Critical Mass: 150 Police to Ensure City Link Profits
by flint Wednesday November 24, 2004 at 06:57 AM

Victorian police, led by Super Intendant Mick Williams, have vowed to prosecute and even jail riders attempting to cycle through City Link’s Burnley tunnel this Friday. The ride, dubbed ‘the tunnel of love’ is due to leave the State library at 5.30pm to celebrate Critical Mass’s 9th birthday. 150 police are reportedly on stand by to prevent the tunnel ride from happening.

xero.gif, image/gif, 200x189

Critical mass is a ‘disorganisation’ of bike riders campaigning for cyclists rights on the road, as well as pointing out the destructive nature of the oil and car economy and it’s links to environmental degradation, climate change, privatision of public space, war and much more.

Police have erected cyclone fencing close to the tunnel to ensure that riders will be unable to enter and ‘disrupt’ traffic. Previously the police have tolerated critical mass rides through the tunnel, which according to The Age “in June last year reportedly cost Transurban $40,000 in lost revenue”. On this occasion the police have decided to mount a massive operation (potentially of greater cost) to ensure no frivolity or fun interrupts the Friday grind of traffic.

More importantly, police are threatening cyclists with potential 5 year jail terms for riding on what should be a public road in the interests of protecting Transurban’s profits. And whilst the Herald Sun would like to write the participants off as having a “pathological hatred of cars,” the point remains that riding on a public road is fine but as soon as you potentially threaten the profits of a large corporation your activity becomes unacceptable.

Who knows what might happen next in Howard’s new Australia?

add your comments