Liverpool Critical Mass

Merseyside Transport Plan! Act Quick!

2010-11-26T05:31:00.000-08:00

A Transport Plan is being drawn up for Merseyside to cover the period 2011 - 2024, and there is currently public consultation until 30 November.

Why not have your say by emailing info@transportmerseyside.org using the Title “LTP3 Consultation” and just use the suggested text (edit as applicable):

==============================================
Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to give my view concerning Merseyside’s Third Local Transport Plan.

(a) I would like the speed limit in the road where I live to be 20 mph / 30 mph (delete as applicable)
(b) I would like the speed limit at my local shops to be 20 mph / 30 mph
(c) For every £100 of my taxes spent on the roads, I would like £* to be spent on facilities for motor vehicles and £* to be spent on walking and cycling (fill in)
(d) My post code is *

I also think *

Name

Next Ride Friday 12th November

2010-11-05T03:34:00.000-07:00

I haven't heard anything on the grape vine about an apres ride event this month. Can anyone help out??

Everyone is part of the mass, so if you've got an event on, or want to organise something then let people know on the facebook group or comment on here, or get chatting at the next mass. In the past we've had film nights, summer picnics, warehouse parties with homebrew and of course the general pub fun.

Bring yourself and your ideas to the next mass and lets make it one to remember.

See you then.

Summer 09 Picnic Ride

2010-10-30T04:55:00.000-07:00

Just found this from Alex. Enjoy.........

Summer time Party

2010-08-05T10:46:00.000-07:00

This August is going to be a great mass.

First up, there's a new soundsystem in town. Built by bodgers and general good guys extrodinaire Luke and Pete, We'll get some pics up soon. Apparently it's LOUD, can't wait to hear it.

After the August mass there is definitely the option of a beer or two in friendly surroundings, but rumours are growing about some party! More details when confirmed.

Anyway, Chinese Arch 6pm Fri 13th Aug. Meet likeminded cyclists and have an enjoyable ride with the safety and company of lots of others.

Bike Parking at Liverpool Southparkway

2009-07-17T07:30:00.000-07:00

See below the message from Andrew Grimbley of the Merseyside Cycling Campaign. Try and roll out of bed early on Weds and make it down.

We need your support on Wednesday 22^nd July at 0815. It would be great to have as many people as possible turn up at the cycle stands next to the main road facing entrance of Liverpool South Parkway rail station to show that we are not impressed that the previously excellent cycle facilities have been removed to make way for a Business Lounge. Please join me at 0815 sharp for photo opportunity where as many bicycle as possible will be locked to the available Sheffield Stands to show that the present cycle parking is inadequate.

Further to the recent works carried out at Liverpool South Parkway rail station, Merseyside Cycling Campaign has been in correspondence to Merseytravel to express disappointment that has resulted in fewer less secure cycle spaces at the station. We are also disappointed that Merseytravel carried out no consultation before removing the previous cycle parking, especially in the case of a station that has won many awards and accolades for sustainability. We will be using the photo opportunity to ask for improved secure station cycle parking at stations across Merseyside.

The excellent bike parking as it was;

And as it is now;

New Bike Shop in Liverpool

2009-06-10T11:10:00.001-07:00

Tucked away near the Cains Brewery a new bike shop has opened in Liverpool. Under the CUC Novas building, it seems to sell just Giant Bicycles. In the recession, boosted by track cycling's Olympic success, cycling shops have bucked the trend and the industry has continued to grow, even with the weak pound making imported Japanese (all Shimano gear)very expensive.

Go and check it out!!

If you thought we have it bad.........

2009-06-10T10:45:00.000-07:00

Checkout this video from Paris. I've been there and it is that crazy, with mopeds all over the place. It highlights well that in congested areas of cities, no amount of paint on the road, or rules (if you can understand the french) will help at all, if poor driver behaviour isn't tackled.

Compared with some of these french drivers, even the most inconsiderate Liverpool drivers look like angels. Don't even get started on cycling contraflow systems as at around 4:00

Mobile Phone and Driving Petition

2009-06-02T05:30:00.000-07:00

Critical Mass is excellent as a statement that we want our roads to be safer, more sociable places and less intimidating for non motorised traffic and pedestrians. Although we have great fun in the sun (and rain...) meeting up once a month at the Chinese arch, it has often said that Critical Mass doesn't in itself achieve any of the above aims.

Please have a look at this petition on the number 10 site, and sign it if you agree. It only takes a couple of minutes. http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/mobilemenaceban

The petition is supported by Roadpeace who have some excellent articles regarding road safety and driver behaviour. They are refreshing in their "radical views" that perhaps 3000 people killed on the UK's roads and twice as many seriously injured each year may be too high a cost to pay for our convenience of movement. http://www.roadpeace.org/

It must be stressed that cycling is a very safe activity on the majority of roads in the country. It is important that we help to keep it this way.

Manchester Critical Mass

2009-05-19T13:08:00.000-07:00

Manchester's Critical Mass is going from strength to strength. This video is from last month, which was the closing party of the I Bike MCR Festival. They congregate at the central library at 6pm on the last friday of each month. Next one is on Friday 29th May.

Safety in Numbers

2009-05-17T11:26:00.000-07:00

The CTC have launched a new campaign called Safety in Numbers. They need your help to get a motion through parliament which acknowledges that the biggest factor affecting the safety of cyclists on the roads is the "safety in numbers" effect. The more cyclists are on the road, the more drivers will expect to encounter cyclists and will adjust their behaviour accordingly. I can't wait to see the day when the majority of school children cycle to school. Sustrans is doing great work through its Bike It! project helping schools across the country adopt travel plans, introduce safer routes to schools and bike parking. It seems that some drivers have little compassion or consideration for young male cyclists, but as soon as we get the majority of children cycling to school, we expect driver attitudes and behaviour will improve dramatically. Sustrans aren't forcing them to cycle either, when surveyed over 60% of pupils wanted to be able to ride to school, yet only 2% actually did.

The important bit - please do this!!

Anyway, at the moment the MP for riverside, Louse Ellman has not yet signed the motion. It only takes 2 minutes to send a message asking for her to sign it. Please do the following;

Go to the CTC website here http://www.ctc.org.uk/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabID=5236
Have a look through the early day motion proposed (optional)
Enter your postcode on the bottom of the page, it will then come up with your local MP
Enter your details below and hit send
Sit back and feel contented that you have let the person who represents the Riverside voting minority, know of your wishes!

This motion asks that we look at all the factors detering cyclists from the roads, including driver behaviour, and also get more cycle training for younger people. This last one is especially important. The next generation of drivers will have had a much better level of cycle training and know the issues that cyclists face. The majority of drivers on the roads now either had no cycle training, or received it back in the day when they were taught to ride in the gutter and keep out of everyone else's way!! These twisted attitudes all come from somewhere...........

CM Button Badges

2009-05-17T10:49:00.000-07:00

You can get these small button badges from the little shop at the back of the foyer in FACT. They'll only be there for a little while as they are part of FACT's Climate for Change exhibition which gives a great space for local community and activist groups to use and showcase their work.

Skill Share this Weekend @ FACT

2009-05-15T14:59:00.000-07:00

Hey people. This weekend, both Saturday and Sunday, Transition Towns Liverpool and Liverpool skill sharers are in FACT Gallery 1, helping people get together to learn something new. There will be some Bike cleaning workshops on Sunday, and also bike maintenance on Saturday and Sunday.

So bring down yer dirty bikes on Sunday, and get 'em gleaming for the summer. If you wanna come down and show people how to fix a puncture, or change brakepads, then get down, offer your knowledgeable services and get involved!!

May Ride

2009-05-15T10:24:00.000-07:00

We had great fun out on the may ride. Nice to see the same faces again and get more names. I had great time. We had a guy with a camera following us by bike, filming the whole thing. Should appear on youtube sometime soon. As we went round the Albert Dock, a security guard told us that we weren't able to film on private property. I wonder if this also applies to tourists with Digicams?

The river mersey was beautiful as we wound our way round the echo arena. After, a good number found their way over the the Cain's Brewery Tap. There's great parking there and isn't that full. The Brewery tours seem to keep it propped up. Graham told tales of when he first came to Liverpool that you could so the brewery tour for less than £3, and it included two pints and a finger buffet when you finished!!

IBikeMcr Festival

2009-03-26T04:51:00.000-07:00

Manchester's month long annual cycling festival is kicking off this friday with Critical Mass (in Manchester of course) with an opening party after including bands and Rollapaluza roller racing.

Fot the next month there is almost an event on every day, including races, fares, day rides, night rides and then more rides, until the next Critical Mass and the closing party.

See here for the full schedule http://www.ibikemcr.org.uk/?q=annual-festival-2009

Highlights are hard to pick from a packed schedule of great events, but a couple of events stand out. The Moonlight Ride to Edale (staying over in a camping barn), and week later, a showing of the legendary film, A Sunday in Hell which follows the 1976 Paris-Roubaix race.

If any of it appeals then get on the facebook group for Liverpool Critical Mass and we can get a few people from liverpool meeting up and going on the events.

20kg of Flyers

2009-03-26T04:44:00.000-07:00

We've just taken hold of a LARGE number of flyers for liverpool critical mass. Designing them and ordereing them was definitely the easy part. If you can help with some flyering, then give us a shout and we can get some to you before the next Critical Mass, or alternatively come along to our hopefully sundrenched next edition on the 10th April and take some with you then.

February Ride Report and Upcomming Events

2009-02-20T09:03:00.000-08:00

Great to see so many new faces at the February Mass. As soon as the weather gets better, numbers will be huge. We had to take a different route from the Chinese arch, due to the roadworks, but this opened up a view of the cobbled back streets, before we got onto our usual jaunts.
Numbers were good this month, and the mass had real presence. The pub was also great as well. Next month I think we're going to try the Cain's Brewery Tap. It's got ample bike parking, lots of outdoor seating and of course, we'll be supporting our local brewery.

Film Night - Friday 13th March
After March Critical Mass there's a film showing of the Flying Scotsman. A great film following the career of Scottish Amateur Track cyclist Graeme Obree, from being broke and losing his bike shop, to building a bike of his own design, using low-tech materials to break cycling's greatest record. Obree's DIY methods make him unfavourable with cycling's governing body and he has to fight the officials on and off the track, whilst dealing with his own personal problems and coping with his incredible rise in popularity.

It will be on at the Liverpool Social Centre, 96 Bold Street (underneath News from Nowhere book shop) from 7:30pm. Hot Food and Drinks will be available as well, perhaps some popcorn if we're lucky.

December Ride Report

2009-01-24T05:37:00.000-08:00

Setting off on time with the Soundsystem, we arrived late due to a mechanical on the towing arm of the trailer. A quick run back for a clamp and a 10 minute wait on Princes Av dressed as Santa had us sorted to go agin.

There was a good turnout, with some great tinsel, stars, decorated bikes and mulled wine........mmmm.

We hit the roads at 6:30 with around 20 riders. A wrong turn (is it possible on the mass?) at Lewis's saw us pass through the Bus and Taxi canyon of St Johns. The mass tried weaving through, but was held up by the congestion and sat there stuck. Guns & Roses welcome to the jungle was bouncing around all the walls and made sure we didn't pass unnoticed.

Up past St Georges ad over the flyover to Dale street saw us cruising along. It's so nice to be able to take a deep breath, ralax and looka round you at the lights of the city, safe in the mass and not having to worry about any traffic.

We turned left and right, again and again, round the dock areas back up into town. When getting back to the arch we we almost stopped by a police car. He got out and ordered us to ride two abreast, even through it is not illegal in any way to ride as we had been. Obviously a motorist had complained, so we rode 2 abreast but continued to take up one lane as we had before.

At the chinese arch the Policeman pulled in and chatted with us. He was friendly and understood what we were up to and why (Bonus). With the law lords recent ruling that critical mass is not illegal, it would be hard for the police to take any firmer response.

Comming up soon we will be having a film night, so keep your ears to the ground and see you soon!

Critical Mass: officially legal!

2008-11-26T05:16:00.000-08:00

Three years back, at a London Critical Mass which I attended, the Met gave out some nasty little leaflets informing us that what we were doing was illegal. Apparently, Critical Mass constituted a procession, and since the organisers didn't inform the police of the approximate number of attendees and the route the procession was going to take, we were doing something illegal. Now, this was pretty flawed logic in the first place. In point of fact, if they were right, only the organisers were doing something illegal. The fact that CM has no organisers and no route had apparently also passed the author of the leaflet by.

Still, it made us nervous. There have been too many cases of conflicts between the police and the Mass. New York has a particularly nasty record, including a couple of cases of mass arrests. We didn't want to see our fun and positive ride turned into a tense standoff with police. I'd have been tempted to leave their claims unanswered to underline their stupidity, but somebody stepped up to the mark and a friendly action commenced.

Friendly actions are meant to prove a point of law one way or another amicably and without damages. The judgement is by long custom considered final. The judgement came down in our favour - it was a procession, but it had been running so long that it was now customary. The Met threw their toys out of the pram, hired the best silk money can buy, and appealed. This was, to say the least, rather unsporting.

Now, years later, we have an even better judgement in our favour. The House of Lords have handed down a judgement that not only is the London mass customary, but anybody starting a similar event around the country is acting within the law. The Met were slapped for trying to force a 'draconian' reading onto an old law.

I'll be raising a glass on Friday evening :D

BBC Article
Full judgement

November Ride Report

2008-11-20T09:39:00.000-08:00

November was the first ride to start fully in the dark and numbers looked good.

The soundsystem was already there. A kids trailer packed with speakers. Then the second soundsystem turned up. It was party time......

We headed out and over the flyover to Duke Street. People really noticed us, as the music filled the streets. We successfully created a small, momentary space on a Liverpool road, which was sociable, safe for cyclists and carfree.

On duke street a CCTV van stopped for a gander as we went past, bemused as to whether we were doing anything wrong. Shortly after, the lead sounsystem suffered a Justin Timberlake moment, but the mass pulled together and saw it through. It did however get a passing bus driver dancing in his cab, opening his doors to join in.

Also there was a guy on a wobble bike. This bike hinges in the normal way with the forks, but has a 2nd hinge underthe seat. This leads to some amazing manouvres.

After the mass we stood around and chatted, tried to ride the wobble bike (with varied success), and compared soudsystem specs. Many headed of to the Punk fundraiser at the social centre.

Next Mass is on Friday December 12th, usual place and time. It's the critmass edition, everyone must bring some tinsle and I'm sure there'll be many flasks of mulled wine around.

Critical Mass Tomorrow!

2008-11-13T12:15:00.000-08:00

Well, after a lot of time and effort, the new sound system is built. She's a beauty: the trailer base is built entirely out of reclaimed materials and using only human-powered tools. The sound system itself is made from Doug's cabs and the battery and amp from Matt's hifi trailer. We got her working for the first time in the Next to Nowhere social centre a couple of weeks ago, and after a couple of teething problems with the towing arm she's all sorted. We took her for a ride round the park the other evening, to the bemusement of the taxi drivers and joggers, but we haven't tested her in earnest in the city centre.

Bring lights and wrap up warm, and we'll have a party on wheels!

Make some NOISE!

2008-10-19T05:15:00.000-07:00

Last months Mass was great fun in Liverpool. We had numbers, flashy lights, a good vibe, corking, apres-event and a few pissed off drivers (not intentional, just incidental). But we did lack some noise. I for one need to get a bell for my bike. It was actually supplied with one, but I took it off, thinking that bells weren't cool. How wrong could I be..............

So next month, lets make some noise!! Bring whistles, bells, hooters and horns, tambourines and sitars. Also remember your hi-vis and flashy lights, lets make this a real carnival on wheels, which can't be ignored or pushed into the gutter and lets inspire people to join the Light Side of the force.

LCM SOUNDSYSTEM

To help us on our way next month the LCM Soundsystem MkII will be unvieled, to inject some carnival beats. The only problem is that it ain't ready yet! We plan to be transpanting the Batteries and 12V Amp from the original LCM Soundsystem, wired up to new, more powerful speakers. The main challenge will be making this into a stable towable system.

If you can help out please email disrail@gmail.com for more info.

We will be holding two work days on Saturday 25th Oct and Sat 1st of November.....

October Ride Report

2008-10-19T04:54:00.000-07:00

Octobers mass was great fun. There was a good turnout, with many new faces and old. The numbers really helped this month. The response from drivers was much more respectful and the Mass had a real presence on the road.

At one point, there was one hire cab driver that allowed the whole mass to manouvre in front of him as we changed lane to turn right, the massers waved and thanked him, and there was no bad feeling. Some other people were doing an excellent job corking aswell, allowing the mass to pass through junctions safely. See Liverpool Indymedia for more photos.

After , the film "We are Traffic" was shown in the Liverpool Social Centre, after much tea and delicious vegan soup.

Numbers have been looking good recently. Please make an effort to get out to the next one 14th November, and tell your friends.

Also, join the facebook group by searching for "Critical Mass Liverpool".

Cycling with Liverpool's Students

2008-09-29T03:57:00.000-07:00

The Liverpool University Guild has a true cycling advocate as president this year (Danielle Grufferty), and there are big aims with TravelWise and the City Council to get as many students on bikes as possible. For more info see page 11 the first Cycle Liverpool Magazine here

Armed with two bikes, a bike rack, clamp, and no breakfast, Phil and I attended the Liverpool University Freshers Fair this Sunday. It was a great success and we had a good response with over 150 students signing for interest in the Cycling Society. Throughout the day we also got through a huge box of Liverpool Cycle Maps, handed out many fliers for Thursday's Bicycle Fair (see previous post), advertsied the free cycling lessons offered by Cycling Solutions and also promoted Critical Mass. After 6 hours of being on our feet and talking non stop we were knackered.

The Cycling Society at the University is in it's first year, and aims to be a social society, encouraging the uptake of cycling amongst students and providing information and support to all cyclists around the university. The initial aims are to have regular social cycle rides aswell as planning other events, such as a trip to Mancheter Velodrome, camping / bunkhouse weekends in the Peaks or Wales and possibly campaigning. The inaugral year will see the society shaped by it's members and will hopefully grow in the future.

Cycling in Liverpool on the rise

2008-09-19T10:29:00.000-07:00

The Olympics has been a great source of inspiration it seems for many people. I'm sure I'm seeing twice the number of cyclists on Liverpool's roads. Perhaps it's just that the weather is getting better...........

Last Monday saw a "Ride-In" event at the Static gallery in Roscoe street showing short films, reflecting on city life, space and how we interact with it. Over 40 cyclists turned up for the free showing in the gallery / bar. Later on we set off en mass for a magical moonlit ride down to the Pier head through the city centre.

I have also heard from other sources that some other large art spaces in Liverpool are interested in cycling and cycling events. There's no doubt about it, cycling seems to be having a very healthy resurgence, and I'll be interested to see how it moves on in the next year.

I heard recently that if there were significantly more cyclists on Liverpool roads, the the number of accidents involving cyclists would not rise by much if at all. The more we use our bikes and are visible to drivers, there more they will watch out for us. Checkout the amazing awareness test at www.dothetest.co.uk and please send the link to as many people as you know! Also come to Critical Mass and enjoy the amazing security that comes from riding in a large group. See this post for more info.

NEWS NEWS NEWS

Coming up soon is a Cycling Fair at Liverpool University Guild on Thursday 2nd Oct, 10pm til 4pm. I have heard that there'll be a number of local bike sellers there, so it should be worth a look. If you're on Facebook see the event at http://www.new.facebook.com/home.php#/event.php?eid=27190878987&ref=ts

A week later, on Friday 10th is the next Critical Mass, followed by a Critical Mass film night at 7pm at Next To Nowhere See here for more information.

And finally, for your daily musing pleasure, I've recently found Dilbert on 2 wheels. Yehuda Moon comic gives you a daily cycling related strips, a thought for the day about our interaction in society as Cyclists. See www.yehudamoon.com

Next Critical Mass

2008-09-04T10:38:00.000-07:00

The Next Mass is happening on Friday 12th Sept. People will be there, rain or shine, at 6pm at the Chinese Arch Nelson street. For more info on Critical mass see this post

There is no after event that we've heard of, but if you know of anything fun going on on Friday, then please suggest it. If not we can always go to a nice pub, or have a cuppa and chat in the Egg Cafe.

Critical Mass has no set route, we just follow the people in front and hope they know where they're going! However if there's any part of Liverpool you fancy going to, have a look at a suitable route and suggest it to the mass. It's always nice to cycle to a destination.

I'm gonna be bringing my gloves for this one, roll on winter I'm ready!!

Hope to see you there!

Critical Mass and the Xerocracy

2008-08-16T04:43:00.001-07:00

The Last Mass occurred on 8th August. Despite the numbers of people that had headed off for Climate Camp, there was a decent showing, with many new faces. The atmosphere was excellent and the majority of drivers were too. It was only after the mass when I had a very polite exchange with a guy in a convertible. He was intent on squeezing me into the kerb at some lights, and curtly wished me a good day. I extended the same of my best wishes and we waited for the lights to change. Most civilised, with no need to roll up any sleeves or for pistols at dawn.

Anyway, Critical Mass has no central organiser, and has been best described as a 'Xerocracy', meaning that anyone can push their viewpoint, priorities or apres-events by photocopying and distributing. This has led to much diverse and beautiful artwork, posters and flyers, see this for example.

If you'd like the current flyer files please email disrail@gmail.com. We'd be more than happy for people to print and distribute these, but if you feel arty then please feel free to create your own!

There will be some organised after events coming up soon, and we'll advertise them on this blog. We'll also be listing other Liverpool Cycling events coming up. In the Pipeline is the Salford Nocturn, Tour of Britain final stage, a Fish and Chip run, and a Halloween themed "Reclaim the Winter" ride.

Please check back soon, things are going to get busy!

See you at the next Mass, Friday 12th Sept 6pm @ The Chinese Arch

So, what is Critical Mass?

2008-07-24T16:02:00.000-07:00

Critical Mass is a monthly event held in many of the major cities of the world. It's a chance for bicycle riders, skaters, and other non-motorised road users to come together and spend the evening going for a ride. There is no leader, and there is no route - the mass just flows through the streets, going where it wants.

It all started when a group of cyclists in San Francisco got together back in 1992 to go for a ride in a group big enough that they wouldn't get bullied by the motorised traffic. It soon caught on, and sixteen years later it has spread across America and the world. The UK has several masses: London is by far the biggest, with up to two thousand riders at a time, but other cities' rides are growing fast.

Critical Mass is always good fun. The people are friendly, the atmosphere is lighthearted, and there is an amazing freedom in approaching the junction that you dread and suddenly realising that today there's no threat at all. You get to see things you pass every day and never get the chance to appreciate; you get to breathe air that isn't half exhaust gas; you get to appreciate what a city might sound like without the constant roar of engines. It's undoubtedly the best way to spend a friday evening. You don't have to worry about keeping up or fitting in, either - although there is the occasional lycra-clad roadie (and they're welcome!), the majority of riders are ordinary utility cyclists in ordinary clothes. The emphasis is on sticking together, too, so there is no danger of not being fast enough.

As well as being fun, Critical Mass is important. If you've ever commuted on a bicycle or skates you'll know that many road users can be agressive and dangerous. As vulnerable road users we bear the brunt of other peoples' mistakes, and as a minority we sometimes inspire irrational hatred and anger. Critical Mass gives you the ability to tip the power balance the other way for an evening. It demonstrates to other road users that we are traffic, and forces them to give cyclists the respect they normally reserve for cars alone. It demonstrates to pedestrians what their city might be like without motorised traffic. It's an impressive spectacle that persuades others to get their bikes out of dusty retirement in the shed and use their cars less often. And it's a simple statement that we can't always be ignored or bullied out the way.

This is a short post, and I can't really do my subject justice. If you'd like to know more, there's loads of information on the internet. The Wikipedia article on the event is detailed and interesting. If you've got time, watch We Are Traffic, a fantastic fifty-minute documentary which explores its history, purpose, and effect.

Remember, the more riders there are, the more fun the ride and the louder our voice will be, so come along and join in. I hope to see you there!