it happens wonko ...:D

in a room of a thousand monkeys innit :D

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No fears :), I may have been getting a little severe handed there.

Garfield - I imagine you're right in that the defacto act/marketplace for hot bikes is not likely to cease. However, in the similar way that a standard CM meet does not initiate an immediate permanent change in Londons traffic habits, it is more a question of the substance of the act itself; if a brick lane thing happens it will highlight the trade in stolen possessions quite openly taking place in the street as well as the lack of effectual action being in use by the police to stop this phenomenon under their noses.

If CM can bring attention, any attention to this then that act will have been a success. Sundays are notoriously muted news days for local tv news, even in London. If you groom the media properly you can get some good exposure.

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and do what with it.

I'm not anti the plan however i do have to say you need mor ethan media exposure to sort this out. or you will just move the quandary elsewhere.

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yes of course the problem won't be solved by media exposure alone. But it may force the police to actually do something down there instead of impersonate ostriches.

As for moving them elsewhere, they need to be near large numbers of people and Brick Lane is the historical place in London to buy bikes, going back to pre WW2 years. I don't think they're going anywhere - nobody buys from the loot anymore and ebay is too much exposure and therefore too risky.

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the thing is if it has been going on pre ww2 then it's liable that many things have been tried in the past to stop it.

On the other edge of things the redevelopment that is now going on round their many render it dead by virtue of I'm sure the gentrified remodelled reconstituted socialites who are going to recurrent the trendy wine bars and kitch chain stores soon to be put up in place of the olden timie Victorian streets and the new spitlefields redevelopment (read bastardisation) will do away with them via social distillation anyways. but till then i think it need more than just a rally. Build a website I'll host it on lucid if you want :confident: formally request or summit and buy second hand bike advice, lost and found (stolen and recovered?) sections, perhaps gang marching the fuckers with those who can id their stolen bikes being resold down to Liverpool street(broad street) cop shop or summit... post pics of recognized bike crims or summit, sought for bike rustling or summit that kinda thing get press interest and so on draw them to the site publicise it perhaps get ken to do a bit for it as part of his reelection campain.... there are heaps of things you could do...if your series like :)

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I spoke to the Centre of Cycling Excellence at Transport for London. They are presently without a cycling project manager as the last one has gone back to Sweden, but they expect the post to be filled shortly. It has been suggested that TfL have a stall in Brick Lane warning people of the misdemeanor of buying stolen bikes. The lass I spoke to said she will talk to the "police on bikes" (if you know what I mean) as they are already dedicated cyclists, but real action will only happen when the post is filled.

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Advice

I had my bike nicked on Sunday on Upper St Islington in broad daylight, I only left it for an hour and I'm so gutted. It was a birthday gift from my boyfriend who has gone travelling for two years and I'm thus sentimental about it. Its truly distinctive as its a vintage purple Moulton Midi with flat tyres- I had just ordered it new ones! Its so tattered I can't think it would be worth something to anyone apart from me. I've put up reward posters all round Islington.

I know I could spot it a mile off, I'm going to check out the bike shop in chapel st market, Berkley bikes in dalston junction, and Brick lane arches this sunday morning. I've been told to go at 8 am and if I spot it and hassle as much as necessary they'll just give it back to me to get rid of me. Thing is, I'm a bit scared after your story about the horrid types hanging round there, I'm a 5"2 girl, do you still think I should go down there on my own. Not sure I can sway anyone to go with me at that time.

I'm so desperate to get it back.

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Ahhh :angry:

Really sorry to hear about your bike. It's a horrid feeling to return to where you left it and find it's no longer there.

I'd forgotten all about this thread!

My advice would be to yes, get there EARLY! Lurk around where the scum are, looking at other stalls etc. Last time I was there (over a year ago) there was a couple of really friendly coppers around. I asked them if they had any problems with me taking photos of all the bikes for sale and the 'sellers.' The police loved the idea and encouraged it! I've never seen a 'market' clear so quickly.

If you spot your bike, mmm, tricky. As an average build bloke I wouldn't hesitate steaming in, probably with a bike lock as well. I've done it before in Brixton, remarakably finding my nicked bike and laying out the scum that took it. Not a boast - it's the only violence I've ever been involved in.

Have you a friend you can persuade to accompnay you? Male or female. Has the theft been reported to the police? If so, how about calling the police if you spot it, tell them that it has been a reported crime and demand some back up. You could always play for time by telling the scum that you need to go and withdraw some cash, possibly even spit handing over a poxy deposit.

Good luck.

As for the original idea of the Brick Lane Mass... that kind of fizzled out. After a lot of correspondance, I came to the conclusion that I personally didn't want to instigate it as I now belive that an 'organised' protest would only antagonise an already dodgy situation.

I did write to Oona King, the then MP for Tower Hamlets. She was very supportive and copied me in on a letter to the local Commander asking why stolen goods are being openly sold on his patch. No reply from the Commander.

I'm no New Labour flag waver, but I wonder if Gorgeous George would be so supportive of local issues?

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sad to hear about you cycle being nicked Isla.

But I once upon a time saw a 5'5" lady forcefully walk up to a stolen bike seller and say quite noisily "that is my bike and you just stole it in Columbia Road - I'm taking it back" - she set two hands on it and following drawing an preliminary crowd of 'gentlemen' vendors they backed off and she walked off with her bike.

fair play to her, she got her bike back.

good luck:)

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Thanks for the tips guys.

I am pretty single-minded that I'm going to get it back. Me and that cycle have a great many more years together I can feel it!! I will let you know how I get on.

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