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Critical Mass 26-March-10



 
 
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  #1  
Old March 27th 10, 12:03 AM posted to uk.rec.cycling
Tom Crispin
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Posts: 4,229
Default Critical Mass 26-March-10

The route is he
http://tinyurl.com/ybr4o6z from:
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?ie=...19383&t=h&z=12

On the south bank I met Jenny Jones and Caroline Pidgeon, both London
Assembly members of whom I have a lot of respect. Jenny was cycling
with the Mass, Caroline was there to see us off.

Two counts were made of the mass, the first was of 600 cyclists, the
second was of 620 cyclists.

Our first port of call was the corner of Druid Street and Tower Bridge
Road where Professor David Vilaseca was killed by the driver of a skip
lorry on 9 February 2010.

Our second port of call was the corner of Snowfields and Weston Street
where the student Haris Ahmed was killed by the driver of a Keltbray
lorry on its way to the site of the London Shard on 9 March 2010.

Our final port of call was the roundabout at Lauriston Road and
Victoria Park where Shivon Watson was killed by the driver of a skip
lorry on 10 March 2010

The mood was sombre, and the nature of the mass better than I recall
from having been on two past masses. When we explained to motorists
who were held up for a few minutes that this was a memorial ride for
fallen cyclists there seemed to be a general acceptance that we had a
legitimate right of procession. A small number of motorists appeared
impatient, and I witnessed at least one very aggressive truck driver
who drove onto the pavement in a futile attempt to intimidate
cyclists.
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  #2  
Old March 27th 10, 12:08 AM posted to uk.rec.cycling
Jim A
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Posts: 618
Default Critical Mass 26-March-10

Tom Crispin wrote:

... and I witnessed at least one very aggressive truck driver
who drove onto the pavement in a futile attempt to intimidate
cyclists.


What were the cyclists doing on the pavement in the first place?


--
www.slowbicyclemovement.org - enjoy the ride
  #3  
Old March 27th 10, 12:14 AM posted to uk.rec.cycling
JMS
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Posts: 1,929
Default Critical Mass 26-March-10

On Fri, 26 Mar 2010 23:03:17 +0000, Tom Crispin
wrote:

The route is he
http://tinyurl.com/ybr4o6z from:
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?ie=...19383&t=h&z=12

On the south bank I met Jenny Jones and Caroline Pidgeon, both London
Assembly members of whom I have a lot of respect. Jenny was cycling
with the Mass, Caroline was there to see us off.

Two counts were made of the mass, the first was of 600 cyclists, the
second was of 620 cyclists.

Our first port of call was the corner of Druid Street and Tower Bridge
Road where Professor David Vilaseca was killed by the driver of a skip
lorry on 9 February 2010.

Our second port of call was the corner of Snowfields and Weston Street
where the student Haris Ahmed was killed by the driver of a Keltbray
lorry on its way to the site of the London Shard on 9 March 2010.

Our final port of call was the roundabout at Lauriston Road and
Victoria Park where Shivon Watson was killed by the driver of a skip
lorry on 10 March 2010

The mood was sombre, and the nature of the mass better than I recall
from having been on two past masses. When we explained to motorists
who were held up for a few minutes that this was a memorial ride for
fallen cyclists there seemed to be a general acceptance that we had a
legitimate right of procession. A small number of motorists appeared
impatient, and I witnessed at least one very aggressive truck driver
who drove onto the pavement in a futile attempt to intimidate
cyclists.



Three wankcries in one event - very good.


  #4  
Old March 27th 10, 12:22 AM posted to uk.rec.cycling
Tom Crispin
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Posts: 4,229
Default Critical Mass 26-March-10

On Fri, 26 Mar 2010 23:08:51 +0000, Jim A
wrote:

Tom Crispin wrote:

... and I witnessed at least one very aggressive truck driver
who drove onto the pavement in a futile attempt to intimidate
cyclists.


What were the cyclists doing on the pavement in the first place?


I saw no cyclists on the pavement. The lorry drove onto the pavement
in an attempt to drive against the flow of cyclists on the road. I
also noted that the truck had severely damaged guard rails suggesting
that the truck had been in a collision recently.
  #5  
Old March 27th 10, 12:48 AM posted to uk.rec.cycling
Jim A
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Posts: 618
Default Critical Mass 26-March-10

Tom Crispin wrote:
On Fri, 26 Mar 2010 23:08:51 +0000, Jim A
wrote:

Tom Crispin wrote:

... and I witnessed at least one very aggressive truck driver
who drove onto the pavement in a futile attempt to intimidate
cyclists.

What were the cyclists doing on the pavement in the first place?


I saw no cyclists on the pavement.


So what's the problem?

The lorry drove onto the pavement
in an attempt to drive against the flow of cyclists on the road.


They were probably blocking his lawful progress then.

I
also noted that the truck had severely damaged guard rails suggesting
that the truck had been in a collision recently.


It can't have been a cyclist caused that damage, as one of us frail
mortals would hardly dent a truck's guard rail.

So what have you achieved this evening? You've ****ed off a truck
driver who might otherwise have had a favourable impression of cyclists.

--
www.slowbicyclemovement.org - enjoy the ride
  #6  
Old March 27th 10, 08:15 AM posted to uk.rec.cycling
Doug[_3_]
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Posts: 5,927
Default Critical Mass 26-March-10

On 26 Mar, 23:03, Tom Crispin
wrote:
The route is hehttp://tinyurl.com/ybr4o6zfrom:http:...id=10148781700...

On the south bank I met Jenny Jones and Caroline Pidgeon, both London
Assembly members of whom I have a lot of respect. Jenny was cycling
with the Mass, Caroline was there to see us off.

Two counts were made of the mass, the first was of 600 cyclists, the
second was of 620 cyclists.

Our first port of call was the corner of Druid Street and Tower Bridge
Road where Professor David Vilaseca was killed by the driver of a skip
lorry on 9 February 2010.

Our second port of call was the corner of Snowfields and Weston Street
where the student Haris Ahmed was killed by the driver of a Keltbray
lorry on its way to the site of the London Shard on 9 March 2010.

Our final port of call was the roundabout at Lauriston Road and
Victoria Park where Shivon Watson was killed by the driver of a skip
lorry on 10 March 2010

The mood was sombre, and the nature of the mass better than I recall
from having been on two past masses. When we explained to motorists
who were held up for a few minutes that this was a memorial ride for
fallen cyclists there seemed to be a general acceptance that we had a
legitimate right of procession. A small number of motorists appeared
impatient, and I witnessed at least one very aggressive truck driver
who drove onto the pavement in a futile attempt to intimidate
cyclists.

I gather the LCC officially attended in support of the ride.

Doug.
  #7  
Old March 27th 10, 09:07 AM posted to uk.rec.cycling
Tom Crispin
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 4,229
Default Critical Mass 26-March-10

On Sat, 27 Mar 2010 00:15:34 -0700 (PDT), Doug
wrote:

I gather the LCC officially attended in support of the ride.


I saw Charlie Lloyd. I don't know if he was attending officially or
not. Charlie used to be an HGV driver, so he knows the HGV-Cyclist
situation from both sides and understands the issues better than most.

The procession was led, and I do mean 'led', by Barry Mason (who I
expect you know) from Southwark Cyclists and someone from Hackney
Cyclists who I expect was Brenda Puech. Both Southwark Cyclists and
Hackney Cyclists are borough branches of the London Cycling Campaign.

The memorial flyer for the procession says:
We can't rewrite history but tonight we can show London that we're
determined to help stop these needless tragedies. The joy of Crticical
Mass is that it has no leaders and no set route but we wuld be
grateful if on this occasion you would join us in visiting the 3
scenes above and sharing a minute's silence at each.

The suggested route was detailed below.
  #8  
Old March 27th 10, 09:28 AM posted to uk.rec.cycling
Mrcheerful[_2_]
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Posts: 3,275
Default Critical Mass 26-March-10

Tom Crispin wrote:
On Sat, 27 Mar 2010 00:15:34 -0700 (PDT), Doug
wrote:

I gather the LCC officially attended in support of the ride.


I saw Charlie Lloyd. I don't know if he was attending officially or
not. Charlie used to be an HGV driver, so he knows the HGV-Cyclist
situation from both sides and understands the issues better than most.

The procession was led, and I do mean 'led', by Barry Mason (who I
expect you know) from Southwark Cyclists and someone from Hackney
Cyclists who I expect was Brenda Puech. Both Southwark Cyclists and
Hackney Cyclists are borough branches of the London Cycling Campaign.

The memorial flyer for the procession says:
We can't rewrite history but tonight we can show London that we're
determined to help stop these needless tragedies. The joy of Crticical
Mass is that it has no leaders and no set route but we wuld be
grateful if on this occasion you would join us in visiting the 3
scenes above and sharing a minute's silence at each.

The suggested route was detailed below.


how can they think that annoying other road users will prevent further
deaths of cyclists? all it will do is anger motorists and quite possibly
cause further needless deaths.
What is needed is education of cyclists, they are the ones who put
themselves in danger, there is then surprise when they get run over! Are
cyclists unable to see the cause and effect process here?


  #9  
Old March 27th 10, 09:37 AM posted to uk.rec.cycling
Tom Crispin
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 4,229
Default Critical Mass 26-March-10

On Sat, 27 Mar 2010 08:28:14 -0000, "Mrcheerful"
wrote:

how can they think that annoying other road users will prevent further
deaths of cyclists? all it will do is anger motorists and quite possibly
cause further needless deaths.
What is needed is education of cyclists, they are the ones who put
themselves in danger, there is then surprise when they get run over! Are
cyclists unable to see the cause and effect process here?


If that is the case, and it is cyclists who put themselves in danger,
rather than incompetent driving, can you please explain why it is that
in a disproportionate number of these deaths skip trucks and tipper
lorries are involved?

Busses, including bendy busses, and coaches are rarely involved in
such incidents, yet they stop frequently, share bus lanes with
cyclists, and tend to go to the same places as cyclists visit.
  #10  
Old March 27th 10, 09:38 AM posted to uk.rec.cycling
Doug[_3_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 5,927
Default Critical Mass 26-March-10

On 27 Mar, 08:07, Tom Crispin
wrote:
On Sat, 27 Mar 2010 00:15:34 -0700 (PDT), Doug
wrote:

I gather the LCC officially attended in support of the ride.


I saw Charlie Lloyd. I don't know if he was attending officially or
not. Charlie used to be an HGV driver, so he knows the HGV-Cyclist
situation from both sides and understands the issues better than most.

The procession was led, and I do mean 'led', by Barry Mason (who I
expect you know) from Southwark Cyclists and someone from Hackney
Cyclists who I expect was Brenda Puech. Both Southwark Cyclists and
Hackney Cyclists are borough branches of the London Cycling Campaign.

Yes I know Barry Mason, he usually gives CM a miss and I gather he
does no approve of it. CM is sometimes visited/led by politicians and
others who have some point to make. Anyway, I doubt that an ordinary
memorial ride would have attracted as many as 600 riders. Just shows
how egalitarian and tolerant CM is.

The memorial flyer for the procession says:
We can't rewrite history but tonight we can show London that we're
determined to help stop these needless tragedies. The joy of Crticical
Mass is that it has no leaders and no set route but we wuld be
grateful if on this occasion you would join us in visiting the 3
scenes above and sharing a minute's silence at each.

The suggested route was detailed below.

The LCC posted this to the CM discussion list.

"LCC will be there tonight, encouraging riders to pay their respects
at
the sites of the three cyclists-lorry deaths this year (two in SE1,
one in Hackney)

Every year, lorries are the single biggest killer of cyclists on
London's roads, but these deaths are preventable.

LORRY SUCCESSES...
There have been some successes in recent months, with LCC helping to
persuade Crossrail (the largest building project in Europe) to give
its 3000 HGV drivers cycle-awareness training.

We've also influenced the mayor's Cycle Safety Action Plan, which now
concedes that lorries are the major danger to London cyclists..." etc.

Doug.

 




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