Critical Mass

Just back from the monthly Critical Mass cycle ride, followed by a quick meeting with Malcolm, my Election Agent, to sort out the weekend's canvassing.

Critical Mass is one of those things where it's difficult to describe the appeal until you try it. A load of cyclists meet up on the South Bank on the last Friday of the month and ride around for the evening. There's no fixed route, no destination, just the chance to see what central London would be like if the primary mode of transport was the bike rather than the car.

Although at its root the Mass is making a political point about the need for traffic reduction and an end to our oil dependence, when you are actually riding it turns into a very social occasion. I spent most of the evening chatting to Chris Asbhy, the previous Green Party candidate in Islington North, Matthew Tempest, a Guardian journalist who I first met when he was reporting on Green Party conference and Matt's wife.

Jesse, who I know from my involvement in Housmans Bookshop and Peace News was also there distributing flyers for the World Naked Bike Ride in Hyde Park in June. I like their slogan "STOP indecent exposure to vehicle emmissions", but I'm not at all sure about the practicalities of naked cycling.

I leave the Mass outside Buckingham Palace as they head south and I make for King's Cross for my meeting.