Thanks first of all to everyone who came along, and much thanks especially to the Boss Stephen, the Bud Clodagh, Geoff Critical and Rob HuntSab who gave out flyers and put up posters all over the city.
So what happened? We had our critical mass at 2.20pm, kicking off from the Garden of Rememberance on Parnell Square. There was much more people here than usual, maybe about 150-200, and we picked up a load more on our way. There were banners, flags, whistles and horns, so the ride was noisy and colourful. People brought their kids along, and we cycled down O'Connell Street.
We handed out leaflets along the way, explaining what we were doing and why we were doing it. There was lots of support from pedestrians on the paths, of course the motorists werent happy but that was to be expected. By the time we had reached Westmoreland Street, the Gardai were in a jeep in front of us.
Although the crowd was bigger than normal, we ended up doing the loop (down Aston Quay, then up Parliament Street, and then down Dame Street back towards College Green) quicker than usual. So we did it a second time! Our police escort disappeared when we went down Aston Quay again, which was handy for later on.
We blocked O'Connell Bridge for a while and waved to the Ireland.com live web cameras, and then headed back over to the northside where there was another crowd of people waiting outside Supermacs. We were greeted with cheers as we dismounted from our bikes and held them aloft. This was about 3.20pm. By now there were about 350-400 people in the section of O'Connell St.
Cyclists at the back of the critical mass overturned their bikes at the junction with the bridge and the northbound section of O'Connell Street up to Abbey Street was taken over. We ran down Abbey Street and grabbed some traffic cones and diversion signs from the LUAS works, and put them up to stop the traffic coming through. We erected the volleyball net (made from orange plastic wrap used for road works, as far as I could tell) and used some traffic cones as goalposts outside Supermacs. The people in the upper floors of the fast food joints looked on, bemused. The football was chaotic and slightly disorganised, but extremely good fun, loads of kids joined in.
We played games almost up until 4 o'clock when the Gardai decided that they were going to clear the street. The first to go was a beach ball: a BeanGarda grabbed it from us and she tried to burst it, with boos and whistles of disapproval from the crowd. The riot vans and cars moved in then, and they took down the volleyball net and starting taking the balls from people. They put all the equipment in the back of a van, and people were chanting 'free the ball! free the ball!'.
People werent leaving the street though - and the Gardai decided they were going to use force. First they started confiscating people's bikes, and when people didnt want their bikes taken off them, the Gardai arrested them. The cops were shoving and hitting people now, and yanking the cyclists bikes away from them. People were screaming and shouting and the atmosphere was tense. About six people were arrested, thrown in the vans and brought to Store Street station. Approximately twenty bikes were confiscated. The Gardai were being extremely aggressive. People started chanting 'car free day', and everyone then sat down. But the Gardai picked people up and threw them onto the paths.
The people towards the back of the protest closer to Abbey Street then got up and started slow walking up O'Connell Street. We were pushed up to the top end outside the Ambassador, where we then dispersed after a big cheer and a round of applause. This was about 4.20pm - two hours after the Critical Mass had started! This was easily the biggest protest of this type in Dublin ever, and although the traffic was flowing again, spirits were high and we felt like we had really achieved something.
About an hour and a half later in Conways, Bax, who had been arrested, arrived in and was given a hero's welcome. He had been charged with a public order offence and was up in court at the end of October. People were able to get their bikes back from Store St station as well, but I dont know if they had to give names or if they were given tickets, etc.
It was an amazing turnout for both the critical mass and the street games, and hopefully we'll be able to do something similar in the near future. Viva la velo-rution!
regards
So what happened? We had our critical mass at 2.20pm, kicking off from the Garden of Rememberance on Parnell Square. There was much more people here than usual, maybe about 150-200, and we picked up a load more on our way. There were banners, flags, whistles and horns, so the ride was noisy and colourful. People brought their kids along, and we cycled down O'Connell Street.
We handed out leaflets along the way, explaining what we were doing and why we were doing it. There was lots of support from pedestrians on the paths, of course the motorists werent happy but that was to be expected. By the time we had reached Westmoreland Street, the Gardai were in a jeep in front of us.
Although the crowd was bigger than normal, we ended up doing the loop (down Aston Quay, then up Parliament Street, and then down Dame Street back towards College Green) quicker than usual. So we did it a second time! Our police escort disappeared when we went down Aston Quay again, which was handy for later on.
We blocked O'Connell Bridge for a while and waved to the Ireland.com live web cameras, and then headed back over to the northside where there was another crowd of people waiting outside Supermacs. We were greeted with cheers as we dismounted from our bikes and held them aloft. This was about 3.20pm. By now there were about 350-400 people in the section of O'Connell St.
Cyclists at the back of the critical mass overturned their bikes at the junction with the bridge and the northbound section of O'Connell Street up to Abbey Street was taken over. We ran down Abbey Street and grabbed some traffic cones and diversion signs from the LUAS works, and put them up to stop the traffic coming through. We erected the volleyball net (made from orange plastic wrap used for road works, as far as I could tell) and used some traffic cones as goalposts outside Supermacs. The people in the upper floors of the fast food joints looked on, bemused. The football was chaotic and slightly disorganised, but extremely good fun, loads of kids joined in.
We played games almost up until 4 o'clock when the Gardai decided that they were going to clear the street. The first to go was a beach ball: a BeanGarda grabbed it from us and she tried to burst it, with boos and whistles of disapproval from the crowd. The riot vans and cars moved in then, and they took down the volleyball net and starting taking the balls from people. They put all the equipment in the back of a van, and people were chanting 'free the ball! free the ball!'.
People werent leaving the street though - and the Gardai decided they were going to use force. First they started confiscating people's bikes, and when people didnt want their bikes taken off them, the Gardai arrested them. The cops were shoving and hitting people now, and yanking the cyclists bikes away from them. People were screaming and shouting and the atmosphere was tense. About six people were arrested, thrown in the vans and brought to Store Street station. Approximately twenty bikes were confiscated. The Gardai were being extremely aggressive. People started chanting 'car free day', and everyone then sat down. But the Gardai picked people up and threw them onto the paths.
The people towards the back of the protest closer to Abbey Street then got up and started slow walking up O'Connell Street. We were pushed up to the top end outside the Ambassador, where we then dispersed after a big cheer and a round of applause. This was about 4.20pm - two hours after the Critical Mass had started! This was easily the biggest protest of this type in Dublin ever, and although the traffic was flowing again, spirits were high and we felt like we had really achieved something.
About an hour and a half later in Conways, Bax, who had been arrested, arrived in and was given a hero's welcome. He had been charged with a public order offence and was up in court at the end of October. People were able to get their bikes back from Store St station as well, but I dont know if they had to give names or if they were given tickets, etc.
It was an amazing turnout for both the critical mass and the street games, and hopefully we'll be able to do something similar in the near future. Viva la velo-rution!
regards
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