[Closed] Police Kettling Cyclists outside Olympic Opening

up to a point crikey....

It is up to the police to make sure innocents aren't roped in.

went to loads of protests when i was younger.
never wore a hoodie. did have to have a bandage on my head after 1 though 🙂

[i]It is up to the police to make sure innocents aren't roped in.[/i]

I agree, but one would perhaps think that CM, disorganised celebration that it is portrayed as, also have a certain duty to ensure that they don't behave in such a way that gets other people roped in.

Or just behave themselves.

Crikey I would not go shopping if I were you , you may find yourself collateral damage when the police decide to catch a shoplifters by rounding up every one in the store.

Sth appears to be 'collateral damage', the blame for which lies at the doors of those fun loving CMers.

You mean the Police arrested someone without any evidence [ due cause] who was not even participating in the event.
If the police mess it up the Police mess it up. they are responsible for their actions and CM for theirs
I can see your broader point but the Police cannot do whatever the hell they want in the "theatre" and just blame CM for it.

@ useless hippy. Yes pretty bad but the bail conditions mean I cant mtb, travel around or attend the games (which is just down the road) Id be breaking my bail to reclaim my bike from the 'pound'

@ crankboy thanks for that ill look into that tomorrow.

@ crikey, I dont know what happened to invoke the police response so why should I blame people ive not met or seen do anything wrong?

You are not suggesting that CM are without blame though?

crankboy, I don't go shopping with my wife, what makes you think you'd get a look in?

Generally at protests that uniform is called a hoodie. And the hypocrit cowards try to get as much iphone footage of police numbers taped up or missing, but don't have the balls to stand up and show their own face.

The police have often used "fifth columnists" as well to paint protesters in a bad light so the public is more accepting of the methods used against them.

jy
recent court cases have kind off proved the police can do whatever the hell they want in the theatre.

we all know the state support the state but i assume we were discussing morality rather than the state.

You are not suggesting that CM are without blame though?

@ crikey. why do you want me to condemn cm, ive no experience of it or the rides. The 20 or so cm riders I spent the night with were far from the sterotypes being mentioned here and i have no proof any of them were to blame and only 1 person has been charged.

or the recent court cases proved that what the police did, did not contravene any law, or the legal technicality under dispute was judged in favour of the police.

Lordy!

I'm not supporting the Police. The Met in particular seem to have blotted their copybook on a number of occasions, particularly with regard to public order style situations. I've also been involved with a situation a number of years ago with the TAG flexing their not inconsiderable muscle and was glad to escape unscathed.

The issue for me as a cyclist is that a group of people who use cycling as an excuse to act in a way which portrays cycling and cyclists in a very poor light; as evidenced by comments from mikeconnor earlier in the thread, have deliberately set out to cause a problem on the opening night of the Olympics.

I'm not supporting the bloody Olympics either, I'm fully aware of the corporate whoring which has occured in the name of sport.

So, a group of people have used cycling as an excuse to act in a deliberately provocative way, as they seem to do on a fairly regular basis, and have been prevented in a fairly robust way from causing anymore trouble. As part of the prevention, some people who have nothing to do with the protest/celebration of cycling have been caught up in it.

The problem lies with CM.

They claim to be bettering conditions for all cyclists, they claim that they are the ones out there in the arena, making a better world for us all, but they patently aren't; people who cycle for fun, for transport, for sport don't seem to welcome their activities but instead of taking that on board, instead of re-thinking what they are doing, they come on here and argue the toss.

My opinion hasn't changed; I've done more for the acceptance and profile of cycling by just riding my bike in a sensible and adult way for the last 25 years than any amount of silliness by CM.

The problem lies with CM.

They claim to be bettering conditions for all cyclists, they claim that they are the ones out there in the arena, making a better world for us all, but they patently aren't; people who cycle for fun, for transport, for sport don't seem to welcome their activities but instead of taking that on board, instead of re-thinking what they are doing, they come on here and argue the toss.

My opinion hasn't changed; I've done more for the acceptance and profile of cycling by just riding my bike in a sensible and adult way for the last 25 years than any amount of silliness by CM.

[/Thread]

some people who have nothing to do with the protest/celebration of cycling have been caught up in it.

The problem lies with CM.

[i]you are right there the Police were literally powerless and bullied into arresting innocent folk by C M ...the bastards [/i]

We really need a belm emoticon.

[BIG FAT IRONY]...cos that's just what I said...[/BIG FAT IRONY]

Rudebwoy, Im still waiting for you to answer this from two pages back....

[b]RE: My Job[/b]
[quote=rudebwoy]you say that would have no bearing on your opinion-- you serious

[quote=nealglover]Explain to me why it would then please ?

(I would guess you are making other assumptions about me based on what I do for a living ?

So singletrack comes on and gives a very honest first hand account of his experiences, as it conflicts with some peoples prejudices, they don't re think just keep banging on and on that they must right---- when the dust settles and all charges are withdrawn, it will just be a number of peoples experiences of an interaction with londons' finest....

This pathological attempt to portray CM as the evil force denigrating cyclists is as absurd as it is wrong........

Rudebwoy, an unemployed carpenter from Nazareth... 🙄

nealglover-- that you clean cars for a living might cloud your judgement regarding a group who are not likely to have much to do with said vehicles, they are big on public transport and seek to curb private vehicle use in congested areas-- so it is possible that a conflict of interest might arise ?

Er. Right.

I can't help noticing that for all the alleged stereotyping of CM participants I can't see any that refer to class or age.. Appearance maybe, but that is about people's sense of fashion being indicative of attitudes. How did this become related to age/class?

Rudebwoy, perhaps you could tell us what positive things CM has achieved?

Ask the man on the Clapham Omnibus and he'll say something along the lines of, "Oh, those stupid cyclists..." and then perhaps more.

CM is NOT seen as a positive force for cycling, regardless of your opinions. Yes, many people may just enjoy themselves on a [s]protest[/s] celebratory ride now and again, but the general impression that CM leaves is negative for cyclists. It is damaging for all other cyclists, a group that we all fall in to.

As others have said, just going and using my bike as transport every day does far more for the positive image of cycling than CM. Ask around your place of work, go on. Ask people what they think of CM. Ask the man on the Clapham Omnibus types what they think.

They will all, or at least almost all, say the same thing.

The two court cases, showed he was responsible, and he did get off.
He did whatever the hell he wanted.
Anyway, different arguement.

Cfh.
Really, most people haven't a clue about cm tbh.
Most people here have never heard of them, let alone non cyclists.

crikey -- you wasted on here--surely a job scripting jokes for Macintyre is waiting

nealglover-- that you clean cars for a living might cloud your judgement regarding a group who are not likely to have much to do with said vehicles, they are big on public transport and seek to curb private vehicle use in congested areas-- so it is possible that a conflict of interest might arise ?

Laughable.

Would I have had a different opinion of CM 4 years ago when I worked for Norwich Union in IT.

Or maybe another opinion of them 9 years ago when I was a Ski Instructor In Austria ?

By the way,

I work on stuff like Bentleys, Porsches, Lambo's etc.
CM are very unlikely to have any effect whatsoever on my earning potential with their "celebrations"

[i]crikey -- you wasted on here--surely a job scripting jokes for Macintyre is waiting [/i]

How's the weather in Poplar?

Good point, Useless, but I would wager that those who [i]have[/i] heard of CM would not know of them in a positive light.

If CM was really about improving cycling, it would benefit greatly from massively getting it's own house in order. Saying, "Oh, it's just people on a ride" isn't good enough. If they want to have a positive impact, they need to stamp out the asshat rentamob who have taken over, as many people's testimony proves, the ride. They need to make it about fun, about transport, about cooperation, about inclusivity - Not about confrontation and "protest".

Want to protest, then fine, go and protest. Don't try and dress it up as a "celebration". Grow a set and protest. However, please don't do claim to act on the behalf of the VAST majority of people who use bikes. We don't agree with you.

That is true uselesshippy, they are under most peoples radar, i do not go on their rides, over 110 miles to the nearest one, i do however defend their right to ride ! and protest if the right to ride is restricted-- i haven't seen one poster on here who claims to represent CM, but a few of us can see the bigger picture.....

You are hilarious captain. I can't think of anyone LESS IN TOUCH with the 'Man on the Clapham Omnibus' than you.

Repeating the same old bollocks doesn't make it real. I'm pretty sure it won't stop you though.

but a few of us can see the bigger picture.....

Yes, a few of US can. And we can see that CM antagonise and wind up the general public. That's the US that see their rides, that have been on their rides, that have been affected by their rides and that have seen the effect.

So, yes, you're right, a few of us can see the bigger picture.....

How do you know that I'm not in touch, Useless? From what I post on the interwebz?

Well, seeing as I live, work and commute in London (By bike), I'd say I'm rather close to them, thanks. They are the other side of the river in Clapham, but that's what the moat's for, isn't it? 😉

Cfh.
Is that the royal we?
Have you thought that stw might not be representative of other cyclists.
Have you seen how many "skinny jeanen hipsters" there are in east london.
How many "hippies"
Have you thought, that people who ride bikes, but aren't "proper" cyclists might agree with them?

[i]Have you thought, that people who ride bikes, but aren't "proper" cyclists [b][u]might[/u][/b] agree with them? [/i]

Yes, they might. But then again...

How do you know that I'm not in touch, Useless? From what I post on the interwebz?

I assume this is for me. You forget how long we've bantered captain...if your online persona is not an accurate reflection of who you are I'd be deeply sceptical of either half of you.

Well, seeing as I live, work and commute in London (By bike), I'd say I'm rather close to them, thanks. They are the other side of the river in Clapham, but that's what the moat's for, isn't it

Living (or working) near the river doesn't make you a spokesman for the common man flashy, quite the opposite.

I, on the other hand am more common than the green expanse in Wimbledon inhabited by Wombles. If such a subject is capable of uniting myself with El Cap, shouldn't CM at least be taking note?

[img] [/img]

Ask the man on the Clapham Omnibus and he'll say something along the lines of....

Have you asked "him"?
Have you even been on the Clapham Omnibus? 😉

Nealglover-- you were a ski instructer, then worked in IT, now you clean posh cars--- your world view is possibly tempered by your experiences....

Oooh, Jesus is back, look busy...

Have you even been on the Clapham Omnibus?

Nah. I use my bike! 🙂

creakey -- you split my sides with your wit, bet you had lots of spotty friends at college

I think what is being lost here is that this is a cycling forum & most people agree with what CM are trying to achieve = loosely speaking is better conditione for cyclists. The argument should be about CM helping to achieve it or not. It is kinda symptomatic of STW that this can be derailed by a couple of people with a chip on their shoulder tying to demonstrate how authentically working class they are..

...and the weather in Poplar?

[i]I think what is being lost here isbthatbrhis is a cycling forum & most people agree with what CM are trying to achieve = loosely speaking is better conditione for cyclists. The argument should be about CM helping to achieve it or not. It is kinda symptomatic of STW that this can be derailed by a couple of people with a chip on their shoulder tying to demonstrate how authentically working class they are.. [/i]

Have you actually read anything that's been written?

We'd love better conditions for cyclists, but we don't think that pissing people off is a good way to achieve that...

😆 at you, rather than with you.