Every Wednesday morning...

[chairman]

Guys,

Can I just say how encouraged I am by your comments both for and against - if we are getting emotive about it, and that's merely after our inaugural "gathering", then I can only imagine how others outside the campaign are doing the same.

FWIW, when the senior policeman tried the old guilt trip routine on us because an ambulance had got held up, firstly, he did not make the same point to any of the buses, taxis or trucks that had, by coming onto the roundabout, equally caused the gridlock, and secondly, soon dropped the argument when I told him to take it to WCC.

Interesting how irate others get simply at the thought that a PTW could ever cause the slightest bit of congestion, yet Chalkley now want to justify his vile tax due to concerns that the borough will come to a standstill.

If you think yesterday was good, wait until it becomes a regular feature on all the media traffic reports.
"And don't forget, being a Wednesday, the Motorcyclist campaigners will no doubt cause gridlock somewhere. We will update you as soon as we know good listeners/viewers"

WCC - TREAT US LIKE CARS, WE'LL ACT LIKE CARS

On the taxi issue - when they blockaded Traf Sq recently, they didn't care a jot about any PTW's that may have got caught up (not that many were, only posers like me on the big cruiser bikes!!)

I reckon, if we continue and ramp up our attendance numbers, these WMBC meets could prove to be recognised as one of the most powerful stealth forms of campaigning ever.

Its a numbers game - eventually someone of influence is gonna get caught up and demand immediate action from WCC. Until that time, we will show how powerful people power, even used legally, can truly be.

NO MORE TALKING, MY FRIENDS - ACTION ONLY

 

[chairman]

Clarification re above

NO MORE TALKING .... to others by way of explaining ourselves  

Plenty of talking amongst ourselves here!!

 

[templar]

Back to Wednesday's gathering..did anyone notice the woman in the hatchback barging out onto the roundabout from the Millbank side, right in front of a moving bike that had right of way ? Silly car driver! It was a police bike and he had to brake fairly hard. All I heard was an "OI!" followed by a short but intense education in yielding to vehicles already on the roundabout.

Possibly my favourite moment of the day actually! Though it is followed closely by the bloke on the MZ waving goodbye to the very irate lorry driver who had been giving him verbal moments before. Particularly funny because the cops didn't find it so amusing...


Unlike many here, I do have issues with blocking off the emergency services. Mainly because I've been rescued by ambulances on more occasions than I care to count. I actually agreed a lot with what the Commander said, and that was why I left a little early.

However,

For the majority of the demonstration, we weren't the ones causing the gridlock. We could have left at any given moment within 10 - 15 seconds, because that is what bikes do. The gridlock was actually caused by buses and lorries and the occasional car trying to impose themselves on the roundabout when they didn't have right of way. Often they didn't have the ability to leave the roundabout quite as fast as they entered it, due to the presence of another bus in their way. Had these so called "professional drivers" known how to deal with a roundabout, then the ambulance wouldn't have had any problems. Still, in future I'd really like to see a way for us to ensure how to allow these vital services through without too much disruption, but how exactly to do that eludes my feeble mind.

[chairman]

Templar,

I am sure none of us would advocate blocking the path of any rescue vehicle.

However, if a gridlock has occurred, and lets be honest, we couldn't do it without buses & trucks, then we can't be held fully responsible.

[ldn1702]

Great message, Mr Chairman. Direct legal but painful action is now what's required These WCC bureaucrates ignore democracy, they have chosen to ignore peaceful protests and objections, now it's time for radical and painful (but legal) action  We cause traffic jams, gridlock, anger, mess, chaos, misery, congestion... whatever you can possibly think of, then so be it. The only way to stop us is by WCC scrapping the bike parking tax, there's no other way!

And it's very nice to have our breakfast al fresco, especially when spring and the summer are going to be with us soon

[Renegade]

Yes, I noticed when I got back to the office that we had earned ourselves a blue triangle on the TFL website, although it was marked demonstration which it certainly was not. just a few disgruntled riders meeting for a rideout.

My suggestion for the ambulances is that in all 4 directions there was one free lane. As long as they aren't wedged in against an island it should be easy enough to get to the roundabout using the wrong side of the road and at that point we can reorg to let them through assuming some bendy bus hasn't already interrupted our meeting.

[Bandit]

Top messages, one & all.  
As for the Cabbies, they are regulated by the Cab Office (or Licensed Hackney Carriage Office, or some such arcane term) under Police authority and identified by their plate.
These blokes have to go through some expense and aggravation with Da Knowledge to get licensed and have much regulation to observe, including vehicle roadworthiness.

So, they should be thinking twice before getting snotty, as a report to the aforementioned office could see them penalised at some cost to their livelyhood.

Similarly Scab drivers - regulated by TfL. Even bus drivers have numbers, so reporting aggressive or rude behaviour, along with the vehicle details, should encourage them to respect the motorcyclist, not screw him over.

Perhaps this is why these vehicles don't have a 'How is My Driving?' sticker on the back...

Like Ogri said - so called 'professional drivers' - should know better than to pull into junctions when they have no right of way. And after all, small, light manouverable motorcycles could never be congesting, could they...?

[kris]

Perhaps this is why these vehicles don't have a 'How is My Driving?' sticker on the back...

We could always print "How's my driving? Call Westminster Council on 020.....etc" across the back of new bibs. Might direct a few irate calls their way.

As to the other aspects of the thread; I do agree that we should not discriminate between those 'trapped' in the chaos. A jam is a jam is a jam in my eyes. It is to be expected in any major city after all. The more caught up in the melee the more chance of someone in the upper realms of the council getting an ear-bashing at some poncy do.

All we need now is an increse in attendance next week... 

[Renegade]

Just an idea, but if the heat becomes too much or if we are looking for alternatives, some out of town meets (10-20 per meeting) followed by a leisurely ride to work (along the major arteries into Westminster (A4, A13, A23, A3 (Help me out on the last two!)) should see traffic nicely backed up until we reach Westminster where we let the queue from the south, north, east and west come to a head in Westminster. 10 or 20, 5 abreast (preferably more) should ensure we can cover 2 - 3 lanes and yet be small enough to not get separated at the lights.

Still like the roundabouts and the added security of our "film crew", but just wanted to throw that into the armoury in case Westmonster don't think we are serious.

[upyourschalkley]

Unlike many here, I do have issues with blocking off the emergency services.

Hi Templar, sorry I might not have made myself clear, I wouldn't want to get in the way of any emergency services. What I meant was that I won't be held responsible or made to feel guilty because an emergency vehicle couldn't get through. I certainly would not willfully block any of them, I'm sure none of us would.

[woodstock521]

Seconded UYC!

[letmyspeechfree]

Love the idea of "How's my Driving?" signs with Chalkley's email address on!

[FuBaR]

I like the idea of riding slow up one of the main roads into westmonster and then letting the chaos begin by riding around several parts of london as slowly as possible, if there were a couple hundred of us in the morning we could easily bring the centre to a standstill for a few hours. 5mph top speed, 2 bikes for every lane, 1 bike length apart from the ones infront and behind.   

[Badger]

I agree with "upyourschakley" roadworks, accidents, light failures, sport events, Notting Hill Carnival, sheer weight of traffic and multiple collisions no one bothers a jot about all the road traffic jams that these events cause. A few road works and add one or two bendy buses and you have complete traffic jam for hours and days.

My kindly mind set must change.  Lets get the roads of westminster clogged up like a sewer of Indian restaurant. 

[Bandit]

  Lets get the roads of westminster clogged up like a sewer of Indian restaurant. 

That may be a bit runnier than you think...! 

[DastardlyDick]

Top messages, one & all. 
As for the Cabbies, they are regulated by the Cab Office (or Licensed Hackney Carriage Office, or some such arcane term) under Police authority

It's the Public Carriage Office, but  nothing to do with the Met these days, it's good old TfL!

[FuBaR]

Just out of curiosity, will we still be having a monthly evening demo?

[chairman]

Just out of curiosity, will we still be having a monthly evening demo?

YES - details to be finalised

[gibbo]

wehey warren   the enemy is really down for the count, now lets really stick the boot in

[kaychanc]

prilly has just started spitting huge flames again!!! it's coming to the next ?"breakfast club"!