Bus Lane usage - protest time?

Off-topic
1

Being new here, I’m unsure of this has been discussed…but it’s a total disgrace that TfL are still procrastinating over allowing us into all the bus lanes in london despite their own commissioned reports showing that it’s actually safer for all parties concerned.

It’s about time a protest ride in Central london was organised…and would most likely cause a lot of embarrassment for Ken…I’m sure that quite a few others would like to come along too…how would London Bikers feel about leading this?

http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/2295.aspx

2

What do you have in mind. It needs to be something that will get attention, and needs a publicity offensive to make sure the media and politicians can’t just ignore it.

3

A “slow ride” through central London may be an idea? Maybe even from 4 different starting points so to bring all trafic to a standstill.
Maybe that’ll just annoy people rather than gain support though, I don’t know.

4

More likely to annoy, it would (sadly) probably be counter-productive.

5

Agree with you there Jim. When the “Bicycle brigade” reclaim the streets it does nothing for their cause except pee people off:)

6

Agree!

Sad fact is you need to counter the publicity machine that is The Republic of Ken.

A slow ride could be very easily turnd to show how it annoyed people. Also any demo would need Police permission - Kill Spills had real problems with that.

Don’t meant to sound negative but a first step would be to lobby ALL the mayoral candidates - your local MP (if in London) and find out what BMF and MAG are doing about it

7

I agree a protest of some form would be good or just get rid of the ayatollah ken and his cronies. But as I’ve said elsewhere here there is so much apathy in this country that peeps would just get annoyed, they bang on about stuff but no B*LLS to stand up and be counted a la fuel protests etc.

Oooh is high in this soapbox rant over and back too sleep :stuck_out_tongue:

8

I cannot believe you lot.

Our ONLY recourse in a democracy is active peaceful protest and yet the organisers and “senior” members of this community feel that approach would be a bad idea…?!?

JimC, Macp gentlemen… I am genuinely disappointed with your apathy.

Please disagree with me, but I do feel the sitting on our hands does annoy me.
Anyone for another round of Poll Tax? Where would we have been without active protest against that… not that I’m advocating violence, but christ some effort at least.

I’m up for organised protest. Personally I don’t think car drivers and their attitude towards bikers could be any LESS respectful, so what does it matter if we get up their noses on a slow ride? Fine diplomacy says be careufly of what they thnk, but they don’t give two hoots about us, otherwise a report that says action could be taken that would save our lives and the lives of others would be taken seriosuly.

For god’s sake if we all stay home and put the kettle on, they are NEVER going to learn how important these things are to us. And we’re talking about REDUCED ACCIDENT RATES here, which could mean lives… coupled with a corrupt effort to HIDE that from us and the general public… is that not important enough to stand up and go “OI, THAT’S NOT GOOD ENOUGH…WHAT ABOUT US?!?”

Sadly frustrated at the response to this post, very disappointed in you lot!

Very.

'Nuff said.

9

[quote]
Toby-1-kenobi (09/02/2008)

I cannot believe you lot.

Our ONLY recourse in a democracy is active peaceful protest and yet the organisers and “senior” members of this community feel that approach would be a bad idea…?!?

JimC, Macp gentlemen… I am genuinely disappointed with your apathy.

Please disagree with me, but I do feel the sitting on our hands does annoy me.
Anyone for another round of Poll Tax? Where would we have been without active protest against that… not that I’m advocating violence, but christ some effort at least.

I’m up for organised protest. Personally I don’t think car drivers and their attitude towards bikers could be any LESS respectful, so what does it matter if we get up their noses on a slow ride? Fine diplomacy says be careufly of what they thnk, but they don’t give two hoots about us, otherwise a report that says action could be taken that would save our lives and the lives of others would be taken seriosuly.

For god’s sake if we all stay home and put the kettle on, they are NEVER going to learn how important these things are to us. And we’re talking about REDUCED ACCIDENT RATES here, which could mean lives… coupled with a corrupt effort to HIDE that from us and the general public… is that not important enough to stand up and go “OI, THAT’S NOT GOOD ENOUGH…WHAT ABOUT US?!?”

Sadly frustrated at the response to this post, very disappointed in you lot!

Very.

No toby once again you go off without digesting / reading what has been written.

What I said was that to just have protest ride would serve no purpose. What I also said was to LOBBY the people who would in fact make the decision.

What I’m advising against is a pointless attempt to highlight the issue. You need to play these people at their own game - end of.

So before we take to the streets lets first write a few letters? Enough letters (and that’s letters - not emails or e petitions) will make the point and give better grounds for a protest in the future. What’s happaned so far is that the report hasn’t even been published yet - there’s details of it but it’s not actually here yet so what are we protesting about?

Direct action isn’t always the answer and a more pragmatic approach often leads to more success.

And as for the Poll tax riot - I still can not accept that the people who rioted and burnt out private property and attacked their fellow human beings were protesting about the poll tax - I think it was more about attacking the state - which in my eyes is wholly wrong - we live in a democaracy where the vote counts and just because you don’t get your way doesn’t mean you riot to get your way.

The Poll Tax was scrapped because of wide spread disquiet and protest not the riot. You could also argue that as a result of that riot the powers that be had a perfect excuse to restrict the way in which the people of this country can protest in the future and why when faced with the prospect of protesting you have to jump through hoops to do so today.

So much for the great Trafalgar Square protest eh Toby - swampy and his mates did more damage to our way of life that the Thatcher government ever did.

So join me. Put away your soapbox and direct that over reactive opinion of yours at the people who need the verbal kicking.

10

My idea was to have a peaceful, organised ride out - with the relevant authorities informed beforehand. Having thought it through - my idea is to have a Sunday ride out through London taking in as many of the bus lanes as possible (picking the ones that are legal to use at the weekends) and ending up somewhere Central. Obviously informing the press, etc, etc and spreading the word to have as many bikers take part.

At the moment, MCN has been covering the story each week, but I think that a show of feeling is needed. Very difficult for TfL and Ken to ignore a 1,000 bikers en-masse making a public statement.

What’re your thoughts ladies & gentlemen? The idea is NOT to cause disruption or behave in an illegal manner - just exercise our right to protest against something that we see as unfair.

The BMF and MAG are doing the lobbying - that’s there job to do - ours is to protest.

11

Very difficult for TfL and Ken to ignore a 1,000 bikers en-masse

No it isn’t - that’s the crux of the problem.

People like Livingstone and, regrettably, the majority of the present Government, do ignore what doesn’t fit in with their ideas.

Take, for example, the latest report on education for young children from the Cambridge Institute.

It has been branded as biased by this Government, most of whom can’t speak properly let alone have any real knowledge of Education, because it contradicts the rubbish they’ve been putting out for years.

If anyone wants to change things in a Democracy, lobby the Opposition, get them on-side and vote them in at the next Election.

Of course, we could follow the example of those in the democratic country of Kenya and chop off the hands of people who disagree with us or, better still, machete them to death.

12

For a ride like that you need Police permission and Police escort for which you will have to pay several thousands of pounds! In terms of getting a result that money is far better spent on sending letters to those who may have some influence.

13

good on yer toby…i am wholly with you on this and was feeling frustrated at the fact that posting a few letters would do the trick…well may i remind you lot about that programme ‘Take Heart?’…were kids sent there pictures into the gallery…well…i sent my pictures in 5 times and never got a showing…the same will happen if you put pen to paper…it will go strait onto the fileing cabanet amongst all the speed camera fines against forighn plates…;).

i say lets have a mass protest…ride into the center of london…very…very slow…and do it every week…:D.

thats how you get things done…im sick and tired of this country’s attitude to stand up for itself…were getting raped here…and no one gives a c_unt…wtf?

this country had back bone at one time…and wouldnt put up with anything more than the British way of doing things…well phuck me if that aint the way of things now…Great britian is a phookin jelly fish now and it makes me sick!!!..

im well up for it…breaking the law or not…a mass protest needs to be …

the press would love it if everyone just turned up on the doorstep of number ten…lol…no announcement…no phone call…what they gonna do…throw us all in jail…?

also…a nice little twist…;).

lets all walk our bikes in…becouse we all cant afford petrol…:w00t:…not at thses prices anyways…

smiled:D.

14

But Shane… We’ve seen the kind of pictures you send on mate;):smiley:

15

…probably why they never got a showing !

16

I’m up for it, how about we all park our beasts outside Kens office and apoint a spokesman or 2? And take some paintings and also have a trail of bikes obstructing the surrounding roads untill RedK comes and speaks to us???

17

Apointed spokemen:

Jimc

and

Smiled

18

That was what my post was about - it is as important to get noticed and to get the message across the media and the politicians as it is to mass protest. From experience of the other side of the fence, mass protest has a value, but only once the message is already on the agenda, or if the message is ignored and a mass protest might generate a lot of interest on a potentially popular subject. The Standard has given some coverage to TFL and its attitude towards bikes. The paper absolutely hates Ken so an organised approach to the Standard setting out in a sensible and reasoned way our grievances over things like bus lanes might generate a helpful article or to to at least get this on the agenda in London.

19

Know how you guys feel. Got a tad involved in the protests about American “advisers” in Vietnam and had a couple of interesting time in Central London. Probably before you were born but I’m sure Red Lion Lane and Grosvenor Square info. is on the net. Result. One of the worlds nastier wars escalated.

Frustration? I’ve lived through the Thatcher years and now the Blair years.

I’m up for some direct action but it has to generate positive press.

A good, well organised, concerted email campaign to all of our local M.P.'s and the Mayoral candidates costs and risks nothing. That’s why the “green” lobbies like them.

Would someone with a better education than me like to compose a suitable model letter?

Oldguy.

20

we get a pettition first, get as many bikers as we can to sign it and also as many car drivers too…we then give it to the government…its one very positive and very emotional action and shouts that we are playing the system…

lets get it started…63% of all biking accidents happen in London…I repeat…of ALL biking accidents happen in LONDON

If this isnt reason alone then what is for us to use the bus lanes…these people are killing our fellow bikers,…and they know it.