To me it celebrates cycling in that a group of people get together for a group ride, more social than riding alone. Is everybody anti social-riding then? Better go tell the clubs that...
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!
Was anyone at CM on Friday?
(79 posts)-
Posted 13 years ago #
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Not at all - I go on social rides that don't antagonise... If I was to suggest to you to go on a Twenty Milers ride, or a Spokes ride, or an audax etc etc etc why would you choose CM in its place?
Life 'aint back and white. YOU choose CM cos it's a social ride, but that doesn't mean that others hate social rides, it means that others see CM as something different and don't like THAT aspect.
It's a huge leap to suggest that because someone doesn't like CM they don't like any social riding, and a suggestion which does you a disservice.
Posted 13 years ago # -
I wouldn't choose CM in any social ride place, CM happened to be on a time that suited me (ie my home commute)
You say life ain't black and white yet you seem to be tarring the entire CM riders with the same brush and that is your belief they all want to antagonise. That does you a disservice.Posted 13 years ago # -
I'm with spytfyre on this one. I think Critical Mass has it's place. Although I've never been on one I think it's great that people meet up and ride on the same day every month. I think it would be great if they all cycled a bit faster and made it a ride instead of a go slow though.
Posted 13 years ago # -
They certainly seem to move faster in all the vids I have seen of San Fran... worth suggesting at the start of the next one (or maybe jumping into the lead of and setting the pace instead?)
Posted 13 years ago # -
Well, my take on the Guardian website video:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/edinburgh/2010/jun/26/edinburgh-critical-mass-bike-demonstration-police
is that *this* so-called CM seemed to err on the antagnostic side as opposed to the celebratory. "Social bike ride" as an excuse to engage in some moton and polis baiting.Pretty pointless, almost certainly couter-productive (with consequences for the overwhelming majority of cyclists in Edinburgh) - and not really quite what I thought CM was about.
So - not in my name.
Posted 13 years ago # -
Spytfyre, we're going to have to agree to disagree on this. I wasn't tarring all riders but actually CM in the form it takes in Edinburgh.
Indeed, not all people taking part will want to antagonise, but the ride does. I understand even at this ride with the trouble a number of people left half way round because they hadn't thought it was going to be so antagonistic (though I wasn't there, so can only comment on hearsay).
I stand by my comment - I don't disagree with social riding; I do disagree with anti-social riding; I believe CM (as distinct from the individual riders who simply become part of the morasse) to be anti-social.
Tis my opinion. And I've not heard or seen anything to change that particular opinion. But I'll tell you what...
Fancy doing the next one? I'll come along, take part, and see if it's different from my pre-conceived notion. Forum jaunt?
Posted 13 years ago # -
Fine
I will agree to disagree as I was forced to on the late-great-helmet-debate (which even rhymes)
That makes strike 2
I won't be around here much longer
I am sad to see so many disagree with the basic freedom issue of not being allowed to ride a bike in a group.Posted 13 years ago # -
spyt, I'm not telling you what to do and what not to do - just that I disagree, in the same way that you disagree with me, AND offering to come on the next one and have you try to change my mind...
And I'm not sure anyone has ever actually said that people shouldn't be allowed to ride in a group??? It's the particular way CM does it that irks me (plus I've said a few times in this topic that the police were also at fault...).
Not sure if I agreed or disagreed on the helmet debate with you (though my view was, wear one if you want, don't wear one if you don't want to, so I'm either agreeing or disagreeing with EVERYONE on that score).
30th July I'll be at the next CM, and I genuinely hope to see you there.
Posted 13 years ago # -
I personally don't think it will have any consequences on the vast majority of Edinburgh cyclists. I am a bit peaved that I will Now have to abandon the lovely banner I was making that read "CRITICAL MASS IN THE NAME OF RJ" (joke) but hey that's life. ;-)
I would like to go on a CM ride and pick up the pace a bit though. Can't do july though.Posted 13 years ago # -
@anth - apologies, I read about as far as "agree to disagree and started my rant. I did not read that you were going to sample it for yourself
I was planning on it since I finally have a Friday where I can make it but I will also add I will be on a disposable BSO and not wearing my ussual commute kit (CCTV cameras are everywhere, know any good lawyers prepared to work pro bono?)
@recombodna - we could chant it instead... (try it, I find it fits well to the "killing in the name of" tune)Posted 13 years ago # -
Funnily enough, I AM a lawyer, and have always wondered what effect this knowledge would have on a policeman's demeanour... He doesn't need to know I only deal with corporate stuff...
Posted 13 years ago # -
p.s. please stick around - the world would be a more boring place if everyone just agreed with each other
Posted 13 years ago # -
@Anth - "Funnily enough, I AM a lawyer,"
yes I knew someone round here was
"I only deal with corporate stuff"
Yeah but you must know some other lawyery type people that would cover me should I get nicked?
I can pay in home made wine, beer, cider, mead or home PC repair ;)Also, I don't know about last month but when I was there some people peeled off at different stages as I had to leave early to go home for dinner plus they were heading down Leith and I had already overstayed my time enjoying the atmosphere and the music... Next time dinner will be a chippy and a pint in the pub the majority usually end up in (often the Pear Tree I believe)
Posted 13 years ago # -
I would be interested to know how our MSPs feel about this issue and have taken the liberty of writing to Margo MacDonald, I would encourage others to write to other MSPs so we can guage a broad 'temperature' for the politician's view of this story in the light of the targets on number of bike journeys...
http://www.writetothem.org
Pick one MSP as it says (as this is not an election issue)
Post the name you have contacted here so we don't contact them too many times (although that couldn't hurt) and we get round them all?
Post their response here (when and if you get one, will also prove interesting to see which of them are interested in cycling)
What say you?Posted 13 years ago # -
Sounds a plan - it would be interesting to see the ministerial response...
Posted 13 years ago # -
So who you
picking onselecting for your email?Posted 13 years ago # -
Kenny Macaskill is my actual MSP, who just happens to be Justice Secretary...
Posted 13 years ago # -
ADMIN EDIT
I have removed pic of bike PC and Minister, partly because of some later comments, and also because I think he has left L&BP.
Comment below refers to KMcA.
He's usually good at responding to e-mails.
Posted 13 years ago # -
THAT's the copper that should have been at CM
Can he be sent along next month?Posted 13 years ago # -
"p.s. please stick around - the world would be a more boring place if everyone just agreed with each other" I agree with that!!
"THAT's the copper that should have been at CM
Can he be sent along next month?" I don't think the fact that he rides a bike will make him less likely to beat down on the "kids".remember this classic?
Posted 13 years ago # -
@recombodna "I agree with that!!"
I'm not sure but I think that means you are free to go...
I saw nothing in that video about beating kids...Posted 13 years ago # -
Ha Ha no no you got me all wrong! Anth said the world would be a more boring place if everyone agreed with each other........so I agreed with that......and the video just demonstrates the stupidity of the police from a satirical point of view and I meant Kids as in "the Kids" meaning "young Adults" or "people in general" "you and me" "me and you lots and lots of things to do" ........not children. I love children....couldn't eat a whole one though. Oh god I'm digging deeper here I'll get my coat!
Posted 13 years ago # -
No word back yet from Margo MacDonald - trying Shirley-Anne Somerville now...
Posted 13 years ago # -
SA's office called back last week - they are still waiting on the Polis getting back to them and wanted to know if I wanted the cops to liase through them directly with me (I went with the latter)
I haven't heard the final answer but I did as they guy what SA's opinion was and it seemed to be the cop was "heavy handed"
He also said he would find out what happened to the "protestor" then corrected himself "I should say 'cyclist'"
So all in all a good sideWho is all coming along tomorrow - could we make it another post work forum ride (and try to eke out at least a 10mph average speed)?
Posted 13 years ago # -
This is going to sound really bad after all the heated, erm, debate that took place earlier on this. I can't make it tomorrow night! Not gonna have the bike to work as I'm picking up a hire car to go on a last-minute-planned trip to Nottingham with a friend for the cricket!
Posted 13 years ago # -
That's cool I am sure I will find another lawyer, I was almost driving down to Ayr but my wife has gone early so I will be getting the train after the ride.
To be honest you probably wouldn't get the same impression from this one given the mood that will be kicking around from the last one, see you at the next one perhaps (if I can make it)Have you heard anything back from Kenny Macaskill?
Posted 13 years ago # -
Now if you could get a blues and twos escort through the Meadows at 10mph that would be a
proteststatement! No b*s going to risk over taking a cavalcade.Posted 13 years ago # -
natch, going to have to skip it this month too as the train to Ayr takes over 2 hours so I can't be setting off late...
Posted 13 years ago # -
Hmmm, no I haven't heard back from Kenny!
Friday 27th for the next? I'll put it in the diary so I don't organise anything else!
Posted 13 years ago #
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