23 Feb 2007
A critical mass of over 40 cyclists converged this Friday on Edinburgh city centre. After meeting between the art galleries near the mound they undertook a lively cycle ride, lasting nearly two hours through the town.
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The mass had a generally uncompromising attitude to traffic, corking lanes at red lights to keep the mass together, ensuring the event was safe and fun for all involved.
Pounding techno music from the sound system set a really good mood for the cycle. There was a 25Watt megaphone-soundsystem with some uplifting tunes from Aphex twin, Squarepusher, a bit apocolyptic orchestral. One of the participants said “The music was quite amazing, it brought a whole different atmosphere to the ride. By changing the daily reality of people, with cars blocked and silent bikes riding to the music that filling the whole street, there is a vision of what is possible. I think critical mass is a revolutionary moment.”
Four police motorcycles arrived halfway through the ride, intercepting the procession outside the mosque near Edinburgh University. Several individuals were pulled to one side and warned that their lights were not legal. Despite forty cyclists being quite conspicuous and easily observable by motorists, they complained that several participants in the critical mass were breaking the law. Apparently flashing red lights are not adequately safe and visible, despite forty people with flashing red lights looking much like an xmas party. The name and address of one Edinburgh University student was taken, but no-one was arrested or formally cautioned, although they were warned that they may face an on the spot fine if caught again without legal lights. Despite this, the four police motorcyclists left the mass and no police were seen again after this unnecessary confrontation.
An Edinburgh University anthropology student who was accosted by the a police motorcyclists commented: “the problems they had with me were reasonable, i was cycling without any lights, they were just enforcing the law, I didnt go home when warned and was going slow on the inside lane and partially obstructing the police motorcycles”
One of the participants, an unemployed man living in Leith said: “the police were being antagonistic. So what if some of us had flashing red lights, and did not have the legally necessary white lights on the front of our bikes, haven’t they got better things to do? I think they just hate it when a bunch of people get together in a group to do something fun or radical and they cant control or dominate the situation. Despite the police, it was the best critical mass i have been on, good people and good atmosphere.”
A computer programmer from near the meadows said “I thought it went just dandily, it was good that we went slowly and blocked the whole road and there was nothing they [the police] could do about it because we were well within the law.”
“I’m going to dress up like a fucking christmas tree for the next critical mass, then they cant complain!” exclaimed one cyclist.
The vast majority of those in the mass were not intimidated by the police and continued with the critical mass demonstration, continuing along George St., and enjoyed cycling around the roundabouts and along the picturesque cobbled streets.
Edinburgh’s critical mass meets at 5.30pm on the last Friday of every month, outside the art gallery at the foot of the mound, It appears to be growing in numbers and enthusiasm as the warmer and lighter seasons approach.