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PoP 2014 - Thoughts?

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Started 10 years ago by I were right about that saddle
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Min
Member

An end to the police-induced nonsenses of last year really made a difference (ie. having everyone in dribs and drabs and not letting folk keep their bikes with them at the end.) So thank you to them for seeing sense this year!

I thought the sound system was much better this year, that really helped. A shame it apparently wasn't getting across to everyone.

I would agree something is needed to help get the minutes silence across. Perhaps some Marshalls Lite positioned along the queue whose sole job is just to let people know that there will be a minutes silence, watch for a flag to be dropped (or something) and blow a whistle at the start and end?

I pedestrianed down which meant I was pretty much in the whole group all at once rather than in a wee bubble of the same folk and I thought that thousands of cyclists all pouring down the RM really made an impact and was pretty intense. Would have been even better if it hadn't been broken up at all of course!

Also would not like to see POP start going down the line of toilets and so on. As soon as you start bringing in large expenses like that, the commercial enterprise chute will greased up and the whole feel of the thing will be diluted. Maybe publicise on the website where the nearest public loos are? A friend of ours went for a "Royal Wee" at the palace!

Thank you to all the organisers and marshalls and anybody else that needs thanking!

Posted 10 years ago #
SRD
Moderator

'Multi-coloured gandalf'

is this the guy who a few years back, took his (full size) bike in the canoe with him as part of the wee boats flotilla of the canal festival?

Posted 10 years ago #
wingpig
Member

I only arrived just prior to the silence-whistle being sounded, so missed any build-up and preamble, but the kids-at-the-front thing meant I was able to trundle up along NMW and then sneak smoothly in with the wingpiglet in front of me when I'd detached him and his balance bike. Apologies if my wife, mum or dad got in anyone's way when they were walking up the bike side of MMW.

A marshal at every occurrence of traffic-lights would be useful in order to clearly indicate whether or not they were still pertinent. There was a nice secondary mass-clumping along the high street which was missing last year. We were going so slowly (he evidently still remembers the time he got the speedwobbles and wiped out going down a slope in the Figgate park, though he usually goes at jogging-pace) we had a couple of instances of being on our own after falling off the back of a group before the following bolus was released from the traffic-constraints. Loads of people both on bikes and footway gave the youngster wee waves and smiles, which is exactly the sort of atmosphere this sort of thing should have. The sparseness of the ride from within it was striking a couple of times, but it just meant that the people walking along the Canongate could wander freely without being choked by open-top bus fumes. Some disgruntled-looking van-occupants looked like they wanted to try moving the barriers and sneaking out of New Street before they were allowed to.

My dad also commented that the speeches were inaudible from that wave-shaped concrete sculpture thing Spytfyre's kids were playing on, though there was plenty of room for people to wander close enough to hear things if they were free to do so - I assumed the speeches would eventually end up online somewhere so just hung around the edge. Fencing off the ponds didn't seem too restrictive. My party wanted to head off to find toilets and cakes slightly before Magnatom gave the official break-up signal - a pity that the Parliament's toilets are the other end of a security check but Dynamic Earth's are also available.

My bike fell over whilst the agent of Critical Mass was trying to recruit earthowned but they'd gone by the time I'd pulled bike and fence back up, so I was unable to tell them that whilst their website declares an intention to disobey traffic signals and as long as people with bike-mounted sound systems are celebrated rather than frowned at they'll get no business from me.

Posted 10 years ago #
chdot
Admin

"

In 2012 their "Love London, Go Dutch" election push saw 10,000 people take to the streets in protest in London's biggest ever cycling demonstration. That led directly to the newly elected Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, pledging to spend nearly a BILLION pounds on making London's streets safe for cycling over the next ten years

"

http://ibikelondon.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/want-things-to-change-for-cyclists-in.html

Don't know if the London demo achieved 'everything it wanted' at the first attempt.

2012 was the year for big demos in London and Edinburgh. But PoP is 'for' the whole of Scotland.

It has also kept going (and should for a while yet) where the London one was more of a one-off. There have since been flash mob demos over particular incidents in London - Edinburgh had a very dignified and highly effective one last year with the White Bikes at Holyrood.

I think now PoP is a 'celebration of cycling' and a 'celebration of cycle campaigning' it's not about making the annual event bigger and better.

Next year if people come for the fourth time or the first time that will be great. If it's the end of another year of small bits of campaigning (even just one email to a politician), great. If it marks the start of another year of pressing for better conditions for people or encouraging/helping more friends/colleagues to cycle, even better.

Posted 10 years ago #
chdot
Admin

"

ibikelondon blog (@markbikeslondon)
28/04/2014 10:44
By me, on the blog today: Campaigning works! If you want safer cycling in London, you have to get involved: http://ibikelondon.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/want-things-to-change-for-cyclists-in.html #cycling

"

Well he would say that wouldn't he...!

Posted 10 years ago #
chdot
Admin

All sorts of child transport.

Pedal on Parliament 2014 by kandu's photos, on Flickr

More next year?

Posted 10 years ago #
Roibeard
Member

I know many folk's favourite bit will be the balance bikes heading down the mound, but I had another "image of PoP" captured from the day.

At the tail end there were two students heading down the mile, one riding pillion on the other's rack as she'd just sold her bicycle in anticipation of returning home - yes, they were pretty girls, so a scene worthy of Colville-Andersen himself!

No doubt that image, if captured, would cause apoplections (pillion, bare-headed, in nothing more eye-catching than normal clothes), but fun in that they had a police escort...

Robert

Posted 10 years ago #
algo
Member

We arrived en masse with various children, trailers and pandas and filed in quite a long way back, but with many many more still arriving. I'm afraid we also missed the minute's silence where we were.

I'd really like to congratulate all the organisers for making a success of the event - no mean feat in the centre of Edinburgh on a Saturday, and especially for getting the attention of relevant politicians. The atmosphere was excellent and I really feel that it made the polite but numerous impact that will make politicians listen. I agree that there is no need to provide provision for toilets or anything like that - it is a short event and one which is about numbers of cyclists and pedestrians - not about organising a festival. It's true the speeches weren't audible from the edges, but I think as gembo points out that is a problem with pa systems outdoors. It was possible to wander to see and listen to them but I had sleeping children to guard.

Posted 10 years ago #
holisticglint
Member

Excellent event again this year.

Mrs HG suggested that some banners around the edge of the event at parliament explaining what it was would be good. I was at the edge of the crowd across the road from the speeches and was asked twice by passers by what was going on. This might help compensate for the PA problems?

Highlighting kids/families is a good angle and should defo continue.

I thought the Critical Massive guys made it feel a bit more like a demonstration which was good but it is a difficult balance to keep it family friendly and the same time. So long as they play by PoP rules at PoP, I can't see a problem promoting alternative protest methods.

Posted 10 years ago #
ARobComp
Member

One of the interesting things about the process of getting the roads closed was that they really genuinely didn't care about the private cars, however they were incredibly keen to not upset the buses too much. That was the main issue and the reason why the police let some traffic through the junctions (in order to minimise the bus disruption) They actually put out more parking restrictions than last year to avoid double parking on roads leading up to the road closures.

Thanks for the suggestions etc and of course all the assistance with getting the word out.

It's interesting that many of the people I spoke to yesterday had a sort of "you should speak to this group/that group" or "someone should bring more people from my roadclub" I sort of suggested to a few of them that maybe they are that person. So still got to get there with everyone doing their bit!

I suppose as well I'd have loved to have had another 10 or so marshals who could help tell everyone about the minutes silence. I had the guys moving up and down the queue with the flyers and telling as many as possible. There were also whistles with each of them. However I think I could have done this better. I had the megaphone and should have used it a bit more. Guess I was hoping that it would be more organic with the leaflets and certainly think it was better than previous years.

We only just had enough marshals to cover the different points that the council wanted covered. If I'd have had another 5 or 6 I'd have been able to be a bit more proactive in the queue I think. Need to get more bibs for next year.

Remember as well that the marshals are really there as some people who are able to advise if anything goes wrong (ambulance needs to get through/medical emergancy etc) Also just to provide some visual reassurance. Hopefully we'll get more volunteers next time. I know Fimm and another person who wanted to help were wanting to help but I didn't have enough tabards!

Posted 10 years ago #
SRD
Moderator

I didn't mind the critical mass flags etc, but their music was dire/annoying.

would have liked to have had more flags etc from the various other groups - especially telling us where they were from. the club lycra was actually good this was as an advert. but wish we could find someway to have people with 'dumfries'; 'stirling', 'inverness' etc signs.

Posted 10 years ago #
robyvecchio
Member

I enjoyed it more than last year. The waiting for the traffic at the bridges was a bummer and we missed the minute silence too but everything else went smoothly.

The feeder ride from Leith was as hard as expected, I'll sign up for marshalling next year and for the bike breakfast should I be in Town.

About the critical mass I don't disdain them. I don't like the "we are traffic, but we RLJ to keep the group together, and don't get the police involved!" it's just nonsense to me.

However even if I don't agree on the method, we share the same goal, let's not be a People's Front of Judea.

Cycling should be inclusive and I think there is a place for a boomer box bike as much as cargo bikes, penny-farthings etc.

Posted 10 years ago #
ARobComp
Member

I am more frustrated with the critical mass guys slightly condecending "We do this every month guys" message. Sort of suggests that they're the badasses. Maybe I'm just sensitive! They did try and help with the message as much as possible I guess.

Sara - that was one of the other suggestions by some ERC members - basically about why they don't get a bunch of ERC to wear ERC kit and join as a group for visual impact. I suggested that they might be the best people to help make that happen!

Posted 10 years ago #
chdot
Admin

"Need to get more bibs for next year."

Get a bundle.

There are enough people on here who now know that marshalling isn't particularly onerous - but vital.

And they would get told what to do -

Marshalling the marshalls

Posted 10 years ago #
algo
Member

@ARobComp - I think all the Marshalling was excellent - the problem at the back was that people were still arriving there at and around the minute's silence mark, and we were next to a busy road so it'd be really difficult to achieve silence there. We were advised and told exactly as you said, but we (and everyone else around us) missed it on account of the ambient noise from the road and general chatter I think - I do feel bad about that. I wonder if next time it might be possible to fund cheap whistles and distribute them to willing people with reliable watches in the crowd at the back - not necessarily just marshals.

Posted 10 years ago #
I were right about that saddle
Member

I gave the dude with the sound system a big thumbs up. It's a demo after all, not a seminary tutorial. I'd draw the line if Black Bloc turned up, but I can't see any harm at all in turning a few heads with some sounds.....I thought it added to the party atmosphere a treat.

Posted 10 years ago #
chdot
Admin

"I suggested that they might be the best people to help make that happen!"

Quite!

I think after this year, more people will realise 'PoP IS us' - and not (just) some event to go along to that 'just' happens and/or is 'organised by other people'.

It would be good if PoP could do some sort of list of 'what actually has to be done to make PoP happen'.

I think 'we' have a reasonable idea, but perhaps underestimate the time and effort by 'a few'.

Then perhaps some of the tasks could be subdivided - or even done differently.

I HOPE there will be a meeting soon of PoP, CEC (including politicians), police etc. where (almost) the only agenda item is date of #PoP2015.

A date, long in advance, would take a lot of pressure off. I think the arguments about route/day of week are over.

It's just another high point in the Festival City's calendar.

Someone should tell Steve Cardownie.

Posted 10 years ago #
SRD
Moderator

"Cycling should be inclusive and I think there is a place for a boomer box bike as much as cargo bikes, penny-farthings etc."

yes, but, i'd like one playing my kind of music please :)

Posted 10 years ago #
chdot
Admin

Whistles, random search -

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121100179640

Distribute down the line to (roughly) every 50th person prepared to look at their watch/smartphone.

Posted 10 years ago #
crowriver
Member

I don't think we should diss the Critical Mass folks*. I saw them, but never heard their sound system as we decamped to the concrete ampitheatre seats** further back upon arrival at the Parly.

PoP is a broad church and can include all the cycling faithful and even pedestrians. It's not fair to single out a particular group because they don't fit with others' ideas of how to behave. If anything, as folk have referred to upthread, maybe this was the most polite PoP ever. I don't recall hearing a single heckle when the politicians were speaking, which must be a first!

* - Personally I've never been on a Critical Mass monthly ride but that's only because I am usually still at work that time on a Friday.

** -Actually it was good to see the grass ampitheatre used as the architect (RIP) intended , even if there was rather too much evidence it is also used habitually as a dog toilet.

Posted 10 years ago #
Instography
Member

I thought it was good fun. We made a day of it cycling in from Ratho and having a good feed at the Bridge Inn on the way back.

I was just behind the Critical Mass crowd and enjoyed their noise. They seemed well behaved enough.

There's a point at the Parliament when most people have come down and are assembling but before people start to drift away. For me, that's when to have the minute's silence. I'll admit, I want to see Keith Brown (or whichever politician is in that position) stand in silence, with their head bowed, remembering the cyclists who have died on our roads. I want them to have to do that before they get to hold a microphone and tell us what they're doing to make things better.

Posted 10 years ago #
I were right about that saddle
Member

@crowriver

Totally agree on the broad church thing. "the most polite PoP ever"...have you seen that dude's carboard Keith Brown Loves Motorways sign on flickr?

I accidentaly heckled at PoP2. Forget what it was Keith said but my spontaneous utterance of 'ball-cocks' resonanted across the hushed crowd more than seemed possible. I hung my head. Black affronted.

Posted 10 years ago #
SRD
Moderator

"I don't recall hearing a single heckle when the politicians were speaking, which must be a first!"

There were some boos when he mentioned the nice way code (notice my careful use of the passive voice...)

Posted 10 years ago #
I were right about that saddle
Member

@Instography

Excellent idea re the silence.

Posted 10 years ago #
crowriver
Member

I accidentaly heckled at PoP2. Forget what it was Keith said

He wasn't at PoP2. Environment minister was sent instead, and was heckled quite a bit IIRC.

Posted 10 years ago #
DdF
Member

"@ Morningsider
That the Minister felt it important enough to arrange some extra cycle funding to be announced the day before is significant
@chdot
Some people think this wasn't 'new money'."

I'm pretty sure we've got it correct here. As stated there, we don't yet know how much came from each source, but I'm pretty confident that the biggest element was that in the first bullet point.

There were definitely some good aspects to the announcement, albeit combined with a fair bit of the usual spin.

Not that the spin is confined to cycling alone... e.g. the government budget includes money for 'motorways and trunk roads' (largely unspecified). Then every few months the Minister announces £x for such and such a road scheme, implying it's new money, whereas in fact it is just announcing how some of the already-budgeted roads funding will be used.

Posted 10 years ago #
urchaidh
Member

</lurk>

I hauled my kids (in the trailer) up from Porty with a compensatory stop at the Meadows play park. Next year they can hopefully cycle up themselves but for this year I just couldn't see a way to get them and their bikes up there. I was worried I was being a bit selfish cooping them up in the trailer for so long but they both really loved it, thought it was all very exciting.

We were about three quarters of the way along the middle meadow walk line and missed the silence. I'd agree that having at the end, before the speeches, would be good.

Great day out, kudos to the organisers and fingers crossed for some real, positive changes before the next one.

<lurk>

Posted 10 years ago #
fimm
Member

I've blogged about it here:
http://wisob.wordpress.com/2014/04/28/on-pedal-on-parliament-2014/

Posted 10 years ago #
kcr
Member

My 3rd PoP; thanks to the organisers for all their hard work. I don't really think Keith Brown gets it, but I think it is significant that he now feels he has to show face. A few years ago you wouldn't have managed to get several thousand cyclists on a protest of this sort, so it is great to see that there is a relatively small, but critical demand for change.

Subjectively, it felt as if there were fewer people at Holyrood this year. People definitely melted away quickly, well before the end of the speeches. I appreciate it would make organisation more difficult to add other activities that would encourage people to stay longer.
Toilets are an issue (speaking as part of a group of 3 adults and 3 small children who cycled in from the Eastern outskirts). If portaloos are not an option, it would be good to highlight the nearest public alternatives (we applied our own toilet tax on Starbucks as we passed...)
I publicised the event within Edinburgh RC (a lot of club members were already keen attendees) and we sadly have an association through Andrew McNiccol. I wasn't aware of any suggestions about forming a mass club presence within the ride, and I don't think that would be practical anyway. People ride from all over the city and congregate informally, which I think is fine.
I think that we could improve mainstream awareness of the event. The buzz on social media perhaps obscures the fact that a lot of people don't follow Twitter, etc closely, and maybe just don't know what was going on. We met lots of cyclists on the canal heading in the opposite direction.

Posted 10 years ago #
lionfish
Member

Glad to hear it went really well, that the weather was ok, and it sounds like even more people than last year! And maybe importantly, Keith turned up.

I guess it does need to be taken more main-stream, somehow getting more nearly-cyclists to go too - not sure how though!

"We met lots of cyclists on the canal heading in the opposite direction."

Yeah, this was a point made last year too - people on the day saying they wish they'd known about it. I hung about fliering every morning and evening for a few days in the run up to POP2, for the rush-hours on the canal (and a couple of times on the Meadows). Maybe I was targetting the wrong group - the weekday commuters, rather than the weekend-only cyclists? For next time I'm in Edinburgh near POP, I'll try to remember to flier at preceding weekends more.

Would it be worth posting 1000s of leaflets in peoples doors?? Is that practical?

Posted 10 years ago #

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