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When? Tomorrow morning. It’s a stunt co-ordinated to clash with
the August 1st call to boycott petrol pumps by motoring organisations complaining
about fuel price hikes
Hundreds of London cyclists are expected to participate in five separate bike rides
into central London, which will converge in Trafalgar Square at the height of the
morning rush hour.
Responding to the August 1st "Dump the Pump" protest by pro-motoring organisations
against fuel taxes, the cyclists will be inviting motorists to save money, time and
the frustrations of rush-hour traffic, by leaving their cars altogether and enjoying
the joys of pedal power.
The "Dump the Pump for Good" cycling event is described by its organisers
as "A fun, festive, fuel-free, stress-free, virtually cost-free and above all
enjoyable ride".
The motorist’s "Dump the Pump" campaign has been encouraging motorists
to register their protest at current levels of fuel taxes by boycotting petrol stations
on August 1st. The campaign has been promoted by The Sun and Daily Mail as a protest
organised over the internet by Britain’s "beleagured" motorists (www.boycott-the-pumps.com).
However, Dump the Pump is believed to have strong connections with the asphalt-the-whole-country
organisation the Association of British Drivers (ABD – www.abd.org.uk).
To combat the ABD’s views the environmental pressure group Transport 2000 has produced
a briefing (www.transport2000.demon.co.uk), arguing that the costs of motoring have fallen steeply over several
decades, and that motoring taxes are far short of the costs which motoring imposes
on society. [ Beside the fact that the motoring groups haven’t actually shown where the revenue that they want removed from petrol will be generated from. 20p on income tax rate anyone? No thanks – BIKEmagic]
The "Dump the Pump for Good" bike rides are likely to be similar in style
to the "Critical Mass" rides which have continued to take place in London
on the last Friday evening of every month for the past six years, and in other cities
around Britain, the USA and many other countries.
The rides will each set off at 7.30am, from the following start points:
North London: Highbury Fields (nr Highbury Corner);
East London: London Fields, Hackney (by Pub on the Park);
South East London: Peckham High Street, opposite northern end of Peckham Rye;
South West London: Clapham Common (south side, next to Windmill Inn);
West London: Shepherds Bush Green.
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