news and views from contraflow london c-flow July 96 - number 19!
Weds 7/8 saw the latest in a series of tube [U Bahn] strikes in the London region over the management's stopping a one hour cut in work time [as promised last year]
'Autonomus party [as in good time] group' Reclaim the Streets called for a critical mass cycle ride in support starting at 8am. Numbers included 200 odd from South London, 70 and 50 from east and north London and a brave 20 odd from [Largely bourgeois] West London. After 90 minutes riding towards Trafalgar square all four groups met and disrupted traffic as a group round the Parliament buildings, Prime Ministers home and Whitehall [Public servants district.]
Police then kettled the bikers, and after 1 hour allowed them out giving each an individual warning. [The only way out was over a large wall]. Being bicycle based had serious impacts on our ability to confront police on foot - in part because the traffic was so bad!!!]
After dispersing, much of the demo reconvened, and once spotted by a member of the Police Forward Intelligence Unit, had no option but to storm the Tube Management Headquarters immediately. 10 demonstrators reached the main bosses office and rearranged his office. 9 arrests were made. All bicycles parked in the area were confiscated by the Royal Parks police [who have special powers[?]]
There was little connection between these actions and the tube workers but this is an aim for next time! Very wide spread media coverage focused on the complete chaos caused by anarchists on bicycles - tho' really we only added a little piece to the already existing gridlock
Back to Archive [strikes] Menu