Daily Telegraph: Free ride for ratbags - 29 November, 2006

The cycling protesters who take pride in plunging city traffic into chaos encourage their members to ignore road rules and defy police. Despite their disregard for the law and a public backlash against two-wheeled road hogs, police have vowed to continue to sanction the monthly traffic jams. Critical Mass - the global outfit that claims cars are ruining the planet - has published a manual showing members how to cause maximum disruption.

About 1000 lycra-clad members of the Sydney branch caused peak-hour mayhem last Friday when they slowly pedalled through the city and across the Harbour Bridge.

A manual published by Critical Mass organisers and distributed to members worldwide tells protesters how to deal with “frustrated individuals” in cars who are “not amused” by their antics.

Cyclists are encouraged to flout the road rules to make their point - whatever it might be.

“For the most part, traffic laws were made for cars, as anyone who routinely bicycles through stop signs can attest, and they certainly weren’t written with large groups of bicycles in mind,” the Critical Mass manual says.

“Critical Mass should bend or ignore existing traffic laws where the group’s safety and effectiveness are served, and follow the law where it serves our interests and needs.”

The protesters are told to simply ignore police during their demonstrations because officers will never match the number of cyclists.

“The police usually give in and realise, short of arresting everyone, there’s little they can do except ride along and act like the public servants they professed to be in the beginning,” members are told.

NSW Police last night said they will continue to protect the Critical Mass’s right to protest at peak-hour on the last Friday of each month.

“As with any lawful and organised protest, police attend to assist the smooth running of the event as well as to ensure the safety of members of the public and all those involved in the protest,” assistant commissioner Phil Rogerson said.

Critical Mass spokesman Chris ‘Moz’ Mosley claimed last week’s protest was to highlight the lack of bike lanes on city streets.

But a members’ newsletter claims the ride was to help cure “climate change, diabetes and depression”.

The public backlash has not deterred Critical Mass. The group plans to hold up traffic again on Friday, December 29.