25th anniversary. Report from the riseup list A big thank you to all those reporting and also to riseup.

The birthday ride was pretty damn good – happy participants brandishing their anniversary t-shirts which were provided in copious quantities

Took a while for us to leave, maybe 7.30 but that is becoming increasingly the norm

From memory the route went pretty directly round the sites of the recently evacuated XR protests. So straight to parliament sq then via buckingham palace (where for once we didn’t stop!!!) to marble arch (along park lane rather than through the park!!!)

Good vibes, good pace, good numbers.

Then for some reason a police car decided to panic & challenge some of the mass at oxford circus. This was no real hindrance to our progress, they were just afraid that we were XR & suddenly on their watch had reoccupied oxford circus Anyway, a number of the younger more aggressive massers got a bit confrontational leading to escalation. However, it was just noise & poor behaviour but the upshot was the mass getting split. Despite the best attempts of some of the more screwed on heads ensuring the roads heading e-w down regent st., piccadilly circus, etc. were corked the front just charged full speed down to trafalgar square. We lost numbers there.

Don’t think the mass has ever developed a solution for dealing with people at the front who just want to ride fast, will happily filter through traffic & seem unwilling to cork.

But onwards towards the city along the river, think we crossed at blackfriars bridge down to st.george circus then tooley st. to the scoop. Most disbanded there although a few headed back west to waterloo.

With regard the fedbook – nothing of any interest there, mainly just reports of stolen bikes & adverts for bikes for sale. Occasionally there is some discussion over whether a certain bike for sale is in fact stolen.

The chat, when it does relate to CM has a general tone of “I don’t go because mass isn’t good any more too many wheelie kids robbing & starting fights” this sentiment is generally met with accusations of prejudice and/or vulgarity. There is a constant “joke” about tickets – anyone posting a question about mass will get countless replies advising them to get a ticket & those replies will get replies further concerning tickets e.g.: Last Friday an Admin posted “Gently reminder: TODAY IS NOT THE LAST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH” User -“Where do we get tickets for tonights ride?” Admin “online” User 2 -“When is the last Friday of the month this month? Is it next Friday?” 🤨 Admin “link” posts a ‘let me google that for you’ link User 3 -“No it’s the week after, the 38th” User 2 -“Is that a Friday?” User 3 -“Always” User 4 -“thanks for the confirmation!”

(note from web editor:) No, you do not need any ticket to attend Critical Mass. Just a bike or similar vehicle with wheels that moves only thanks to your energy.