Pete Clark

Tim, you should follow your best judgement.

However, in my opinion, both you and your wife have posted some of the most valuable insights on this forum. For you to unplug would be a total waste.

If everyone agrees with you, you're not getting anything accomplished!

Don't give up the fight

Pete

Chris L

The truth is that volunteering opportunities will arise without the need to participate in some kind of action that will only upset people. It's all well and good to talk about "standing up for our rights" and whatever else, but all I see critical mass doing is upsetting enough people to have cyclists eventually banned from roads completely. I think more friendly, positive events like "ride to work day" and so on that actually encourage people to get out and ride are more effective than confrontation will ever be.

Having said all that, I hope that my rather forthright post previously was not the thing that prompted you to bid us farewell. I didn't mean to cause offence and I hope you decide to stick around.

John C. Ratliff

VC,

I started this thread, more to find out reaction to the news media than to make any value judgements on the Critical Mass events. I'm learning, and in order to do so, need all people's input. I especially valued yours, so if you do decide not to participate for awhile, feel you have a home here to voice your opinion when you can. I have not yet made any judgement on the Critical Mass, and want find out as much as I can about the events.

In the last 4 years, I've nearly been killed twice by cars. I don't want to give up cycling, but I do want to live to a ripe 'ol age too, say 108. To do that, I need to keep exercising, and bicycling will be a vital part of my exercise program, as will be swimming. But bicycling is more than just an exercise--it has the potential to again revolutionize the way people get around in a city, especially a modern city. It has me fascinated, and I want to know all about various kinds of activities--Critical Mass being one.

Good luck, and best wishes. Don't stay away too long.

John

chewa

VC perhaps on re reading my post I had better clarify. I support people who stand up for their views. I feel however, that, while CM is a broad cross section of people (I went on a ride here last year), the publicity always falls on the more extreme element. That's media bias, and in my post I meant that this is sometimes the only view people get.

Didn't mean to cause any offence.

Andy Dreisch

Critical Mass is a complete embarrassment to serious riders. They are the fringe. They do not represent good cyclists and good cycling. Period. In fact, they represent exactly the opposite.

Here's a quote from a Chicago Critical Mass leader. Sounds downright illegal, dangerous, and stupid behavior to me, guaranteed to raise the ire of drivers everywhere:

You can read more drivel here: https://www.chicagocriticalmass.org/r...ts/june02.html

And Chicago is a "good" Critical Mass? Please.

morsen

I don't know about Chicago, but from what I've heard the Critical Mass in San Francisco has brought about profound changes in favor of Cyclists during the past decade in that city. If one sticks to 'traditional' advocacy groups, we only get more shared paths and deadly bicycle lanes. That really gets us no where, and if we do nothing, we continue to get run down by maniacal death machines until we die. That's not exactly an enticing outcome either. Maybe Critical Mass doesn't accomplish much, but in the ways that matter, it accomplishes at least as much as any other form of bike advocacy.

Running a red light (with C.M. it's even safe!) is certainly not the worst crime in the world. One would think it would be clear to observers who the bad guys are when you see pigs beating and gassing cyclists who are standing up for their rights.

Andy Dreisch

"Profound changes" in San Francisco? You've got to be kidding!!

Critical Mass in SF has alienated good, serious, law-abiding cyclists -- BIG TIME.

Maybe CM did bring about profound changes, come to think of it. Now motorists think all bikers are losers.

Brian Ratliff

I have to call attention to this post toward the front of this discussion because it is probably a good idea. With regard to CM, it is not much to go from the tactics they use now to the tactics that mechBgon advocates.

As to the strategy of vehicular cycling en-mass, it is almost like CM. What the CM riders have found though, is when anyone bicycles en-mass, there is a large backlash that comes from moterists. It is not their tactics, just the fact that they are en-mass that makes moterists enraged enough to hurt people. So the stick together and ignore stoplights so they can stay together and for protection.

The point of CM is that cyclists cannot bike en-mass on a regular basis without harrassment regardless if the cyclists are legal or not. It is this idea that CM is trying to challenge.

webist

Sounds to me like they are priming drivers to take out their frustrations on the next lone rider they see. I hope it isn't me.

Carl

morsen

Brian, I was thinking about that (en masse vehicular riding) last year. Unfortunately, I think it would be profoundly unsafe. Cyclists are, in most places, allowed to ride two-abreast. If there were hundreds of riders riding two across and many blocks deep, we would end up with maniacs trying to get past the entire line all at once by flooring it. I encounter this on all organized rides, but if this happened in the city it would be much more unsafe, and collisions would likely occur. In urban areas, I think the same problem would arise even if the entire ride were single file. I truly believe that Critical Mass does it in the only safe way possible.

On a side note, if some moron is stuck behind the mass in a car, I fail to see why it never occurs to them to simply take a different street.

Andy Dreisch

Possibly because all the mayhem caused by the upstanding CMers prevent such an escape? What about the people blocked from cross streets? Not just those that are lucky enough to be behind the CM mayhem and able to circumvent it. Are they morons for being at the wrong place at the wrong time?

Brian Ratliff

This is the whole point, I think of CM. We lawfully have the right to have hundreds of riders on the street, and would have that number if more people who could ride did. I know of no law that limits the number of cyclists (if they are considered vehicles) on a single stretch of street at one time. Some states get around this by saying that we are not vehicles, but have all the rights and responsibilities of vehicles. Then if there are too many on the street, the police can say that it is an illegal public demonstration, not just a whole bunch of people traveling by bicycle at the same time.

In CM's case, it is a demonstration, but it is trying to illuminate the inequality that cyclists encounter on the road. Cars are allowed to travel en masse on the road, but bicycles are not.

Andy Dreisch

What would you call a sponsored event, like local century or club rides?

And, specifically, what law prohibits bicycles from traveling en masse?

CM is a chance for people to flout the law under the guise of a worthwhile cause. If bicycles weren't used then something else (rollerblades?) would be substituted, in my opinion.

Stor Mand

Just a thought ... Maybe they should ride single file and not run red lights. This would not interfere with the flow of traffic.

webist

How then do they get media attention? It seems their point is made only by misbehavior.

D*Alex

I happened to witness our local version of CM here, about 2 years ago, before they seemingly disappeared from the scene:
about 2 dozen guys (no women), most with awful tatoos, piercings, and ugly short buzz jobs, all riding ATBs or old salvation-army specials, weaving back and forth during rush hour, on the busiest street in town, chanting obscene and anti-corporate slogans.
Sheesh!

Chris L

For those who think critical mass is a 'necessary' way to promote cycling. How about you try this:

Riding to and from work or wherever, using the bike as a daily means of transportation in the real world, and perhaps showing others that it is not only quite possible, but even quite easy with a little bit of planning.

Now, I know it mightn't be as "kewl, man!" as riding in a CM. It might not even get the attention of as many people. However, I'll give you one tip -- it will be a hell of a lot more effective, and gain a helluva lot more respect for cyclists on roads generally.

John C. Ratliff

Okay, I think I see a vicious circle forming here. In order to get media attention, Critical Mass must use weird tactics which attract attention. To do so, the tactics include breaking the law by not only running red lights, but also by their behavior toward drivers and others (police, pedestrians). This draws media attention to the bicyclists, but not to their message. It draws attention to the fact that they are breaking the law, acting outlandishly, insulting people, spitting on police...Martin Luther King would roll in his grave.

This behavior reinforces the steriotypes in the public's mind about bicyclists; it shows them not as serious modes of transportation which cut air pollution, free space that a car would take, provide life-enhancing exercise, and cost a fraction of a car, but as something else in their lives which make things worse, not better.

From what I can tell, the planning is not there to got a positive message across. There appears not to be any self-policing of the CM members, no prior agreement as to what is acceptable behavior on the bicycles during the demonstration, no prior communication with news media to give a message for the event, no real comprehensive reason for the event other than to say bicycles exist and can make motorist's lives complicated too. Is this really what CM enthusiasts want?

John

morsen

John, have you witnessed or read about poor relations between CM and pedestrians? I am sure they happen at least sporadically, but in my experience, the pedestrians love Critical Mass. Most likely because they are not stopped in traffic because of it.

Vicious noted that in Chicago the onlookers treat it as a parade and enjoy it very much. I think it is probably very dependent on the locale, as well as on the size of the ride. I quit going to CM here in Seattle because they were belligerent and because it looks ridiculous for 30 riders to take up the entire (3 lane, one way) street. Just because CM fails in some instances doesn't mean it can't be successful and good in others. The cops have just as much to do overall with things turning sour as the CM'ers do, but the CM'ers aren't out beating and gassing people (in those instances where that happens).

Stor Mand

Is it possible that some CM'ers are getting what they deserve?

Bikesalot

Has anyone on this thread ever actually ridden in PDX critical mass? I've ridden on a few rides, regrettably not the one being discussed, and I have always found it to be happy, outgoing and celebratory. I never witnessed any outright aggresiveness towards any drivers beyond some sloganeering and flyering. As with the August 22nd Bush protest police riot, I believe the actions of the riders is being entirely misconstrued by whatever joke media broadcast video of the ride. Critical Mass is asking for what we really want, i.e. safe streets & public space in this town that is rapidly being denied both. Should we just continue to pedal on in anonymity in the hopes that a bone might be tossed our way? Not likely. If you don't ask for what you want, you have to be satisfied with what you get. And why are the peaceful CM riders being blamed for the aggresiveness of the out-of-control sociopathic Portland police? As for blocking traffic, as long as the ride is moving drivers are delayed for only a few minutes, but when the cops stop the ride and start busting heads the whole town grinds to a halt. All you naysayers might want to see for yourself what you're railing against before making negative statements about people who are, in the end, on your side. Oh, and don't believe a damn thing you hear on the evening news. It's all lies and omissions when it comes to CM. For some truth, check out this site:

https://www.subluna.com/criticalmass/...ides.php?ID=50

If a driver were to get beaten, pepper-sprayed and arrested for running a red light, would society and the media blame the victim? I think not, but here we are blaming the cyclists for the police riot that took place.

Peace, all.

morsen

If you were beaten and gassed for breaking the speed limit in your car, would you be getting what you deserve? You would be intentionally breaking the law as well, but since it would be a selfish act instead of a political act, you would get away with it.

neguypdx

I rode on this particular CM ride in Portland (my first). Though I never saw what the particular arrested people were doing because I was more in the back, it did seem like the police were out of control of the situation. They had obviously gotten notice from the higher-ups that they should stop all people who are not following the law. With 700 people chanting "Let him go!" and the cops outnumbered, I saw them pull out the pepper spray from their cars.

I did see them stop a guy who had a stereo on his bike because of a "noise disturbance." The guy then said he didn't have any ID, lied about his name, at which point the police put him on the ground and looked like they were in the process of arresting him. If that isn't uncalled for........

I will definately return to another Critical Mass ride. Though it does piss some drivers off that the bicycles are blocking their way, I think it shows the city that their are bike riders who are passionate about it as an alternative to cars. The group of people that were around me were all generally happy, smiling and waving at the people in the street with a lot of people returning the wave. (Then there was a woman on the side of the road getting written a ticket for riding while waving, I guess the cop felt she was "out of control" of her bike, sheesh!)

It seemed like a pretty positive ride except the incidents where the police got involved.

Maybe I will try starting with the Wussy Mass ride that I have heard that starts in alternative location in the Park Blocks and doesn't attract all the really beligerent people.

Chris L

Asking for what you want is only good if people can hear you. The trouble is that with critical mass they can't. Think about it. Sure, they can see the protest, but as you said, the media only shows the confrontational side of it. Hence, any non-cyclist who is actually thinking of taking up cycling will probably decide not to do so after seeing that. Yes, I know the media coverage is probably inaccurate, but it's what people will see.

Now, on the other hand, you could try actually using your own bike for transport and whatever else. You could try showing people that you are actually a legitimate road user and that the bicycle is a viable transport option in the real world. If you do this, others might think about doing it, and this is the only way to get what you really want.

Remember, more people cycling means more votes on your side rather than against you.

Bikesalot

Your point that the media tend to show only the confrontational aspects of CM is well taken. It's the unfortunate truth. However, does this mean that cyclists should give up on supposedly "confrontational" riding? In some places, simply riding in the lane and not the gutter is considered disruptive and the offender is treated much like CMers in Portland. It's the same confrontation (an affront to the status quo), but on a different scale. My point is, there is legitimacy in CM's motives and tactics, and those who witness the ride with their own eyes can see this clearly. If the media distort the truth, well, it wouldn't be the first time. That's no excuse to stop riding, though. Perhaps Australia has a less-censored press than the ol' US of A, and non-confrontational activists can actually get their message out.

Also, what proof can you assert that those who might otherwise take up cycling wouldn't after seeing a CM ride? I have several friends who witnessed the ride and police riot from their rooftop and have asked me to help them get their bikes up and running again so they can participate in next month's CM.

On your second point, I am myself a daily, transportational, vehicular cyclist. So is nearly every other CM rider, whether they are students, professionals, bike messengers, etc. Unfortunately, as individuals we are essentially invisible to Portland's autocentric managers and motoring majority. Friday's Critical Mass was the end of Bikesummer 2002, which was a month-long event designed to bring together bike advocates from around the country and around the world to showcase cycling as a transportational mode and all-around Good Thing. There were sporting events, overnight trips, repair workshops, teach-ins, etc. It was not organized by any civic branch but was the work of dedicated volunteers. It merited all of one article in each of the major area news outlets, and absolutely nothing on the teevee news. Surely it put some people on their bikes, but it got virtually no publicity despite the fact that it was apolitical, peaceful and non-confrontational. On the other hand CM gets lots of coverage, nearly every month. So which is better? An "acceptable" yet invisible event, or a boisterous, "unacceptable" event that puts bikes and their issues in the forefront of the public mind, even if for just the evening news cycle? And just to set the record straight, it was the police who decided to make this into a violent, headline-worthy event.

My point in all this ranting is, it takes a diversity of tactics to achieve our common goals. Obviously something is working because the numbers of commuter, recreational and other types of cyclists have been steadily increasing in the three years that I've been a dedicated Portland cyclist. And, as perhaps a more important indicator, drivers have become more and more courteous and observant of cyclists' rights.

I'd like to see some proof that Critical Mass has not contributed to these advances.

Again, peace, all.