parl square demos

nice one,
dave


At 23:07 02/10/2005, Roy Bard wrote:
>Hi peeps
>
>I would like to propose a feature for London and uk on the developments
>at Friday's Critical Mass
>
>Suggestion for text:
>
>Title: London Critical Mass under threat.
>
>Abstract:
>
></p>On Friday, those who joined <a
>href="http://www.criticalmasslondon.org.uk/">London's</a> monthly <a
>href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_Mass">Critical Mass</a>
>ride, found themselves being issued with <a
>href="http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/10/324763.html">letters</a>
>from the Metropolitan Police, threatening arrests at future Critical
>Mass rides, unless the 'organisers' give notice of the route at least
>six days in advance, and warning that the police can impose restrictions
>on the rides once the advance notice has been given.</p>
>
><p>Londoners have held regular Critical Mass rides for the past eleven
>and a half years, and those who have been on them will know that rides
>are escorted by coppers on bikes and mootor cycles. It seems unlikely
>that the police do not understand that their demands are an attack on
>the very foundations of Critical Mass itself, which can best be
>described as an <a
>href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/travel/features/cycling/criticalmass.shtml">
>"unorganised coincidence".</a> As the ride's <a
>href="http://www.criticalmasslondon.org.uk/critical-mass-london/a-cm-faq.php">website
>FAQ</a> notes:</p>
>
><p><blockquote>Nobody organises CM in the sense that they control the
>event - what happens at the ride is up to all the individuals. However,
>as with any project, some individuals are usually more involved than
>others, for example in printing and distributing leaflets and other
>publicity, or maintaining this website ;). However, they only do the
>work, and don't have any authority over anybody else - their only power
>is to make suggestions. </blockquote></p>
>
>Body:
>
><p>Critical Mass rides are held in many cities across the globe, and if
>there is any one aim, it is a shared wish to see less car-dominated
>cities and more people cycling. The hallmark of the event is the
>bringing together of a wide spectrum of cyclists in an spontaneous
>'disorganisation' which is not dominated by any political ideology
>,party, organisation or individual. Any attempt to meet the requirements
>of the letter would mean that the basic foundations of Critical Mass
>would be threatened. London Critical Mass however is not alone in facing
>challenges.</p>
>
><p>For some months now, cyclists on <a
>href="http://www.times-up.org/cm.php">New York's</a>  Critical Mass
>rides, have been subject to mass <a
>href="http://overstated.net/05/01/31-nyc-bicycle-abuse">arrests</a> with
>police using tactics such as placing nets across the road and arresting
>everyone inside the nets.</p>
>
><p>New Yorkers have persisted with the rides in the face of the arrests
>and repression and many of those who have gone to court on the charges
>have been <a
>href="http://nyc.indymedia.org/en/2005/09/57328.html">exonerated</a>
>Only time can tell how Londoners will deal with the challenge to their
>monthly ride, but already calls are going out for the next ride (Friday
>October 28th) to be the biggest ride yet.</p>
>
>Links:
>
><p><h3>Links:</h3></p>
>
><p><a href="http://www.criticalmasslondon.org.uk/index.php">London
>Critical Mass website</a><br>
><a href="http://lists.riseup.net/www/arc/cm-london">London Critical Mass
>elist archive</a><br>
><a href="http://nyc.indymedia.org/en/2005/09/57328.html">New York City
>Indymedia coverage of Critical Mass</a><br>
><a href="http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/05/311053.html">London
>Critical Mass 11th Birthday Video </a><br>
><a
>href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/travel/features/cycling/criticalmass.shtml">BBC
>article on London Critical Mass's 10th Birthday</a><br>
><a href="http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/10/324826.html">Coverage of
>Nottingham's October Critical mass</a></p>
>
>suggested image attached :)
>
>
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