| on 20-09-2007 05:14
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Published in : , Politics |
 By Justin Hyatt, with field reporting in Warsaw/Prague/Budapest/Kiskunfélegyháza
Just as optimists considered that large critical mass rides in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) were successfully pushing the envelope and bringing us all one step closer to bike paradise, post fall-of-the-wall style, a new threat to improving bicycle infrastructure everywhere has appeared on the radar: The fright-inducing, evil-sounding “Bikebuster Movement.” Some detective work has identified the "World Car Network" as being responsible for this new formation of road rage, and it seems they have launched their own publication, Bikebuster Magazine. Apparently they are based in Warsaw, but are rumored to have an office in Prague with future expansion to other provincial towns in the CEE.
"We can only guess that their intentions are contrary to our own cause,” said a representative of the World Carfree Network who asked to remain anonymous, out of fear of getting a bike busted. Bikebusting does indeed appear to be on the rise, as bike vandalism has been noted in several cities. Police in some cities have even been notified by eye-witnesses of masked men attempting to defile painted bike lanes during the night and more and more cars are being spotted with the "One bike less" sticker.
János, one cyclist in the currently 50,000 strong Budapest Critical Mass ride expressed apprehension that the bike-busting World Car Network might come to Budapest and attempt to squeeze out their nascent velorution. After reminding János that there is already a 50,000-strong car critical mass ride in Budapest every day, he nodded, mumbled "good point,” then sped off on his pink foldable bike.
It is still too early to say for sure whether or not the World Car Network is here to stay or just a passing phenomenon. Whatever it may be, the editors of Carbusters Magazine (www.carbusters.org) and the folk at the World Carfree Network (www.worldcarfree.net) have promised to keep their eyes open and to provide fair and balanced reporting in their future issues.
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