Extinction Rebellion slammed for forcing people to use cars after blocking public transport
Climate change activists who want to "shut down London" have disrupted access to several key tube stations to raise awareness - but their tactics haven't had their intended effect.
Extinction Rebellion protesters tactics focused on disrupting trains on the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) line at Canary Wharf station on Wednesday, causing delays across the network.
More than 300 people have been arrested since Monday, they initially started blocking roads disrupting cars and bus, but moved to tube stations hoping to raise awareness of threats to the environment.
READ: My statement on tomorrow’s planned protests by Extinction Rebellion in London:
https://t.co/cFj8nfjV5R pic.twitter.com/cQxuuGHw9D— Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) April 16, 2019
Critics of their latest tactics have emerged from across the political spectrum including Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, who asked whether the protestors have questioned if disrupting public transport is consistent with their aims.
LBC radio host Nick Ferrari interviewed one of Extinction Rebellion's organisers, asking: "I thought we were meant to travel on public transport...what are [we] meant to do? Try and make a bicycle out of hemp or something?"
The organiser responded by saying she wasn't involved in the protests around public transport but said she thought the people who were were trying to "raise their voices louder".
If you care about the environment, why would you disrupt public transport & all the people who choose to use it instead of cars? The blocked bridges etc were fine by most of us...but this looks like a really bad call by Extinction Rebellion https://t.co/cK17Jkj6Vg
— Sarah O'Connor (@sarahoconnor_) April 16, 2019
Very good, Extinction Rebellion, blocking public transport and thereby increasing reliance on cars is, no doubt, the best, nay, only way to fight climate change.
— David L (@DavidvanderLo) April 17, 2019
I agree with the reasons behind the #ExtinctionRebellion protests and am glad that they're trying to (relatively peacefully) cause disruption on London's roads.
But c'mon - public transport is vital to decarbonising our economy. This will not help your cause. https://t.co/Uvzvwcmo51— Will Hingley (@Will_Hingley) April 17, 2019
Efficient public transport is often cited as a way nations can reduce their carbon footprint by encouraging fewer people to use their cars and for them to share the same train or bus to get to where they need to be.
Many people who use London's tube network to get around and were sympathetic to the aims of Extinction Rebellion have expressed frustration with their tactics.
Music student Anouska Stahlmann has said the protests were “seriously flawed” after her mother and elderly grandparents were forced to walk across London to find alternative transport.
She said: “Considering my grandma has sciatica and my grandad has asthma, disruption on the Tubes is not an option.
“I have no issue with wanting to better the environment and we’re fairly conscious of it as a family."
“Their methods, however, are seriously flawed and are not inclusive of people who want to support the cause. I find it awful they’re disintegrating into a rent-a-mob mentality really. I’d expect better.”
"We’re all being told to use public transport as it’s healthier for the environment but, now, everyone is going to get in their cars instead today because it’s going to be more reliable.”
Echoing the sentiment Sefan White, 24, who works for a company that produces bar snacks in sustainable packaging, was stopped getting to work by a protestor gluing his hand to a train.
He said: “I’m devastated. I’m trying to get to a job now. We’ve got to go round Camden on a 30-pub journey and we’re going to be late now, we’re probably going to lose money today."
In an attempt to reduce the effectiveness of the protests there was an increased police presence at certain tube stations and Transport For London turned off the networks free wifi.