Critical Mass, scum journalism and the Victoria Police : Melbourne Indymedia

Photo: cyclists at Todd Road stand silent for a minute out of respect for the recent cyclist death nearby. Police blockade of Todd st in the background.

Herald Sun journalist, Andrew Bolt, and 3AW talk back radio host Neil Mitchell, and Melbourne police superintendant, Mick Williams, had done a wonderful job pushing for a ride on CityLink, except they failed to turn up with maps to hand out for their route. Instead we saw several squad cars, the police horse squad, half a dozen highway patrol motorcycles, several constables on foot, the police helicopter, and even members of the special force squad (riot squad) in plain clothes all outside the State Library to meet and greet the cyclists on the organised coincidence of critical mass. The media were present as well, although I doubt any had the gumption to send a reporter on the whole ride.

A map was handed out by cyclists called the Bolty Ride. It contained a route map for the ride and three text inserts. It included a ride by of the Herald and Weekly Times buiding on Southbank, and the Herald and Weekly Times printing plant in Port Melbourne, as well as riding along Lorimer Street which has been castigated by cyclists for dangerous car driving.

The carnage on the road continues. Pedestrians are killed, four cyclists killed so far this year, car drivers kill other car drivers and passengers, and sometimes themselves. Where was the concern from Andrew Bolt about the road rage of a taxi driver last year, who drove into some critical mass cyclists and was subsequently convicted of dangerous driving for such act. He's being victimised? you have got to be joking. Road rage is road rage and should not be tolerated. Vehicle drivers pay a licence fee for the priviledge of driving a vehicle, and those who earn a living from automobiles need to be particularly courteous and careful of other road users. That taxi driver should have lost his licence for the road rage he displayed. Or how about the drunk driver who tried to overtake Critical Mass in the oncoming lane, almost causing an accident and wiping himself and several others out?

There were a number of reports of motor bike cops riding dangerously and hitting cyclists in the mass, although I did not witness any myself. I thought they were sometimes provocative in forcing their way into a mass of cyclists rather than attempting to stay on the outskirts or corking at intersections.

The ride this month stopped at Todd Street in Port Melbourne, in the middle of an intersection, and a minute silence was given out of respect to the cyclist killed recently nearby. Everyone there new that it could be them next time. Down the road was a police blockade. A cyclist at the end of the one minute of silence commented that he found the police blockade in Todd street insulting. Several streets in Port Melbourne had been blockaded by the police, even though they did not provide access to the West Gate or Bolte bridges. Cyclists were denied the chance to ride down Lorimer street as per the route map, for no ostensible reason from the police.

After Todd street, the ride continued on to St Kilda and Beach rode with a sunset over Station Pier while the Spirit of Tasmania was being loaded. CM finished, about 100 cyclists continued down the cycle path towards the city. We were surprised the Motorbike cops continued with us. Normally when a CM finishes, the cops are happy to go home. Not so on this ride. It proceeded to split into smaller groups and recombine later. It did a drive through of McDonalds, then a drive throough of Crown Casino reception where a bike lift was performed. We had the police escort all the way up Flinders street to Federation Square.

Russell Lindsay was prepared to engage with Critical Mass as a police liason. He was critical of the actions of some on critical mass, but was also prepared to listen to people too. He earnt the respect and cooperation of many critical mass riders. I do not believe he overstepped any boundary of performing his police duties. Rather, he provided an excellent public role model of engagement with the public, and in particular the cycling community in Melbourne. So why has Superintendant Williams decided to place more weight on the scum journalism of Andrew Bolt than thousands of members of the cycling public? Why should Andy be allowed to call the shots on which police are employed where?

Much has been made of disruption to traffic caused by critical mass. The real problem is the vehicle traffic which clogs our streets and leads to the Friday evening traffic jam. Critical Mass often comes up to a wall of one or two person vehicles queueing to move often at less than cycling pace and sometimes less than walking pace. The real problem is auto congestion on our streets.

So what about when critical mass has ridden the Bolte bridge or Burnley tunnel in the past. Didn't this cause a huge hold up to peak hour traffic? Funnily enough, the holdups to traffic was minimal. When Superintendant Williams said we were planning on invading the Bolte Bridge at 5.30pm, he is rewriting history. Critical Mass rode the Bolte Bridge in February 2004. Holdups to automobiles were minimal as the ride did not start the approach to the Bolte till after 7.00pm and had completed the bridge crossing in 20 minutes. So the north bound lanes only were closed to vehicular traffic for 30 minutes (traffic continued as normal on the southbound lanes). Similar situation with the Burnley tunnel.

The police have learnt through experience that with demontrations, protests, or processions, it is usually easier to facilitate their smooth movement which causes the least amount of disruption and expense. In November 2004 I joined the critical mass in Sydney which rode over the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The NSW police facilitated this ride. I still remember the Cahill Expressway full of cyclists, banked up behind a traffic jam of vehicles waiting to cross the bridge. Facilitation of the ride kept the cyclists happy - they got to ride the bridge - and minimised disruption to traffic.

Unfortunately, without an effective liason between the police and critical mass, a role which Lindsay performed well, policing the monthly ride will prove to be much more expensive and a real headache. Critical Mass used to get by with one squad car and four members of the police bicycle patrol. If February's Critical Mass is any thing to go by the cost of several fold increase in police numbers and vehicles and use of the police helicopter will prove an excessive waste of tax payers money. It seems Mick Williams has much to learn, both from his predessesors and from his interstate colleagues in NSW, not to mention appearing to pander to pressure from scum journalism.

In a liberal democracy there are competing interests, mostly invisible. When one interest group chooses to protest in a peaceful fashion, society should accept some disruption as the price for tolerating dissent. Andrew Bolt would rather speak for the interests of CityLink (and the inflated amounts of money they calculate they lose) than perhaps allowing an occasional procession of cyclists to use public roads normally denied them.

Superintendant Mick Williams also appears to be protecting the monetary interests of a private company, CityLink, at the expense of the right of protest and freedom of speech of cyclists. We should demand better of our public servants.

Some constables on foot at the State Library as CM prepares to leave

Police Headquarters. Strange as it may seem, we were there to give support to Russell Lindsay, formerly of the Police bicycle patrol.

panorama of cyclists standing silent for a minute remembrance of the recent cyclist death nearby

They say that if you put a frog into a pot of boiling water, it will leap out right away to escape the danger.
But, if you put a frog in a kettle that is filled with water that is cool and pleasant, and then you gradually heat the kettle until it starts boiling, the frog will not become aware of the threat until it is too late.

The frog's survival instincts are geared towards detecting sudden changes.

This is a story that is used to illustrate how people might get themselves into terrible trouble. This parable is often used to illustrate how humans have to be careful to watch slowly changing trends in the environment, not just the sudden changes. Its a warning to keep us paying attention not just to obvious threats but to more slowly developing ones.

If Critical Mass doesn't wake up and learns to be media savvy this shit will continue. Love your work guys buts its way overdue to grow up.

Beware - There were also up to 6 under cover cops on Friday's ride. We know this becasue they were not people we had ever seen before (although new CMers are always welcome!) they stood apart from other riders before the ride, looked very unfit, made lotsa eye contact with uniformed cops and looked back accidentally as they were leaving at the end, when I yelled, "See ya next time cops!"

Gotta ask yourself, why were they there?

Maybe they were there to support critical mass. Cops ride bikes too you know.

Evening all.

They weren't undercover. If they were, you wouldn't have noticed them. They were from the Regional Response Unit and their role was to provide additional support to the uniformed cops.

Why they were deployed in plain clothes is mystifying to many cops as well.

All units. Be on the lookout for overweight people making eye contact with cops. The end is nigh.

With Critical Mass at the cnr of Todd and Williamstown Roads two possible destinations that spring to mind would be the Holden Car making factory just down the road and the wharves at the end of Williamstown Road where the new imported cars are unloaded from boats.

Undercover schmover
by unfit overweight infrequent rider Tuesday March 01, 2005 at 10:57 AM

Under Cover..you seem slightly paranoid...I am an Overweight unfit cyclist...I don't ride as often as i like but totally support the CM rides...I am also intimidated by those with badges and may glance at them frequently to try and read their attitudes...I don't get to many rides, but when i do am i considered an undercover cop

Calling Andrew Bolt "scum" or referring to the Herald Sun as the same blows your argument out of the water. Grow up. I can't stand the man either, and think the HS is a rag of a newspaper but if I was writing an article that was countering views published by them them I would concentrate on the arguments and rebuttals rather than childish name calling.

Davo laments that contributors should concentrate on the arguments and rebuttals rather than childish name calling.

Davo, Davo, Davo! Where have you been, son?

This is MIM, for Chrissakes!!

KF writes:
"If Critical Mass doesn't wake up and learns to be media savvy this shit will continue. Love your work guys buts its way overdue to grow up."

Huh? How can CM possibly have a media strategy? CM has no party line, no leadership, no spokeperson... that's the nature of the beast, and CM ain't gonna change. We're not BV, dude.

BTW how often do activist groups get a sympathetic hearing in the media anyway, whether they have coherent media strategies or not?

No wonder you guys are copping a pasting. No strategy. No idea. No direction. No possibly of networking. Critical Mass barely rated on the radar over the weekend. The police will keep this pressure up every month until tactics induce violence. Then the outcome: Critical Mass dies in the arse. Permanently

They win, you fucking lose. Got it?

I fear Frog March is spot on.

Remember all of those glorious Friday night protests outside the Bourke Stret Nike store during 2000-2001? Week after week the usual ragtag of anti-everythings turned up. To their credit, they persisted through some bitterly cold nights.

But then one night, the cops didn't turn up. You could see the poor bastards looking left and right waiting for the police to arrive en masse as they had for over fifteen consective weeks.

But the cops eventually wised up. If they didn't come to the party, it would fold. Who the hell wanted to stand like stale bottle of piss outside some store when nobody really gave a fuck?

And it collapsed. With n'ere a whimper.

Critical Mass will end the same way. Without a single tangible 'result'.

Then people will have to go ride their bikes together without disrupting anyone else.

What a bitch.

Frogwatch/Yorrick - It's clear that neither of you know much about CM. You betray yourself by talking of the disruption caused by all these bike riders... sure you're not Andy Bolt come out for a bit o' trolling?

What are you proposing... that CM riders should have megamaphones & do lots of screaming & shouting? Or perhaps toady to the mainstream press? Shit, why hadn't we thought of that before?

Perhaps because CM is about a different kind of political space. Imagine that... No leaders. No followers. No party line dictated from on high. Far from being the solution that you seem to think it would be, any attempt to impose such things on CM would only cause its demise.

The police are unlikely to keep this kind of pressure up because this kind of operation costs them $20,000 or more in overtime. That sure as hell leaves their commanders with egg on their faces when they spend that much money to deploy over 100 officers to corral a non-violent protest.

BTW if you think that CM would collapse if the cops stopped coming, then you are sadly deluded. CM existed for many years before the cops even started turning up... it does not define itself by the presence or otherwise of the plod. But in the meantime, CM has any number of tricks in its playbook to deal with police harrassment. Watch this space in March and see what happens.

There is a core of CMer's who make up the leadership.

The ones who decide on the route, hand out the maps and yell and threaten riders (as they did in November) if anyone dare consider riding on Citylink roads.

Anyone can make a map, and many different people often do. Anyone can steer the mass away from a mapped route, and many different people often do. Call it a demonstration of participatory democracy, or practical anarchy, or whatever you like to call it, but the fact remains there are no leaders. It's a funny thing... I was up the front of November's ride when CM got to Swan St (opposite the citylink entrance), and I didn't hear any yelling or threatening. Were you on the same ride as me... or were you even on the ride at all?

"CM has any number of tricks in its playbook to deal with police harrassment. Watch this space in March and see what happens."
You speak like a leader....... but your not a leader. Your not a core CMer.

You hand out maps. But your not one of leaders. Not one of the core.

Your an ardent supporter, vocal spokesman and you ride up the front, but your not one of CM's leaders.

Critical Mass has no leaders like Dave.

You participate so little I am begining to wonder if you have ever been on a CM ride.

Obviously you don't know the difference beteen a leader and a doer. If I enjoin people to follow me, I'm a leader. If I just do stuff because I want to, then does that make me a leader? No, that's called participation. Everyone is the same as everyone else. And at CM, it is each individual's choice if they want to do something or not, as well as their choice if they want to go along with things that other people suggest.

I never said there wasn't a core... of course there are core CMers. But it's not just one core, it's dozens of cores. It's not just me, there's 100 or more people who regularly come to CM who are similarly empowered to do stuff, whether it is mapmaking, flyering, chalking, corking, taking photos, publishing websites, writing for Indy, whatever... As for the tricks in the playbook, if you'd been on CM rides over the past year then you'd know what I was talking about... some things that people suggested the mass should do in case of grief from the cops. Lucky we got a couple of chances to practise these tactics on CM rides before Mr. Plod got narky. But I guess in your strict definition, all of this would be considered leadership... pity for you to think so narrowly. You sound like a megamaphone carrying socialist.

BTW, I'm at home with a massive toothache waiting on a root canal tomorrow. So I've got nothing better to do than this. I'm wondering what's your excuse for caring so much about this thread? I think you need a life, troll.

Dave's a doer and people who point out the fact that Critical Mass has leaders are trolls.

Sounds like you are having trouble coming to terms with CM's lack of leaders. whatever gets you through the night, I guess. If you ever turned up to a ride you'd be able to see for yourself, but no doubt it's easier to snipe on Indy.

By all means keep it up, this thread is more numbing than novocaine and at least it's taking my mind off my toothache. You never did tell me what your reason for hanging around was?

High noon mass
by Do not forsake me oh my darling Wednesday March 02, 2005 at 01:20 PM

"Frogwatch/Yorrick - It's clear that neither of you know much about CM. You betray yourself by talking of the disruption caused by all these bike riders... sure you're not Andy Bolt come out for a bit o' trolling? "

Scratches head. Who are you arguing with Dave? Try something unique and listen to constructive criticism. Ask around Dave. Theres plenty of pissed off exCritical mass crew who would love to give you a piece of their mind. Rock up to any cycling club or bike shop and gauge the reaction

"What are you proposing... that CM riders should have megamaphones & do lots of screaming & shouting? Or perhaps toady to the mainstream press? Shit, why hadn't we thought of that before?"

Who is Dave arguing with? Scratches head again. Heres something for you to ponder Dave. Since 1999 most old school Critical Mass stuff has been disregarded in a quest for trophy rides. From another perspective the rides have lost purpose and become messed up in power tripping bullshit

"Perhaps because CM is about a different kind of political space. Imagine that... No leaders. No followers. No party line dictated from on high. Far from being the solution that you seem to think it would be, any attempt to impose such things on CM would only cause its demise."

Thats complete crap. Critical mass has a leadership, has done since 1998 when Friends of the Earth stopped having any influence due to nasty infighting

"The police are unlikely to keep this kind of pressure up because this kind of operation costs them $20,000 or more in overtime. That sure as hell leaves their commanders with egg on their faces when they spend that much money to deploy over 100 officers to corral a non-violent protest."

You are naive Dave

"BTW if you think that CM would collapse if the cops stopped coming, then you are sadly deluded. CM existed for many years before the cops even started turning up... it does not define itself by the presence or otherwise of the plod. But in the meantime, CM has any number of tricks in its playbook to deal with police harrassment. Watch this space in March and see what happens"

Thats right Critical Mass existed pre1998 without police presence. We don't want critical mass to cease but gotta tell you that the attitude of Melbournes cycling scene alternates between hatred or bewilderment . Are you listening Dave? Are you listening Dave?

"Try something unique and listen to constructive criticism. Ask around Dave. Theres plenty of pissed off exCritical mass crew who would love to give you a piece of their mind. Rock up to any cycling club or bike shop and gauge the reaction"

Constructive criticism? Pretty much absent in this thread, even in your response. Sounds like you yourself could be one of the "pissed off exCritical mass crew". Gee, you make it sound like bike shops hate CM... if that's the case then why do many bike shops have CM flyers in their racks? Why did twenty or more bike shops put up posters for the 8th & 9th birthday rides? As for bike clubs, I have no time for people that strap their bikes to the top of their 4WD's so they can drive to Beach Rd for their Saturday morning ride. I don't lose any sleep over their dislike of CM.

"Heres something for you to ponder Dave. Since 1999 most old school Critical Mass stuff has been disregarded in a quest for trophy rides. From another perspective the rides have lost purpose and become messed up in power tripping bullshit "

Perhaps you'd like to explain your defintion of "old-school CM stuff", and how the rides have lost purpose? And exactly what "power-tripping bullshit" goes on. I'd love to hear it.

"Critical mass has a leadership, has done since 1998 when Friends of the Earth stopped having any influence due to nasty infighting"

So if FOE were the leadership, and they left, then who replaced them? Again, I'd love to know...

"Thats right Critical Mass existed pre1998 without police presence. We don't want critical mass to cease but gotta tell you that the attitude of Melbournes cycling scene alternates between hatred or bewilderment . Are you listening Dave? Are you listening Dave?"

I'm listening... I'm constantly discussing CM with other riders (& plenty of non-riders), encouraging them to come along, to do stuff. I've met the odd crusty character who spits chips at the mere mention of CM, but the overwhelming reaction is very positive. So I don't think you accurately represent the scene when you say attitudes vary between hatred & bewilderment.

But to stand back for a moment and believe that all you say is true: how would you change things? What should people do that isn't being done now? Time to put up or shut up with your constructive criticism.

"Try something unique and listen to constructive criticism. Ask around Dave. Theres plenty of pissed off exCritical mass crew who would love to give you a piece of their mind. Rock up to any cycling club or bike shop and gauge the reaction"

Constructive criticism? Pretty much absent in this thread, even in your response. Sounds like you yourself could be one of the "pissed off exCritical mass crew". Gee, you make it sound like bike shops hate CM... if that's the case then why do many bike shops have CM flyers in their racks? Why did twenty or more bike shops put up posters for the 8th & 9th birthday rides? As for bike clubs, I have no time for people that strap their bikes to the top of their 4WD's so they can drive to Beach Rd for their Saturday morning ride. I don't lose any sleep over their dislike of CM.

"Heres something for you to ponder Dave. Since 1999 most old school Critical Mass stuff has been disregarded in a quest for trophy rides. From another perspective the rides have lost purpose and become messed up in power tripping bullshit "

Perhaps you'd like to explain your defintion of "old-school CM stuff", and how the rides have lost purpose? And exactly what "power-tripping bullshit" goes on. I'd love to hear it.

"Critical mass has a leadership, has done since 1998 when Friends of the Earth stopped having any influence due to nasty infighting"

So if FOE were the leadership, and they left, then who replaced them? Again, I'd love to know...

"Thats right Critical Mass existed pre1998 without police presence. We don't want critical mass to cease but gotta tell you that the attitude of Melbournes cycling scene alternates between hatred or bewilderment . Are you listening Dave? Are you listening Dave?"

I'm listening... I'm constantly discussing CM with other riders (& plenty of non-riders), encouraging them to come along, to do stuff. I've met the odd crusty character who spits chips at the mere mention of CM, but the overwhelming reaction is very positive. So I don't think you accurately represent the scene when you say attitudes vary between hatred & bewilderment.

But let's stand back for a moment and believe that all you say is gospel: how would you change things? What should people do that isn't being done now? Time to come clean with your constructive criticism.

and Daves out for the count.

Chill out young people! Here's a homework project for Dave & the rest of the assorted rabble to do some light reading: How to Make a Critical Mass - Viewpoints

A long time ago on a UK web site, an article entitled ‘Shame on You demonstrators” appeared and shed some light on the aims of such people.

The demonstrators were not trying to reclaim the streets or were opposing corporations, globalisation or another minor league concern, they were out to oppose war. 80% of the world’s democratic population out in forceful representation and were all just as completely ignored.

“Shame on you” pointed out the awful truth, that without war, oil would not be under western control, we could not as a developed nation make the economy pay in the long term, as we are oil dependants, and slaves to the commercial forces that require the resource wars. We would go broke if the voiced concerns of demonstrators were listened to. Oil prices would become a bidders war that would drive up all prices from raw materials, agriculture and fuel

The shame came in because each and every demonstrator actively participated in a society that depends upon economic growth, people who like cheap prices at the supermarket, support savings at the petrol pumps and low interest rates.

Without War we cannot have these things. Prices would rise

A cyclist replied in comments to say that he and many like him had ridden to the march on bicycles, a noble move, sighting that he did not need the oil, while he wrote on a petrochemical keyboard under electric light bulbs. Saying that he agreed that society was too dependant on oil, but he was not personally putting any pressure to go to war.

Unfortunately the only way the air pressure in his tires remained was due to his oil made tires, while fossil fuels had smelted his steel and oil had powered the mining tools. Cyclists are not blamed for the war but they are part of the reason war occurs.

Just answer who controls the oil now.

Unless there is a fundamental change in normal human behaviour, there is no change on the horizon, no matter how far you ride. Therefore fellow frogs, jump out before you become caught in the process in a heat exchange for stock.

But even before oil
by Let the one without sin cast the first stone Thursday March 03, 2005 at 11:10 AM

White King, Red Rubber, Black Death is an exceptional film production. Stylistically it emotes a dark, somber background for the most part, with cameos appearances with academics providing historical analyses of what occurred two centuries back interspersed with apparently some actors dramatizing the writings of important voices of missionaries, colonial authorities and functionaries, describing the macabre occurrences that went on at Leopold's secret Crown Domaine, which could contain God only knows how many Belgiums; how the inventions of both the bicycle and the automobile initiated a massive need for the production of rubber and an even greater need to mobilize masses of people to tap rubber trees to satisfy the industry's production desires.