Bikes Alive too 'forceful' for cycling campaigners

by Denise Amend

The London Cycling Campaign (LCC) has refused to back Bikes Alive's traffic-calming protests around King's Cross due to the latter's “forceful” tactics in demanding safety improvements.

There had been much speculation as to why LCC, a major activist in lobbying TfL for better conditions for cyclists in London, did not support the protests that started in the New Year.

LCC's campaigns chief Mustafa Arif has now told the Camden New Journal: “London Cycling Campaign is a charity. [We] cannot associate with unlawful protest. LCC has to be careful about what action we associate with.”

Mike Calvert, the charity's spokesperson, added: “London Cycling Campaign hasn’t joined the Bikes Alive protest because we’re concerned about the forceful language used in the event’s publicity.”

"Unnecessarily negative"

Albert Beale, a spokesperson for Bikes Alive, told Arts London News: “I can understand that LCC have different tactics, and different styles of working, but it seems to me regrettable that they are so unwilling to engage, and are just being unnecessarily negative.

“If they were to say what "forceful language" exactly they object to, it could be discussed, but LCC don't or won't address Bikes Alive directly,” he added.

Around 80 cyclists turned up to back Monday's protest around the King's Cross gyratory system.

In their “Go Slow” flyer the group asked “Cyclists, pedestrians & anybody in London actively resisting oppression by motor vehicle policy” to attend and join the “organised resistance.”

Numbers were lower than at the group's first action but Beale expects that it will “start getting bigger again as it gets more organised and as communication networks get improved.

“Certainly, it needs to grow if it's to continue,” he said.

Bikes Alive, who aim “to rebalance priorities on London’s roads in favour of people... their health, safety and sanity,” want Transport for London to create a major lane-wide cycle-only route straight across the junction from Gray's Inn Road to York Way.

The next protest is due to be held on February 6.