Yesterday, my bike and I found ourselves caught up in a demonstration whereby a legitimate group of road users – who were there long before the cars who currently dominate the roads – asserted their right to move en masse, slowing or even halting traffic where necessary and at times completely blocking the road in both directions.
On the whole the cars who encountered it took it in good part, waiting patiently for the group to finish making their point and disperse although they were held up or forced to move at walking pace for a fairly long time. Sadly, not all the participants were all that well-behaved, with one straggly-haired individual threatening to break away and confront the cars although those shepherding the ride along did their best to keep her under control. I thought there was going to be a bit of a stand off at one point – but in the end she saw reason and joined the bunch and pretty soon the whole group turned off and the cars were able to speed away again without so much as a horn sounded in anger.
And then I went down to Carlisle with my Brompton and joined their monthly Critical Mass.
Tee hee, you had me there – I read the text before looking at the picture and was convinced you were talking about a bike meet!