“As seen on the BBC”…

Well, maybe ‘heard’

On Radio 4 this afternoon, some of the legal issues currently surrounding the London Critical Mass (and by abstraction possibly Glasgow’s) were discussed, with the presenter joining the ride to hear participants’ points of view as well that of the Police and Friends of the Earth who have been battling it out in the courts.

The programme, ‘Law in Action’, should be available on the BBC iPlayer for the next week, and there is also an article with some video (suspiciously not very BBC like) on the BBC website.

Thanks to Paul for posting about the article!

NB: Remember next GCM is October the 31st

Reminder: Consultation on Cycling in Scotland closing soon. Plus WIN FREE STUFF!!!

…now I have your attention. But you don’t get something for nothing in these turbulent days of the credit crunch so…

This is a reminder, possibly just news for some, that there’s been a ‘public consultation’ going on regarding cycling policy in Scotland which is due to finish soon.

Whether you agree on how these consultations are run, this is YOUR chance to have some input. The ‘Cycling Action Plan for Scotland’ is going to form the basis for the Executive’s spending on cycling over the next few years, so you might as well give them your pennies worth.

There’s a short survey, that only takes maybe 5 minutes, and, of course there’s the bonus (bribe) of being entered into a prize draw!!! Hurry, it closes 17/10/08.

Also there’s the opportunity to take part in a day consultation on the 7th October (a Tuesday – handy) in Perth, for ’stakeholders’:

Do you work in Tourism, Urban Design, Education, Communities, Health, Sport, Transport, the Environment or as a private businessperson? Are you a national or local politician, local government chief executive, professional, public transport operator, large employer or user group representative? Or do you just have something to say?

Democracy in action. So if you just have something to say and can make it, sign up. That way there may actually be some people who cycle there.

September Ride Report

A short but sweet ride on Friday. There was a small increase on numbers from last month and it made all the difference – the Mass was a far more cohesive group, and avoiding Clyde Street made for a far more pleasant ride. Lots of great fancy dress with Top-hats, pirate hats and giant bicycle riding fruit galore!!! Some more fixed & single speed riders turned up, showing off some very nice bikes, which was great. We stuck within the city centre and ended up at the CCA for drinks.

Next Critical Mass is Hallowe’en! So everybody get their collective heads together to make this one a bit special! If anyone who’s not on the mailing list has some ideas to share or wants to try and arrange something for next month, get in touch via a comment to this post and we’ll endeavour to get you added to the mailing list.

Remember next CM: 31st October meet ~ 5.30pm for 6pm set off

YAR!!! It be posters for Critical Mass!!!

Ahoy, cycle-mates! It be Interrrnational Talk like a Pirate Day, so what be in this ‘ere treasure chest?!?

Why- It be a completely un-pirate-related pretty Critical Mass Flyer, me buccaneers!

Critical Mass Flyer

So go forth me’hearties and spread the word across the seven seas (Glasgow).

Flyer courtesy o’ Cap’n Pearse.

Yarr.

AUGUST RIDE REPORT

Though September Critical Mass may be less than a couple of weeks away, thought it was better late than never to stick up a couple of photos from August.

A few familiar faces and a couple of fresh ones joined August Critical Mass. Following a route that mostly mirrored last month’s ride we headed down Clyde Street, crossing the express-way via the re-opened overpass, before stopping for drinks at the Goat on Argyle Street, on what turned out to be one of the best nights we’d seen all month.

I think the consensus was that having been a bit chaotic on Clyde Street (a road where CM has met hassle before), that next month trying a different route would be a good idea. Still, a nice evening and good chats with people at the pub afterwards.

Setting off from George Square

Setting off from George Square

This is where we meet: GEORGE SQUARE.

When: Last Friday of every month

Time: 1730, for a ~ 1800 set off.

Circling George Square

Circling George Square

…and circling George Square, picking up any stragglers busy chatting…

Remember, next Critical Mass is the 26th of September!

July Ride Report

Myspace page

As the title would suggest, a nice person has made us a myspace page.

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=394193541

Help wanted

with this site.

(keeping it vaguely up to date/interesting/useful etc.) if you want to, please e-mail

BIG BIKE BLESSING

May 25th, 5:30pm, George Sq, !!Bring your Bike to be Blessed!!


Who do you turn to when you no longer can cycle safely in the city?
The police? The Council? The Prime Minister?
No … we need something bigger. We need the most powerful force to protect our bikes on our journey through the city on the next Critical Mass bike ride. This is why we will be calling upon the All Mighty Lord to bless all of our self-propelled vehicles. Amen! A Divine Intervention will ensure our safety so we will be blessing the bikes with our holly waters, chanting holly hymns from the holly Bike Bible. Hallelujah! For it is the bikes that have been sent down from the heavens to save us and our burning planet. Amen!

Come all, bring your children and your parents, join the merry sounds of the Critical Mass.

Why?

There is a growing cycling culture in Glasgow that is not being addressed by the Glasgow city council. Although the bike is by far the quickest, most efficient and environmentally friendly means of getting around in the city, there are hardly any bike facility, bike lanes are paired up taxis and buses and the list goes on.

Although the city council claims that there are up to “375km of identified cycle route” (http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/Residents/GettingAround/Cycling/) the majority of them are no longer than a couple of hundred meters before they get cut by a road, a building, or a parking lot.

Who?

Critical Mass, Urban Playground, Glasgow Kiss, The Weird Bike Show, and more

What to expect?

Well you should expect a safe and peaceful bike ride with other jolly cyclists, spontaneous interventions and a safe look into experiencing the city on a self propelled vehicle. As well a, a Giant Priest, a sound system on wheels, some weird bikes, a rickshaw, and much much more.

www.critical-mass.org

Get Swarming

swarm-banner.jpgGCM isn’t just people reclaiming the road on bikes. It’s part of wider idea of creativity and purposeful possibilities -

“There is commotion on the horizon. A cloud of dust is growing near as thousands rush toward the city like a hungry hive of mosquitos.

THE SWARM.From different directions they come, from different groups, networks and ideas…all destined for those locations in Glasgow; those they will reclaim, those they will subvert, those they will re-frame and re-fresh.

The Swarm is about creating a web of connections between active groups (in the largest sense) in Glasgow. What brings these groups together? They have fun, they enjoy challenging themselves and their surroundings, and have a tendency to search for boundaries … then move beyond them

www.the-swarm.co.uk

do YoU SwaRm?

Tactics in responsiveness, spontaneity and collective activity. Webbing Glasgow and beyond in active communication, creation and action.

Come SwaRm! (Groups and individuals welcome.)”

Thursday 3rd May, 7-9pm, Landsdowne Church, Great Western Rd.Tuesday 8th May, 7-9pm, B4, The Arches.